The Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation (BGTF) has been celebrating the day over the last three years. Their quest is to fuse the materialistic urban life with tradition. Mamunur Rashid, Chairman of BGTF, says, "Chaitra Shangkranti is a traditional festival related to our roots. In rural Bangla people celebrate the date by lighting Akash Pradip, a kind of flare, with the hope of better days in the coming year. In keeping with tradition, we will celebrate Chaitra Shangkranti with enthusiasm and celebration."

This evening, BGTF will hold cultural programmes at the Mahila Samiti Mancha to observe Chaitra Shangkranti. As in the previous two years, Keramat Moula, the Vice President of BGTF, has been selected as the convenor of the arrangement. He says, "In the last date of Bangla 1411, we have organised a colourful evening to observe Chaitra Shangkranti. The programme will be inaugurated by former Chief Justice Habibur Rahman. Besides, participation of the theatre workers, traditional and classical oriental events are included in the programme."

"Shahadad Hossain will play the sarod, while Bari Siddiqui and Abdul Hakim on flute, Nusrat Momotaz Rupashi on violin will perform. Abinash Shil will play dotara. Acclaimed Lalon singer Farida Parvin and modern singer Syed Abdul Hadi will perform. Shiblee-Nipa duo will present dance," says Keramat.

The other attraction of the function is the enthusiastic presentation of dhol, kansh and jhanjhor by the theatre workers.

Liaquat Ali Lucky, Secretary General of BGTF, says, "In the Bangla year 1411, we expect to introduce professionalism in our theatre. If the patronage at the private level increases in the coming year, we expect that we will be able to reach the target."

Theatre activists of the country also hope for greater peace in the country so that they can give their optimum to this performing art and also preserve diversified indigenous art forms in this era of globalisation.

Palli Baul Shamaj Unnayan Shangstha, a Baul singers' organisation will stage a Baul Festival at the Engineers' Institution today. Baul singers from all over the country will participate at the programme.

Nazrul Institute will also hold a children's art and Nazrul song competition, at the Institute's premises.

The State Minister for Cultural Affairs Begum Selima Rahman will attend a special programme organised by Jatiyo Granthakendra at the Central Public Library auditorium. She will present books to the publishers, literary personalities and also people from different walks of life to promote the trend of presenting books as gifts on the occasion of Chaitra Shangkranti and Nababarsha.

Cultural organisation, Shurer Dhara will stage a dance drama, Tasher Desh, at the Lalmatia Girls School.

Padatik Nattya Sangsad will celebrate Chaitra Shangkranti for the third time at the Rabindra Sarovar. The dance troupes of Sharmila Bandyapadhyay, Tamanna Rahman, Nrityam and Nrityanandan will perform dance pieces while Tagore singers Tapan Mahmud, Fahim Hossain Chowdhury, Nayma Ali, Nahar Jamil, Salma Akbar, Sajed Akbar, Nargis Chowdhury, Lilly Islam and Mita Haq will render songs along with different musical groups such as Geetanjali, Kranti, Nibedon, Padatik Sangeet Sangsad. Folk singers Biswajit Ray, Biman Chandra Biswas and Bijon Misra will perform different genres of songs. The play Jalbalika will be staged at the end of the programme.

Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology will also stage a fashion show today at the university premises.