Pitha or Pie is an essential element of Bengali life and culture. There is no Bengali who does not like to eat pie. Especially when winter comes, there is a rush to make cakes in every house in Bengal. Winter and cake should be tied together.
However, at the end of winter, Rangpur held the first five-day national pie festival. The festival came to an end on Sunday evening with various arrangements. According to the organizers, pie worth at least Tk 20 lakh were sold at the festival.
Earlier on Wednesday, Bir Muktijoddha M Hamid, president of the National Cake Festival Celebration Council, inaugurated the cake festival at Rangpur Public Library. State Minister of Cultural Affairs KM Khalid was the chief guest on the occasion. The Rangpur Division National Cake Festival Celebration Council organized the national cake festival under the auspices of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to celebrate the Bengali Pitha-Parban.
For food-loving Bengalis, cake is one of their favorites. Cake is considered not only as food but also as a reminder of folk tradition and craftsmanship of women. This cake Festival is organized with the aim of introducing the traditional Pitha-Parban of Bengalis to the present generation. 30 stalls took part in the festival. Each stall had hundreds of different types of cakes from different regions. Each stall is decorated with traditional and delicious cakes of the country. There were hundreds of types of cakes including Patisapta, Kushali, Bhapa, Bhat Pitha, Kata Pitha, Nakshi, Puli, Dudh Pitha, Lau Payes, Pakkon, Chhit Pitha, Lobang Pitha, Gokul, Chitoi, Pakano, Pakoan, Raspuli Pitha and so on.
The convener of the festival, playwright Biplob Prasad, said that the goal of the event has been fulfilled. Every day thousands of cake lovers come to the festival. Many of the present generation have come with enthusiasm and have eaten cake. We think that organizing regular cake festivals will reduce the demand for fast food. The demand for pitha-parban will increase.
This cake festival has set an example in the Rangpur region. Only 30 stalls have sold cakes worth around Tk 20 lakh. Which is much more than expected. Every day during the festival, Bhavaiya songs, dances with songs, performances, discussions of pitha-parban are organized at the foot of Shahid Minar. The presence of thousands of people has made the festival more fetching every day.
At the closing ceremony, the guests said that in the rural areas, the making of cakes is usually arranged after the emergence of new paddy. But even though it was late due to Corona, this cake festival in Rangpur has given new light to the people. Pitha-puli has been playing an important role in Bengali folk history and tradition for a long time. It is the manifestation of folk and aesthetic culture. Different types of cakes have been seen in this cake festival. This festival will be remembered by the people of Rangpur for a long time. They look forward to this festival every year.
Rangpur Divisional Commissioner Abdul Wahab Bhuiyan was the chief guest at the closing ceremony held at Shaheed Minar on the fair premises. Rangpur City Corporation Mayor Mostafizur Rahman Mostafa, Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Abdul Alim Mahmud and Rangpur District Superintendent of Police Ferdous Ali Chowdhury were the special guests. Mahbub Rahman, a member of the celebration council presided over the function. The convener of the celebration committee was Biplob Prasad. At the concluding ceremony, a pleasant cultural program was organized with the awarding of prizes to the five cake artists who participated in the National Cake Festival-2022.
