The country embraced the arrival of the monsoon on Sunday through colourful celebrations of Barsha Utsab, marking the first day of the Bangla month of Asharh. From Dhaka University’s Bakultala to Nazrul Mancha at Bangla Academy, the festive spirit mixed music, dance, poetry, and urgent environmental calls.
The Barsha Utsab Udjapon Parishad hosted their annual programme at Bakultala, opening with a sitar recital of Raag Ahir Bhairav by Sohani Majumdar. A series of spirited performances followed, with Yasmin Mushtari, Salauddin Ahmed, Nabonita Zaid, Anima Roy, and others celebrating the rains through timeless melodies. The event also featured dance, recitation, and storytelling, weaving together the essence of Bangla’s monsoon heritage.
Addressing the gathering, Parishad General Secretary Manzar Chowdhury Sweet said, “The conflict between the arrogance of civilisation and the generosity of nature threatens human survival. Only harmony between life and nature can save us.”
Meanwhile, Udichi Shilpi Gosthi’s Barsha Utsab began at dawn at Nazrul Mancha. Noted cultural figures, including Mahadev Ghosh, Priyanka Gope, and Tuhin Kanti Das, performed alongside Udichi’s central troupe and the music group Mavoi. Dancers from Udichi, Spondon, and Jahangirnagar University’s Drama Department added vibrant flair to the celebration. Keynote speaker Amirul Rajib, Coordinator of the Bangladesh Tree Protection Movement, highlighted ongoing environmental threats. Udichi General Secretary Jamshed Anwar Tapan declared this year’s celebration a protest against environmental destruction under the pretext of development.
The event raised several demands — halting eco-destructive projects, saving Panthakunja Park, restoring river navigability, resisting cross-border water withdrawal, ensuring climate refugee rights, and securing food for farmers and workers affected by the monsoon.
The day wrapped up with a final showcase of music, dance, and monsoon reflections.
