Curtain rises on maiden Bangladesh Cultural Festival

With participation of a number of artistes, cultural personalities and audience, curtains rose on the maiden Bangladesh Cultural Festival on January 1 at Nandanmancha, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA). Artistes from all District Shilpakala Academy (DSA) are taking part in the 18 day grand cultural festival.

Soon after the opening ceremony was over, chief guest Asaduzzaman Noor, cultural affairs minister, along with Syed Shamsul Haque, BSA DG Liaquat Ali Lucky and other officials of the organisation set a number of colourful balloons free in the evening sky. The dazzling fireworks continued for a while, as several artistes of Bangladesh Academy of Fine Arts, attired in apt colourful costumes and vive, swayed the audience with their display of dance set on popular songs, composed by Tagore, Nazrul and Lalon.

They started off the presentation with a Nazrul Sangeet “Eki Oporoop Roop-e Ma Tomaye” that portrays all the six seasons of Bangladesh. The artistes' performance, choreographed by Farhana Chowdhury Baby, was also based on a medley of seasons greeting melodies including “Darun Agni Daan-e”, “Mon Mor Megher Songi”, “Aj Dhaner Khet-e”, “Hemonte Kon Boshonter Bani”, “Sheiter Hawar Laglo Nachon” and “Aji Dokhino Duar Khola”.

A group dance performance on the Nandanmancha stage. Photo: Ridwan Adid Rupon

Directed by Deepa Khandakar, MR Wasek and Ananya, several artistes danced to songs including “Rangiye Diye Jao”, and a recitation of a poetry “Sristi Sukher Ullashey”.  

On the opening day, artistes of four DSA -- Joypurhat, Sylhet, Gopalganj and Mymensingh -- performed traditional folk songs and dances of the respective region. Artistes of Habiganj, Comilla, Faridpur and Rajshahi presented their respective cultural heritages yesterday at the venue. Today, artistes of Bogra, Meherpur, Kushtia and Tangail will perform. Every district representative troupe will get an hour to present their cultural elements at the festival, starting everyday from 4:30pm.