Hundreds of people, young and old, flocked at the Bangla Academy and Suhrawardi Udyan premises clad in blazing red and bashonti
Shades of yellow spread over the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela yesterday on the occasion of Pahela Falgun, the first day of spring.
Hundreds of people, young and old, flocked at the Bangla Academy and Suhrawardi Udyan premises clad in blazing red and bashonti (yellow and orange). Girls adorned themselves with floral ornaments made with Shimul, Polash and Marigold, notifying the arrival of spring.
Despite the difficulty in moving around among the human sea, visitors, mostly young, managed to throng the stalls and pick up their choices.
Evidently the fair became Dhaka dweller’s popular destination to hang out on the special day.
Security was beefed up at both the venues along with the Dhaka University area to avert any kind of untoward situation on the special day.
Dilshad hossain, a faculty member at a private university who was searching for her favourite book in a stall, said: “Spring brings along the wind of change as the dullness of winter goes away with the emergence of lush green. So this season is special to people all over the world. Now it has become an integral part of our culture.”
A number of writers visited the fair on the special day. Celebrated writer Muhammed Zafar Iqbal arrived at the fair in the evening.
Sitting under a tree with his wife Yasmeen Haque, he was enjoying his time attending hundreds of young visitors at the Suhrawardi Udyan with an amicable smile on his face.
“I am feeling young, very happy to see the colours of pahela falgun all over the fair. These young people will build a happy and prosperous Bangladesh,” said Zafar Iqbal.
Noted writer Anisul Haque was also spotted attending his fans at the stall of Prothoma Prokashoni. He told the Dhaka tribune: “Spring has a strong connection with the Bengali literature. The dominance of bashonti has made the fair attractive”.
The publishers said they experienced a phenomenal rise in sale on the special eve which was also the highest since the fair started.
A total of 110 books arrived at the fair yesterday including Gonojagoron Mancha’a organiser Maruf Rosul’s “Chaya Pothiker Batighor” from Agami Prokashoni, and Obayed Akash’s “Borshon Shikto Hashpatal” from Brikkho Prokashoni.
A total of 10 books were unveiled at Nazrul Mancha. For the special eve gates at the fair were opened at 12am, three hours earlier than other days. Today the fair will open at 9am.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
