‘Loko-Sangskriti Utshab’ held in Mymensingh

A daylong folk cultural festival, Loko-Sangskriti Utsab, was held at Tengorpara in Mymensingh, on December 28. Parbon, a cultural group, in collaboration with the Ekota Club in Mymensingh, organised the festival with the slogan, Loko Sangkritir Jagoron, Sampritir Unnayan, to promote cultural events in rural areas. It was the fourth edition of the festival.

The event included Ekdil Gaan,Puthipath, Jari Gaan, Behular Nachari (a type of dance), Lathi Khela, Dariabandha, Guti Khela, a circus and Hadudu, among other traditional activities. Like previous years, the festival was held after the harvesting season. It began with the National Anthem, followed by different cultural events associated with rural communities. The entrance gate of the event was made with traditional agricultural tools, like plough, leveler and hats.

 The Ekdil Gaan performance by Akram Boyati and his troupe from Phulbaria was excellent. Advocate Emdadul Haque Selim, who hails from the Neugi Kushmail village of Phulbaria, said that such traditional activities should be revived for the better interest of the country’s culture.

“We have been organising the festival to revive the nearly extinct rural cultural activities, games and sports,” said Mottalib Darnari, one of the organisers of Parbon. Akram Boyati inaugurated the festival, while Sakar Mustafa, Head, Folklore Department, Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, was the chief guest.