RANGPUR, Dec 26 (BSS): People of all ages are rushing the 'Swanirvor Pitha Mela' at Adarsha High School ground to take the test of different types of winter 'Pitha' and 'Puli' and experience rural life in the city.
Beginning from last December 23, the fair will end on December 31 next. The stalls there will be open from 3 pm to 10:30 pm every day.
The 32 destitute women, who generally sell pitha sitting on the sidewalk for their survival with family members, are participating in the fair and selling their produced winter cakes to the tune of Taka 0.1 million (one-lakh) everyday.
The organiser has decorated the surroundings of the fair in the style of a rural atmosphere and Bengali culture creating a fascinating scene there.
While visiting the fair on Wednesday afternoon, this reporter found that rows of stoves were burning with the sound of bubbling in the pots and steamed Pitha was being made. Oil Pitha was being fried in hot pans.
A crowd of people of all ages, including young people, was seen walking around the fairgrounds.
All participating women were busy making various types of Pitha and Puli and selling those to the visiting school, college and university-level students, youths, couples, men and women. In the evening, the fair, decorated with colorful lights, was filled with a crowd of Pitha-lover visitors.
Shahnaz Begum, who makes Pitha and sells those in the fair, said she used to prepare and sell Pitha sitting on the sidewalk in the city to earn livelihoods.
"Like last year, I am participating in this Pitha Mela organised by the Women's Dreamer Cricket Academy," said Shahnaz.
She is making two types of Pitha at the fair. One is oyster Pitha, the other is rose Pitha. She is charging Taka 15 and Taka 20 per piece of Pitha respectively.
Another woman Bilkis Begum is making Semai Pitha and Dudhkuli Pitha and selling each plate of these highly popular winter cakes at Taka 50.
Another distressed woman Rubina Begum said she is making several types of Pitha including egg Pitha. Her Pitha costs Taka 20 per piece. All Pitha-selling women, who are financially insolvent and run a family by selling Pithas on the sidewalk, said none of them had to pay single money for participating in the fair. Talking to the news agency, Rafiul Islam, Mubarak Hossain, Dulala Mian, Nargis Parveen, Lubna Rahman and Mahfuza Jasmine-Farhad Hossain couple, who visited the fair, said the fair had more visitors this season than the last time.
"The decoration of stalls and assortment of different types of Pitha caught our concentration. We are happy that the fair aims to show women 'the path to employment'.
