DU Fine Arts takes preparation for Pohela Boishakh

Dhaka University Fine Arts Faculty is taking preparation to celebrate the Pohela Boishakh, the first day of Bengali new year, in a large scale as the UNESCO recognized the traditional Mangal Sovajatra as the ‘world heritage’.

The traditional procession, Mangal Sovajatra, bears few significant motifs those were used in the 28 years on the very first day of Bengali New Year.

Since its inception in 1989 by the teachers and students of Fine Arts Faculty, it became a major part of the celebration of Bengali New Year in the country.

“After recognition by the UNESCO, personalities in the arena of art and culture expect that this year’s celebration would be a different one. We have planned to bring out the procession in a large scale,” Fine Arts Faculty Dean Professor Nisar Hossain told BSS.

He said this year’s theme of the procession is “Anandaloke Mangalaloke Biraja Satya Sundar”, selected from a line of poet Rabindranath Tagore’s song.

It will signify the country’s achievement and progress side by side the international recognition of Mangal Sovajatra, the Dean said.

Nisar Hossain said the procession will uphold the country’s folklore, culture and heritage like the previous year while important motifs of 28 years of the Mangal Sovajatra celebration of the faculty will comprise the procession.

“A motif of black elephant will be in the procession as it was used in the first Mangal Sovajtra in 1989 symbolizing the regime of the then military rule,” he said.

Besides, he said, the procession will have motifs of water-vassal symbolizing the winning of maritime boundary of the country, war criminals and militancy.

“Signifying the theme and the country’s current context, motif of “Sun” will be the main one. Sun has light in a side while dark in another direction. Likewise, the motif will have smiling fade in a direction and ugly shape in other direction,” he said.

He said “smiling face” will signify the country’s progress and growth and the journey towards becoming a middle income country, on the other hand, the “ugly face” will symbolize emergence of militancy.

“But, the motif will mean that the country will be enlightened removing all darkness,” Nisar Hossain said.

The fine arts faculty premise was seen wore a festive look as students of 18th and 19th batches are busy to prepare colorful motifs, masks, and other traditional equipments and arts to celebrate the Bengali universal festival.

“This year’s procession will mark as protest through arts against the darkness. Except the motif of Sun, motifs of elephant, horse, ‘sakher hari’, ‘puppet’ and others,” Arif Mahmud, an 18th batch student of the faculty said.