Cultural activists celebrate Nobanno Utsav in Dhaka

Cultural activists are celebrating Nobanno Utsav to rejuvenate a dying cultural legacy in Dhaka. Nobanno, which means new harvest, is the time of late autumn when farmers cut their produces and bring them home from fields, a tradition now slipping into oblivion.

To motivate the youth to preserve these nearly extinct traditions, the 20th Nobanno Utsav was celebrated at the Institute of Fine Arts on Wednesday morning.

Nabanna Utshab Udjapan Parshad, a committee of cultural activists, organised the programme that entertained hundreds of people with songs, dance and poetry recitations.

Gazi Abdul Hakim’s flute melody marked the start of the celebrations at 7am. DU Vice-Chancellor Md Akhtaruzzaman inaugurated the programme.

Folk songs and dance numbers depicted the farmers harvesting crops with the advent of Bangla month Ogrohayon. Renowned artistes and groups kept the audience spellbound with Lalon, Tagore and patriotic songs. Singer Farida Parveen and distinguished Nazrul artiste Shaheen Samad mesmerised the audience with songs.

Organisers took out a colourful rally. Celebrated artists including Samarjit Roy Chowdhury, Abdus Shakoor Shah, Abdul Mannan, Reza Un Nabi, Kamal Pasha and Zahid Mostafa took part in an ‘art camp’ at the venue.

With water-based colours and acrylics, they portrayed the traditions of rural Bangladesh on canvases. Rare games, drama and songs like Lathi Khela, Mohuar Pala, Dhamail Gaan and Pot Gaan added flavours to the celebrations.

Shahriar Salam, convenor of the organising committee, called on the government to declare the first day of Bangla month Ogrohayon a national holiday.

“The age-old tradition is now on the verge of extinction. Youths living in Dhaka hardly know about this festival,” said Sammilita Sangskritik Jote President Golam Quddus.

“They never saw rice cakes and other sweet delicacies that are cooked in rural areas. So if we want to connect them with their roots, we must uphold these elements inside the city.”
President of the committee Laila Hasan said: “Alongside highlighting our culture and roots, we aim to establish harmony among people amid the ongoing restlessness.”

“Nobanno Utsav is an open, universal and non-communal festival. It represents people and their struggle,” said DU VC Md Akhtaruzzaman.

The professor recalled his childhood: “We used to call Ashwin ‘Darun Ashwin’. This was the month when we used to get hit-hard by poverty. Only the rich would have grains stored in their houses this month.”

“After that Agrohayon would arrive and bring golden paddy to every household.”

Dr AM Shamim, managing director of the Labaid Group, also a patron of the event, attended a discussion -- Nobanno Kothon. The next segment of the programme will be held later in the day.

Rabindra Sarobar in Dhanmondi and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy are also two popular venues for Nobanno Utsav celebrations.

RM/ 15 November 2017