The divisional level five-day 'Jatiya Pitha Utsab (Cake Festival) -1428' ended with distribution of prizes and colorful cultural programs on Public Library ground in the city on Sunday night.
The Rangpur divisional unit of Jatiya Pitha Utsab -1428 Udjapon Parishad organised the cake festival under the auspices of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs aiming at introducing the traditional Bengali cakes, culture and heritage to the present generations.
Cake experts of Rangpur set up 30 stalls on the festival premises displaying more than 100 types of traditional and delicious cakes.
Earlier, State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid attended the inaugural ceremony of the cake festival as the chief guest on March 9 last.
Mayor of Rangpur Md. Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa attended the closing ceremony of the festival and distributed prizes among owners of five best stalls and best cake artist as the chief guest. The awarded five best stalls are 'Brishti Suitcase', 'Dreamer Shop',
'Nepali Mom', 'Ankora Shoily' and 'Ichche Puran' while Rikta Prasad received special honor as the best cake artist by making cakes of different regions with special tastes.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (City Special Branch) of Rangpur Metropolitan Police Abu Bakar Siddique and Superintendent of Police of Rangpur Md. Ferdous Ali Chowdhury attended the closing function as special guests.
Convener of Rangpur divisional unit of Jatiya Pitha Utsab Udjapon Parishad and renowned cultural personality Biplob Prosad spoke as keynote discussant.
Member-secretary of the Utsab Udjapon Parishad Ashraful Alam Al Amin delivered a welcome speech in the function presided over by its Member and Rangpur Press Club President Mahabub Rahman.
Convener Biplob Prasad said owners of the 30 participating stalls sold more than one hundred types of cakes worth Taka 20 lakh in the five-day cake festival fulfilling the goals of the event.
"Every day, thousands of cake-loving people of all ages came to the cake festival with huge enthusiasm and ate various types of delicious cakes and enjoyed the festival," he said.
He hoped that demand for fast foods would reduce if similar cake festivals were organised regularly to increase demand for traditional cakes and contribute to reviving the past glory of Bengali culture.
The presence of thousands of people had made the cake festival livelier on the festival premises where Bhaoyaiya songs, dances with songs, performances by local artists and discussions on 'Pitha-Parvan' were organized everyday.
The chief guest called upon all concerned to organize similar cake festivals frequently both in urban, rural and remote areas not only to entertain common people, but also to popularize rich Bengali culture among young generations.
