A three-day festival aiming at promoting Charyapada among people from all walks of life is under way at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka.
The festival titled 鈥楥haryapada Punarjagaran Utsab 2024鈥� has been organised by Bhabnagar Foundation in association with the BSA marking the completion of 500 events on Charyapada by the foundation.
It is featuring music shows, discussions, processions and workshops.
As part of the festival, a seminar was organised at the Seminar Room of the BSA on Thursday.
Bangla Academy director general Mohammad Nurul Huda was present as chief guest at the seminar.
Shadhona - A Centre for Advancement of South Asian Culture art director Lubna Marium, Bhabnagar Foundation executive director Nurunnabi Shanto and Bangla Academy deputy director Saymon Zakaria presented essays on Charyapada at the seminar, which was presided over by thespian Ataur Rahman.
Mohammad Nurul Huda said, 鈥榃e do not yet know whether anything else had preceded Charyapada. We have been spreading wellness through bhava sadhana.鈥�
鈥楾he poem that I have written, may have been formed differently in the mind of another bhava sadhak,鈥� added Huda.
Ataur Rahman said, 鈥楥haryapada is, so far, the earliest evidence of Bangla language. Our modern Bangla language has arrived at its present stage from Charyapada.鈥�
鈥楰alidasa was born in our region. We feel proud of Charyapada, Kalidasa and our rich ancient history,鈥� mentioned Ataur Rahman.
鈥楰nowing our past is very important. We must move forward knowing our roots,鈥� said Ataur Rahman.
Saymon Zakaria said, 鈥業 started working to set lyrics to music of ancient Charyapada in 1993-94. The aim behind the work was to make the songs suitable for singing as per Baul-Fakir tradition.鈥�
He added that he was greatly inspired by fiction writer Akhteruzzaman Elias and poet-singer Kafil Ahmed.
鈥榃e have already organised 500 programmes on Charyapada from Bhabnagar Foundation. Researchers, professors and artistes from different countries of the world participated and received training in Charyapada from the foundation,鈥� said Saymon Zakaria.
Besides, Jahangirnagar University drama and dramatics department professor AKM Yusuf Hassan, researcher Sayeem Rana and poet Shahed Kayes, among others were present as discussants at the seminar.
Sadhika Srijoni Tania, Shah Alam Dewan, Abdul Latif Shah, Baul Antar Sarkar, Sila Mallik, Naeem, Al Amin Sarkar Pipasi, Baul Tahmina, Yusuf Mia, Fakir Abul Hashem, Gunjer Ali Jiban, Meena Pagli, Anis Munshi, Siddique Fakir, Ujjal Fakir, Babul Akhter Bachchu, Farooq Hossain, Afzal Hossain, Abhaycharan, Bellal Hossain, Sardar Abdul Quader Siddiqui, Rokanuddin, Akash Bepari, Farooq Noori, Miarul Islam Rajon and others performed from Charyapada at the event.
The festival, which was inaugurated by American Institute of Bangladesh Studies vice president Rebecca J Manring on Wednesday, will end today.
The concluding day will feature a workshop on Charyapada at the Rehearsal Room of the BSA in the afternoon.
Theatre director Nasir Uddin Yousuff will be present as chief guest at the workshop while Shah Alam Dewan, Sadhika Srijoni Tania, Sayeem Rana and Baul Antar Sarkar will conduct the workshop.
Bhabnagar Foundation will drop the curtain on the festival organising cultural performances on Charyapada at the Studio Theatre Hall of the BSA in the evening.
