Feature

Baishaki Utsab at Rajshahi

Aurangazeb Sohel

PAHELA Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla New Year-1417, was celebrated at Rajshahi with much fanfare. To mark the day various educational institutions like Rajshahi University (RU), Rajshahi College, Rajshahi Medical College, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) and various socio-cultural organisations of organised colourful programmes.

The programmes included Baishakhi fair, musical soiree, colourful procession (Mongol Shobhajatra), with multi-coloured masks and traditional dresses; rendering folk songs and band music, discussion, art and painting competition, poem recitation, staging of dramas, cultural progammes and prize giving ceremony.

Students and teachers of the Department of Fine Arts brought out a colourful procession named Mongal Shobhajatra at 9 in the morning which paraded the entire campus, wearing masks and traditional dresses with songs including the Baisakhi song “Esho Hey Boisakh Esho Esho” (“Welcome Baisakh, welcome”).

The department also arranged a three-day long Baishakhi fair and folk song festival including gambhira featuring popular rural culture in this region at the Charu Chattar on the campus with the cooperation of ROBI, the newly emerged brand of mobile phone. On the 3rd and final day, the fine arts department also organised a poem recitation and painting competition at the same venue. The three- day events ended with a gala cultural programme where noted artistes of the country participated.

Students of the Accounting and Information Systems (AIS), Philosophy, Public Administration, Anthropology, Law and Justice Sociology and Mass Communication and Journalism Department organised colorful rallies as well as stalls featuring rural culture, Pithpuli utsab and games of the countryside like Hadudo, Lathi Khela etc in front of the Rabindra Bhabon on the campus.

The Marketing department and its cultural organisation Bibarton jointly organised programmes including folk songs, band songs of D-Rock Star, discussion meeting with the aid of ROBI in front of Business Studies Faculty. An art competition among the students of different schools in Rajshahi was also organised to mark the occasion.

The Folklore, Political Science, Bangla, CSE, Social Work, Zoology and Botany departments arranged a Baishakhi stall and cultural programme on the campus celebrating the traditional event.

Group Of Liberal Debaters (GOLD), a debate organisation of RU, organised a Teacher-student humour debate on “Ei Campus Er Pran Chattrora Noi Sikkhokrai” at Dean's complex premises. Prof. M. Shahidullah, Chairman of English department was the moderator of the debate session. Prof. Azam Santonu, Moderator of GOLD opened the cover of annual souvenir “AURORA” after the debate session. The Socio-cultural organisations of RU also
celebrated the day through series of programmes.

Biswa Sahitto Kendro arranged a two-day book exhibition at Folklore Chattar. Badhon and Swajon, two voluntary blood donation originations, arranged pantha and pitha festival on the campus to welcome 1417. Quantum Foundation also set up a stall at the old Folklore Chattar on the campus. The Bikolpo Sahitto Sangsad held a discussion and cultural programme on the premises of Shaheed Minar on the campus marking the traditional events. The Kendrio Sangskritik Jote (Central Cultural Alliance) organised two-day long cultural function at Folklore Chattar of the campus.

Besides RU, some private universities of Rajshahi city like Asian University Bangladesh, Northern University of Bangladesh, Darul Ihsan University, Ahsanullah Science & Technology University, American Bangladesh University, Southern University and University of Information and Technology arranged several types of programme like Mongal Shobhajatra, cultural functions etc., at their respective campuses to observe the day.

Students and teachers of Rajshahi College also took out a grand colourful procession in the Rajshahi city. After parading through the main streets of the city a discussion and cultural programme was held on the college campus. Many Rajshahi city dwellers went to the bank of river Padma in the afternoon.

Rajshahi Journalist Union also celebrated the day through a colorful rally, special traditional lunch and a cultural programme. Famous journalists of Rajshahi participated in the programme. RU Press Club celebrated the day by organising various colorful events like rally, friendly football match, and a cultural programme.