10th Chobi Mela begins today

The tenth edition of Chobi Mela, one of the prestigious photography festivals in Asia, is going to be launched today with the theme 'place'.

The organisers will bring out a procession from Pathshala South Asian Media Institute following an inaugural ceremony at Chhayanaut Auditorium.

Festival director Shahidul Alam briefed the media on the mega carnival at a press conference at Drik Gallery in the capital's Dhanmondi area on Wednesday.

This year's event features 33 exhibitions with works from 44 artists spanning 21 countries.

The festival hosts eight workshops by prominent photo practitioners from around the world.

Artists like writer Arundhati Roy, German publisher and bookmaker Gerhard Steidl, Indian Bengali singer, songwriter and music researcher Moushumi Bhowmik and Indian photojournalist Raghu Rai will talk there.

Chobi Mela focuses on exposure and access of the less-exposed global artists (Asia, Africa, Latin America) to work towards change and prosperity, said Mr Alam. Mobile exhibitions on rickshaw vans have become a trademark of the festival resulting in an active participation of the masses, said the organisers.

The mobile show travels across the city to create a platform for expression for people with basic literacy.

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