DT e-Paper, Saturday, 12 November, 2016
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Showtime<br />
31<br />
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER <strong>12</strong>, <strong>2016</strong><br />
<strong>DT</strong><br />
Dhaka Folk Fest day one<br />
• Rayan Quddus<br />
This weekend, the streets and<br />
flyover in front of the oval-shaped<br />
Bangladesh Army Stadium was<br />
frozen, if not flooded with traffic.<br />
On a regular day, citizens would<br />
have been outraged. But this was<br />
an exception. It was the first day<br />
of the Dhaka International Folk<br />
Fest. In the middle of the chaos, an<br />
essence of the mystic bauls arose<br />
from the festival. The footpath<br />
adjacent to the venue had a line<br />
stretching a few miles at least.<br />
People entered the gates through a<br />
heavy security screening.<br />
As the clock hit 7:30pm, people<br />
were roaming about the secured<br />
arena after entering through the<br />
west side gates. The stage was at<br />
the north side, and there were<br />
hundreds of seats for the audience<br />
in the middle of the field. And<br />
it had a curtain roof, sheltering<br />
the crowd. This area was as big<br />
as 40 badminton courts. The<br />
whole atmosphere embodied the<br />
very definition of a festival. On<br />
the east side, there was a food<br />
court that had over a dozen stalls.<br />
Items ranging from biriyani to<br />
burgers were sold. The 36 nineseated<br />
tables were never empty<br />
throughout the night. People of<br />
all ages, were present. The elderly<br />
mostly had the front row views<br />
of the stage, while middle-aged<br />
parents roamed the area with their<br />
kids. And on the stadium seats,<br />
young adults scattered around in<br />
groups, having a great hangout.<br />
After the opening ceremony<br />
and speeches from Annisul Huq,<br />
the Mayor of Dhaka North City<br />
Corporation, and Abul Maal Abdul<br />
Muhith the Minister of Finance,<br />
the music began. People were<br />
roaming, chatting, eating and<br />
listening simultaneously. After<br />
getting warmed up by old-school<br />
folk melodies by Abdul Rahman<br />
Baul and Fakir Tuntun Shah, the<br />
audience started to lend their<br />
ears more. At 9:05pm, Simon<br />
Thacker and Raju Das Baul, took<br />
the place by storm. The people<br />
really enjoyed the fusion between<br />
Eastern and Western instruments.<br />
Almost everyone, including<br />
security forces, turned their heads<br />
to see the showdown between<br />
the guitar and the dotara. Later,<br />
Pakistani artist Javed Bashir put<br />
on a solid performance, which<br />
lasted well past11. He was followed<br />
by the day’s headliner, the Folk<br />
Queen, Momtaz Begum. Her voice,<br />
along with some catchy beats<br />
pumped up her fans. She sang way<br />
past midnight. The event ended<br />
with electrified visitors returning<br />
home, filled with the enjoyment of<br />
the occasion.<br />
The organisers have declined<br />
to disclose the number of visitors<br />
throughout the day, for security<br />
measures. But according to<br />
rumblings amongst the press, it<br />
was approximately 15,000. The<br />
security forces did a very good<br />
job. The arena staff kept the<br />
washrooms and the fields clean.<br />
Dozens of garbage cans were<br />
spread throughout the entire<br />
event. Catch the last of day of<br />
this well organis ed festival today,<br />
if you have the registered pass.<br />
Don’t miss out. Sun Events and<br />
Maasranga Television has jointly<br />
arranged this event for the second<br />
year in a row, and they have done a<br />
great job. •<br />
Another loss in <strong>2016</strong><br />
• Showtime Desk<br />
Canadian singer, songwriter<br />
and poet, Leonard Cohen’s<br />
death was confirmed at the age<br />
of 82, last Thursday. The news<br />
was announced on his official<br />
Facebook page, but no details<br />
about the cause of death were<br />
given. From the Prime Minister<br />
of Canada to actors, musicians,<br />
and fans, who were inspired by<br />
the legendary singer-songwriter,<br />
mourning the loss have taken<br />
to social media to share their<br />
memories to bid farewell.<br />
Justin Trudeau @JustinTrudeau<br />
No other artist’s music felt or<br />
sounded like Leonard Cohen’s.<br />
Yet his work resonated across<br />
generations. Canada and the world<br />
will miss him.<br />
Jennifer Hudson @IAMJHUD<br />
RIP Leonard Cohen. Thank you for<br />
you dedication to music, & writing<br />
one of my favorite songs to sing<br />
“Hallelujah”.<br />
Justin Timberlake @jtimberlake<br />
#RIPLeonardCohen<br />
A spirit and soul beyond compare.<br />
Russell Crowe @russellcrowe<br />
Dear Leonard Cohen, thanks for<br />
the quiet nights, the reflection, the<br />
perspective, the wry smiles and<br />
the truth #towerofsong<br />
Ruby Rose @RubyRose<br />
So we lost Prince. Bowie. Leonard<br />
Cohen and elected Trump... I’m<br />
just saying it’s been a pretty big let<br />
down <strong>2016</strong>...<br />
lily allen @lilyallen<br />
As of the week could get any<br />
worse. Thank you Leonard Cohen,<br />
for all the things. Rest In Peace<br />
mia farrow @MiaFarrow<br />
“I am ready to die. I hope it’s not<br />
too uncomfortable. That’s about it<br />
for me.-Leonard Cohen •
Change language