Bengali New Year brings festive spirit to Bogura

Children happily stroll alongside their parents, clutching one of their hands while tightly gripping a toy with the other, their faces adorned with joy. As the day progresses, the crowd at Edward Pouro Park in Bogura swells with people of all ages. Some are busy purchasing cosmetics, others are selecting vibrant Boishakh attire, while some are drawn to the array of earthenware on display. Their happiness permeates the festival atmosphere, spreading joy throughout the fairgrounds.

The Bogura Theatre has orchestrated a seven-day-long fair, inaugurated on April 14th at the city's Edward Pouro Park and Shaheed Titu Auditorium. Notably, Bogura Theater has been the driving force behind this event for the past 43 years.

At the fair on Tuesday (April 16), parents were spotted bringing their children to partake in the festivities. The youngsters were treated to various toys and food items, filling the fairgrounds with their laughter and excitement. Attendees of all ages and professions were also observed, further enriching the diverse atmosphere of the event.

Nusrat Jahan, a three-year-old, was accompanied to the fair by her mother, Arju Begum. When asked about their visit, Arju Begum expressed, "We're here to buy toys for Nusrat. It's such a joyful atmosphere, and seeing her excitement makes it all worth it. She's running around happily, and she's even eager to ride the Nagordola."

Jihad Hasan, hailing from the Fultola area of Bogura city, strolls through the fairgrounds with his friends. Reflecting on their outing, he said,

Jihad Hasan, a resident of Fultola area of Bogura City, is walking with his friends at the fair. He said, "There's something special about coming to the fair and chatting with friends. Time spent here is filled with laughter and joy."

There are various toy shops at this fair, starting from clay pots and pans to clay banks, show-pieces, pitchers, jewelry, vases, flower tubs, lids, pita making tools.

Bikash Chandra Pal, a potter from Syedpur Charpalpara, sits among a collection of clay items in a corner of the fair. Expressing his views, Bikash said, Sales are sluggish at the moment. It is expected that the number of buyers will increase on the last two days of the fair. Many people do not want to buy these things now because the price of clay products is high."

He also said, "The demand for clay products is decreasing day by day. Now silver, glass, aluminum, plastic, or melamine have taken over the market. Therefore, many potters are changing professions."

At the fair, a variety of clothing shops can be found, but sales have been relatively slow. Habibur Rahman, a resident of Bogura City's Colony area, said, "There's been limited buying and selling activity. However, like potter Bikash, he is hopeful that sales will pick up as the fair progresses."

The fair boasts approximately 45 shops, catering to a variety of needs including children's toys, cosmetics, earthenware, clothing, delicacies, and an array of other merchandise.

However, the main attraction of the fair is the village games. Almost all kinds of rural games have been organized at this fair. There are also cultural programmes in the evening.

Taufiq Hasan Moyna, general secretary of Bogura Theater, said, "Lathi khela, Monkey game, Snake game, Hadudu, and other rural games have been consistently held since the fair's inception. Additionally, stage dramas featuring a variety of rural songs are organized as part of the entertainment lineup."