Eating out - not the only source of entertainment anymore

Eat, eat, eat- how much more can you eat? While Bangladesh has welcomed new cuisines with open arms (and mouths) and the current food scene is like never before, even the biggest foodie needs a break from all this food. 

It is a common complaint among young people that in Dhaka city there's nothing more to do other than eating out. However, you can catch a whiff of change emerging from around the corner. More options for recreational activities are now up for you to explore. 

For instance, Dhaka Comicon has been recently gaining momentum. This age old celebration is responsible for bringing all superhero lovers under one roof all over the world, and now we get to be a part of it too. Ever since it started in 2012, it has been growing strong. This is now one of the most sought-after events of the year.

Workshops are now held in order to help young entrepreneurs and job-seekers network together. Not only professional workshops, but you can also attend workshops by Lokogatha to learn and engage in art and crafts. 

Winter is a season of festivities for us Bengalis and has been so for as far as my memory goes. Most of us are booked away, completely swamped with weddings for these couple of months every year. This year it is a little different, though. Dhaka Folk Fest that took place in November was the first international folk music festival in the country. This was a musical platform where our culture was displayed for a global audience. Around 60,000 people among the audience had their minds blown and hopefully this was the first of many such splendid experiences. 

The Shakrain Festival, also known as Kite festival, is celebrated at the end of the Bangla month Poush, which is half way through January. This day is known as Poush Sangkranti. Shakrain is the oldest tradition of Old Dhaka. Growing up, some such traditions were not something we were fully aware of but thanks to the digital age we live in now, social media has brought us closer to our very own festivals, and thus, now people from all over the city gather in the old town to be a part of this dynamic event that includes flying kites, fire breathing and fireworks. 

Speaking of internet bringing us closer, check out the new start up 'JeteChao?' Through JeteChao, you can be kept in the know about the latest events that are taking place in Dhaka every day. The recently launched website provides a list of events and also gives you details and directions on how to get there.

As millennials, we are open to a world different than the one the generations before us lived in. People on the other side of the world spend a lot of time in parks, theatres, and museums and have a greater opportunity to acquire knowledge and ensure cultural enrichment than we do. However, this is a start, and that too, a good one. So let us embrace this change and utilise our free time doing things that don't just involve food. 

By Maaesha Nuzhat Nazmul