Amid a respite from the rain, autumn has arrived in Bangladesh. To herald the season, the Satyen Sen Artist Group has arranged the ‘Autumn Festival,’ in the city to spread the colours and happiness of autumn.
The programme began with music and a pledge to establish purity, virtue and welfare at 7:30am at the Fine Arts Faculty in Dhaka University on Friday.
Md Yusuf Khan played the sarod on the stage while members of the Satyen Sen Artist Group danced, sang, and made recitations.
The brochure for the event says the autumn festival “brings forth the essence of happiness in life found in the fusion of mankind and nature, but has a hint of sorrow this year”.
“We remember respectfully those who sacrificed their lives in the mass movement led by students that brought a new dawn; with a heavy heart we notice the unfortunate deaths due to the spread of hatred, intolerance and envy,” said Manzar Hossain Sweet, general secretary of Satyen Sen Artist Group.
“May the dream revolution flourish in a non-discriminatory, free and secular society – the welcoming of autumn gives us that hope too.”
The autumn festival creates a bond between mankind and nature, life and the universe, time and eternity, Sweet said.
Such a festival of nature teaches us to rise in new happiness, and makes us responsible for preventing acts that destroy nature, conserve biodiversity, and also singing the song of communal harmony, he said.
“Those of us who grew up in the villages, swam in the lakes full of lotus. We roamed groves of catkin flowers. For us, autumn rings a different bell. City children aren’t aware of the beauty of autumn. We, as parents, have the responsibility to introduce this beauty of nature to our children,” said painter Prof Sushanto Adhikari.
“The diversity of nature can still be seen in the villages. We must introduce our children to that beauty and diversity,” said Bangladesh Ganasangeet Coordination Council President Kazi Mizanur Rahman.
In Bangladesh, six seasons have different characteristics, and they bring different messages, said Nigar Chowdhury, vice president of the Satyen Sen Artist Group. Autumn is considered as the emblem of purity, Nigar said.
“This season brings the message of a new harvest for us and we celebrate the Nabanna Festival (new crop) after the harvest. May autumn bring prosperity to all with its spirit of purity, and righteousness.”
Child performers from Simanto Khelaghar Ashor, Gendaria Kisholaya Kochikachar Mela and Surobihar Shilpabritto took part in the festival.
Priyanka Gope, Tanveer Alam Sajeeb, Anima Roy, Ferdousi Kakoli and others performed as solo singers.
Satyen Sen Artist Group, Udichi Artist Group, Nirjharini Sangeet Academy and Samaswar performed choral pieces.
Artists from Kathak Nrittya Sampraday, Bangladesh Academy of Fine Arts, Benuka, Dhriti Nartanalay, Spandan put on group dance performances.
