Residents of Chittagong joyously celebrated the traditional harvesting festival of Nobanno Utsab that is held in the Bangla month Agrahayan of the season Hemanta (Autumn).

Shishumela, a children's cultural organization, held the programme at DC Hill premises in the city on Monday.

Guests, along with three farmers from Satkania upazila, inaugurated the festival.

To the strains of Nobanno song “Dhan Banga Ei Anginate Jegechhe Chand”, the farmers inaugurated the festival by releasing balloons.

The programme started with a violin recital by the artistes of Violinists' Chittagong. Later, children from the Nishpap Autism School took the stage and gave a dance performance.

Later, a discussion was held where writer-activist Begum Mushtari Shafi, principal Rita Dutta and Dr AQM Sirajul Islam spoke among others.

In her speech, Mushtari Shafi said, “The traditional festivals are fading away while political and religious programmes are on the rise in the country. The communal forces will be active if traditional cultural festivals are not observed on a large scale,” she remarked.

Terming the Nobanno festival as a celebration of life, she said every progressive person and organisation should come forward to spread the rural culture among the people of the city.

Dr AQM Sirajul Islam, who chaired the programme said, “Adolescents and children in the city are unaware that Nobanno is a rural people's festival to celebrate the harvest of a new crop. They do not know how many varied folk operas (Jatra) and narrative operas (Pala) were held during the festival of farmers. We should introduce our kids to the rich heritage of our country.”

Councilor Shoibal Das Suman and organsier Rubel Das Prince also addressed the gathering.

After the discussion, artistes from cultural organisations Torsha and Kamal, Khelaghor Chittagong city unit, School of Oriental Dance and Nrityam Academy rendered choral songs and presented dance performances highlighting Bangalee culture.