Home ›› 03 Oct 2021 ›› Show Biz
Good news for drama buffs. After a long hiatus due to the Covid pandemic, the popular Ganga-Jamuna Cultural Festival has returned to Dhaka.
Commemorating the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of independent Bangladesh, the festival was inaugurated at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) on October 1 by State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid.
Former Minister for Cultural Affairs Asaduzzaman Noor, legendary thespian Ramendu Majumdar, ‘Mancha Sharathi’ Ataur Rahman, Dhaka Theatre president Nasiruddin Yousuff, and BSA director general Liaquat Ali Lucky also joined the inauguration ceremony as special guests.
Ganga-Jamuna Sangskritik Utsab Parshad’s member secretary Akter Uzzaman delivered the welcome speech at the inaugural ceremony, which was presided over by Parishad convener Ghulam Quddus.
The guests then inaugurated the 12 day-long festival, lighting Mangal Pradeep. The organisers also paid tribute to cultural activists who passed away during the pandemic by holding a photography exhibition at the venue.
None of the Indian cultural groups is participating in this year’s festival due to the pandemic, so their local counterparts will be carrying the stage. At the inaugural ceremony, the guests paid respect to late theatre personality Amalesh Chakraborty, who initiated the Ganga-Jamuna Cultural Festival in Kolkata.
A group performance of the National Anthem was presented by Bangladesh Gana Sangeet Samannay Parishad artistes at the ceremony. It was followed by a special dance recital, presented by Spandan and choreographed by Anik Basu.
A minute of silence was observed in honour of those who passed away during the 1971 Liberation War and the pandemic.
After the inauguration, Theatre Bailey Road presented Syed Shamsul Haq’s renowned play ‘Payer Awaj Pawa Jay’ at the National Theatre Hall auditorium.
The 9th edition of the Ganga-Jamuna Cultural Festival will showcase 36 theatrical performances by 36 different theatre groups from Dhaka and beyond. Music, choreography, and recitation will be performed by 44 music recitations and dance troupes in the auditorium, and the festival will showcase around 3,500 artistes from 140 noted and promising cultural groups.
In addition to these performances, 12 street plays alongside the presentation of 11 recitation groups, 12 music groups, 11 dance groups, 10 children’s groups and solo recitals and solo music performances will be showcased on the open stage every day from 4pm to 6:30pm every day while the stage play will start at 7pm.
