‘Jatiya Pitha Utsab-1426’ (National Rice Cake Festival) began on the premises of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) in the capital on Sunday which will continue March 3. Jatiya Pitha Utsab Udjapan Parishad (Committee for National Cake Festival Celebration), alongside BSA, have jointly organised the festival to delight the city dwellers with the unbeatable tastes of traditional pithas (rice cakes).
Started back in January, 2008 for the first time- this year marks the 13th edition of this annual festival. State Minister for Cultural Affairs K M Khalid inaugurated the 10-day festival as the Chief Guest. Honorary President of the International Theatre Institute (ITI) Ramendu Majumdar, ‘Mancha Sarathi’-famed veteran theatre activist Ataur Rahman, Bangladesh Nritya Shilpi Sangstha President Minu Haque attended the inaugural ceremony as the special guests, among others.
Presided over by the BSA DG Liaquat Ali Lucky- who filled the role of Convenor of the committee overlooking the arrangement of the festival, the inauguration ceremony was also attended by the committee’s president, M Hamid, who was the main speaker at the event, while member secretary Khandakar Shah Alam and BSA Secretary Badrul Anam Bhuiyan delivered welcome speeches.
“The winter season in Bangladesh is unimaginable without Pitha- a food item which gradually has become a part of the urban life as well in recent years. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs is glad to be associated with this festival and the organizers deserve applause for regularly arranging the yearly festival,” K M Khalid said in his speech.
Following the inauguration, a cultural programme was arranged where artistes entertained the audience with traditional songs, dance recitals and recitation. The cultural programme will continue every evening for the length of the festival. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Square Food & Beverage Limited (SFBL) are jointly sponsoring this year’s festival. Generally held in January every year, the 13th edition had to be delayed because of the DNCC and DSCC Elections, said the organizers.
With a total of 50 stalls representing 40 districts of Bangladesh, the 13th edition of this annual festival featuring approximately 200 types of Pithas (cakes) at BSA premises from 3 pm to 9 pm till March 3, 2020.
