Radharaman Lok Sangeet Utsab begins

Radharaman Lok Sangeet Utsab 2021 began at the open stage of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the capital on Friday. The three-day folk music festival is featuring the songs of fifteen renowned folk maestros, including Radharaman Dutta, Shah Abdul Karim, Durbin Shah, Hason Raja, Wakil Munshi, Jalal Khan and others.

Folk singers from across the country are participating in the festival, which is also featuring discussions and dance recitals. The opening day of the festival featured songs of Radharaman Dutta.

The inaugural ceremony began with the singers of Radharaman Charchakari Dal singing Amar Mon Kore Akul and Surodhonir Kinaray. Following which, dance artistes of Spandan performed a group dance recital synchronised with the song Joler Ghate Deikha Ailam under the direction of Anik Bose.

Radharaman International Academy artistes sang Dada Robe Na Ar Jati Kul and Ekdin Bakya Chhale Koi Kutilay while Kaniz Khandaker Mitu, Lovely Dev, Abu Bakr Siddiq and Baul Babul Shah, among others, sang folk songs. Artistes of Saregama Dhamail Academy from Nabiganj also performed on the opening day of the festival.

The inaugural ceremony of the festival was held at 5:00pm. Ekushey Padak-winning Lalon singer Farida Parveen inaugurated the festival by lighting candles.

Planning minister MA Mannan was present as chief guest and former Dhaka University professor Syed Manzoorul Islam and Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission chairman Shyam Sunder Sikder, among others, were present as special guests at the inaugural ceremony.

Radharaman Sangskriti Charcha Kendra general secretary Bishwajit Roy delivered the welcome speech and the organisation’s vice-president Abul Khair presided over the programme.

‘We have been organising the festival for 11 years to promote the songs of Radharaman Dutta. We are organising this year’s festival under the theme Shamprodayikata Rukhte Hobe,’ said Bishwajit Roy.

‘I appreciate Radharaman Sangskriti Charcha Kendra’s initiative to promote Radharaman Dutta’s songs. Nowadays, his songs are becoming popular among music lovers abroad. Besides, the festival’s theme is relevant to the world of today,’ said MA Mannan.

This year’s festival has been organised with the support of the cultural affairs ministry and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. The festival is sponsored by IFIC Bank, Bank Asia, Rupali Bank, Sonali Bank and Robi Axiata Limited.

Radharaman Sangskriti Charcha Kendra has been organising the festival under the title Radharaman Sangeet Utsab since 2011. The name of the festival was changed to Radharaman Lok Sangeet Utsab in 2020. The three-day folk music festival will end on November 28.