BRUR organises first-ever Pitha Utsab

Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR) organised a  Pitha Utsab (cake festival) for the first time on Tuesady  aiming at introducing traditional Bengali cakes to new generations.

Pro Vice-Chancellor of BRUR Professor Dr Sarifa Salowa Dina inaugurated the festival by cutting the ribbon in a colourful ceremony held on the Independence Memorial premises on the campus as the chief guest.

Presided over by the Convener of the Pitha Utsab  Organising Committee of BRUR Associate Professor Umar Farooque, its Treasurer Professor Dr Mojib Uddin Ahamed attended the launching ceremony as a special guest.

Associate Professor of the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences Md. Zakiur Rahman conducted the program.

Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the university and Teachers’ Association President Md. Shariful Islam, it’s General Secretary Md. Asaduzzaman Mandal Asad, Registrar Engineer Mohammad Alamgir Chowdhury, Proctor Golam Rabbani, Director of the Office of External Affairs Md. Sabbir Ahmed Chowdhury, General Secretary of  Officers’ Association Mohammad Ali, among others, spoke.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Pro Vice-chancellor said, ‘Pitha-Puli’ is a thousand-year tradition of rural areas and villages in Bengal.

“With the advent of the modern mechanical age, the tradition of ‘Pitha-Puli’ is gradually fading. The new generations should come forward to sustain the traditions by participating in indigenous cultural practices like ‘Pitha Utsab’,” she said.

Professor Dr Mojib Uddin Ahmad said, ‘Pitha Utsab’ is a reflection of contemporary Bengali tradition and such arrangements strengthen the bond of mutual amity, harmony and brotherhood.

Later, the chief guest visited 30 stalls set up by different departments and socio-cultural organizations of the university in the winter ‘Pitha Utsab’ thronged with students.

Various types of popular ‘Pithas’ like ‘Patisapta’, ‘Puli’, ‘Pata Pitha’, ‘Coconut Pitha’, ‘Vapa Pitha’, ‘Dudhpuli’, ‘Malpoa’, ‘Phul Pitha’, ‘Jamai Pitha’, ‘Cabbage Pakora’, ‘Jhinuk Pitha’, ‘Raspuli’ with other traditional ‘Pithas’ were displayed in the stalls.

Teachers, students, officers and employees of the university came to ‘Pitha Utsab’ that captured the native culture and enjoyed different flavours of ‘Pitha’ alongside enjoying colourful cultural performances by students.