Staff Reporter :Pohela Falgoon, heralding the arrival of Spring, the king of all seasons, was welcomed by the residents of capital Dhaka on Saturday as well as in other parts of the country amid much fanfare, festivity and gaiety. The capital put on a colourful festive look celebrating the first day of Bangla month Falgoon with several socio-cultural organisations and educational institutions organising a wide range of programmes marking the day.Thousands of people thronged the traditional venues, especially Dhaka University campus and its adjacent places since morning, turning the places into a yellow festive look. Every year, people of all strata of life welcomed the ‘season of flowers’ symbolising youth, vigour and love.Clad in yellow, orange and other bright colours that symbolise the Spring, the people welcomed the Falgoon with flowers, poems, songs and dances.Dhaka University has always been the cultural heartbeat of the city since time immemorial, hence it is the venue for all cultural celebration, and Pohela Falgun this year is no different.As thousands of people thronged the Dhaka University campus to celebrate the day and enjoy various events, Ekushey Boi Mela also witnessed a huge crowd in the evening yesterday.Women and girls wearing Bashonti (yellow) sarees and adorning floral ornaments and boys in colourful panjabis participated in various events in a jovial mood. Many Dhaka residents attired in traditional dresses started pouring onto the streets since morning to exchange pleasantries with their near and dear ones. As the Winter leaves have been evolved by nature, the Spring’s flowers such as shimul, polash and marigold are being worn by women, who adorn themselves with ‘Bashonti’ clothing – mostly in yellow, orange and red colours.Apart from Dhaka University area, Jatiya Boshonto Utshab Udjapon Parishad-1422 organised cultural programmes in celebration of the day in different places in the city. Beginning with a sarangi recital by Motiar Hossain, the programme featured noted music and dance schools like Surer Dhara, Sur Saptak, Nritya Nandan, Dhriti, Bhabna, Turongomi, and Bulbul Academy of Fine Arts. Students of the institutes were seen painting motifs on the cheeks and hands of visitors.This was followed by musical performances by Rezwana Chowdhury Bonnya, Ferdous Ara, Laisa Ahmed Lisa and poetry recitations by Bhashwar Bandopadhyay and Golam Sarwar, among others.The second phase of the programme began at 4:00pm at Bakultala, Bahadurshah Park at Laxmibazar in Old Dhaka, and Rabindra Sarobar at Dhanmondi. Jatiya Boshonto Utsav Udjapon Parishad organised programmes, including chorus songs, folk dance, folk music, recitation of poems, drama, and procession.Security at the entrance of all venues was beefed up. A huge crowd caused severe traffic congestion in the areas adjacent to the Dhaka University. Different private universities and colleges also arranged programmes marking the day.
