Buoyancy and an air of romance spread among the people of Bangladesh on Wednesday as they celebrated Pahela Falgun, a festival welcoming the arrival of spring, and Valentine’s Day, a day of expressing the feeling of love, across the country.

The first day of spring coincided with the day of love doubling their mirth and merriment.

Dhaka turned into a city of colour with men and women adorned in saffron and red panjabi, saree and salwar kameez taking to the streets to celebrate the day and make remarkable memories. Some, including foreign visitors, had their faces painted in various colours of traditional alpona designs.

Starting from Shahbagh, the celebration of the day spread to Sufia Kamal National Public Library, Faculty of Fine Arts, TSC, Aparjeyo Bangla, Battala, Hakim Chattar, VC Chattar, Fuller Road, Suhrawardy Udyan and Ramna Park.

The Jatiya Basanta Utsab Udjapan Parishad, a spring festival celebration group, organised a daylong programme titled “Basanta Utsab 1430” packed with music, dance, recitation and elocution performances at Bakultala of the Faculty of Fine Arts on Dhaka University campus.

The festival began with Jyoti Bandopaddhay’s performance of raga Basanta Mukhari on sitar at 7:15am. It was followed by a dance performance by Puja Sengupta and her troupe.

Later, artistes from over ten cultural organisations performed at the event.

Swapna Bikash Kala Kendra, Nartanam Centre for Performing Arts, Bulbul Lalitakala Academy, Nrityam, Bhabna, Dhriti Nartanalay, Spondon, Nrityakkho, Rabindra Srijankala Bishwabidyaloy, Jhankar Nritya Academy and Kathak Nritya Sampraday performed group dance in the event.

Besides, Saju Ahmed, Dipa Sarker, and Benjir Salam appeared on stage with solo dance performances.

Satyen Sen Shilpi Gosthi, Surer Dhara, Nirjhorini Academy and Surbihar (Children and Adolescents) performed chorus songs while Shama Rahman, Anima Mukti Gomez, Laisa Ahmed Lisa, Biman Chandra Biswas, Bulbul Islam, Priyanka Gope, Suchi Debnath, Fahim Hossain Chowdhury, Sanjay Kobiraj, Mahjabin Shawli, Suraiya Parvin, Mamun Zahid Khan and Obinash Baul performed solo songs.

Recitation artistes Bhaswar Bandyopadhyay, Naila Tarannum Chowdhury Kakoli, and Belayet invoked spring reciting poems.

The programme was divided into two segments. The second phase of the event started at 3:30pm with performances by the artistes of Bengal Parampara. Organisers and guests addressed the audience in the middle of performances.

Jatiya Basanta Utsab Udjapan Parishad President Safiuddin Ahmed said it is basically a festival of unity.

“We have been celebrating the festival in the city for many years. The festival celebration group just gave it an official form. This year, the event coincided with Valentine’s Day. We are welcoming the spring by celebrating both festivals,” he said.

Parishad’s General Secretary Manjar Chowdhury Sweet readdressed about the dream of building a secular Bangladesh through this festival.

“The country we dreamt of during the Liberation War is a Bangladesh for all people. We will build a Bangladesh of equality, moving past divisions of caste and creed. Let the radiant light of spring touch us all,” he said.

Sweet also recalled late poet Shamsur Rahman, musician Waheedul Haque, actor Aly Zaker, recitation artist Kazi Arif, and other notable cultural personalities who had passed away.

Cultural programmes were also arranged at Bahadur Shah Park in Old Dhaka and Bangabandhu Open Stage in Uttara.

Apart from the parishad, Samageet arranged a discussion and cultural programme at Bottala in front of Kalabhaban on Dhaka University campus where Kafil Ahmed, Lila, Krishnakoli, Sayan, Samageet, Madal and Gangafaring performed solo and chorus songs.

In 1585, Mughal Emperor Akbar introduced the Bengali calendar and a tradition of celebrating 14 festivals throughout the year. The spring festival was one of those festivals.

Bangladesh began to celebrate the Basanta Utsab’s urban version in the 1990s following the anti-autocracy movement on a limited scale at Bakultala.

Later in the Bengali year of 1401, the Jatiya Basanta Utsab Udjapan Parishad began formal celebrations in Dhaka.

Pahela Phalgun has had an added dimension because it has been coinciding with Valentine’s Day for the past couple of years.

Various events were organised by different corporate brands to entertain the couples who stepped outside to celebrate Valentine’s Day.