All work and no play for Baishakh performers

As Pahela Baishakh approaches, almost everyone plans a day of non-stop fun.

But what about the cultural activists and organisers who work throughout the day of festivity, fun and frolic?

They spend long hours planning, preparing, rehearsing, organising, advertising, collecting sponsors, and most importantly, performing on stage to make the occasion all that more joyful for the revelers.

Has anyone thought of their joys and pains, of how they celebrate the day?

Popular singer Fakir Alamgir, who has been arranging a Baishakhi cultural programme for past 34 years through his organisation Wrishija Shipli Gosthi, said he cannot give his family time on Pahela Baishakh as he remains busy throughout the day.

“A typical Pahela Baishakh begins at dawn for me. We, the Wrishija singers, dancers and performers, arrive at the venue before 7:30am and the programme continues until 12:00pm,” he said.

After wrapping the event up, the gono-sangeet singer attends other cultural events as an invited singer. And then in the evening, he joins television programmes and performs live.

“It’s a pretty busy day and I cannot give time to my family. Sometimes, I want to enjoy the day with my wife, children and grandchildren but this remains a distant dream for me,” Fakir Alamgir added.

The singer, who terms himself a cultural activist, said they, however, celebrate the day like Eid.

“The first day of Bangla New Year is as much joyful to us as an Eid. All members of my family shop to celebrate the occasion. Though I cannot help them in shopping, I find pleasure when we gift punjabis and saris to our boys and girls of Wrishija,” he said.

It is a similar day for folk singer Kuddus Boyati and Rabindra Sangeet singer Tapan Mahmud. Though they represent two different genres of music, one thing they have common is they hardly find time for their families on Pahela Baishakh.

Kuddus Boyati, who can instantly compose Pala Gaan and perform, said he stays in Dhaka instead of his village home on Pahela Baishakh for an extended stint of stage and TV shows.

“I miss my old days when we used to roam around in village fairs, fly kites, buy clay toys, have sugary treats on Pahela Baishakh,” he said.
In Kuddus Boyati’s eyes, Dhaka dwellers do not know how to celebrate the day in full throttle.

“People of Dhaka take ‘panta’ (water-soaked rice) as a fashion. But rural people are fortunate of having the real ‘panta’, ‘naru’, ‘kodma’ and other food items,” said Kuddus.

He went on saying, “On Pahela Baishakh, nowadays I am busy all day long, performing in at least eight to ten programmes in Dhaka. So, how can I manage time to enjoy the day on my own with my near and dear ones?”

For Rabindra Sangeet singer Tapan Mahmud, Pahela Baishakh is, no doubt, a busy day. But, the renowned singer said he enjoys being busy on the occasion.

“On average, I have to attend at least three to four cultural programmes from morning till late at night. But, I love being busy on Pahela Baishakh as I enjoy the audience watching my performances on stage. It’s also a chance for me to be part of the people’s celebrations,” he explained.

He, however, said his family misses him on the day.

“No doubt, my wife and children miss me. But, I somehow, manage time, may be in the evening, to join an invitation or get-together with my friends or relatives,” he added.

Tapan Mahmud, who is the general secretary of Bangladesh Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha, told Prothom Alo that their efforts as performers would be successful if Baishakhi programmes concluded without any untoward incidents.

“As artistes, all our plans and attempts will see success when we’ll be able to entertain revellers with quality programmes and without any embarrassing incidents.”

In this context, Fakir Alamgir said the government and sponsors must promote such cultural events that represent our roots and thousand-year-old tradition in celebrating Pahela Baishakh.

“If sponsors promote alien culture in the name of celebrating the first day of Bangla New Year, untoward incidents are bound to happen,” he cautioned.