Cultivation of traditional culture counts

English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley in his famous poem, "Ode to the West Wind" writes, O, Wind/ If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind? By this he actually presents the contrasts of conditions and situations man faces throughout his life. The cycle of winter with severe chill and Spring with the pleasantest of times rotates. Apparently the chilly winter is only conspicuous by its absence this time. Not many people, though, are expected to miss the oppressive winter in this part of the world. People here are not accustomed to adjusting with temperatures below the double digits let alone when the mercury reads anywhere minus on the scale.
On the Bangla calendar, it is the end of Poush, the month when people were supposed to shiver by cold spell. But apart from the country's north, the rest are enjoying mostly a spring-like weather. On some mornings, fogs are there but they are not too dense to interrupt people's daily routine. On some days, dense fogs indeed cause interruption to ferries carrying vehicles across the Padma River. Otherwise, this winter is pleasant enough. Only more so, because of the festivities.
Traditionally, the winter is known for Nabanno, meaning foods prepared from newly harvested rice. In this case, it is an array of indigenous cakes made from rice powder. Date molasses, sweeter than sugar and with its distinct flavour makes such indigenous cakes all the more delicious. The Hindu community also observes Makar Sangkranti at this time. Patisapta, a delicacy by its own right, grace the occasion. In Bangladesh, however, there is an attempt to reinvent the traditional festivities without the stamp of a particular community. This is good that such a fair was organised on the Bangla Academy premises where the focus was on the rural life with its rich tradition. Along with the celebration of life in villages, all kinds of traditional cakes were exhibited there. Additionally, those were for sale to visitors most of whom are from urban background.
In fact, festive occasions need to be invented. And they get invented when people have money to spare for such cultured indulgences. Many of the country's traditional foods were on the verge of disappearance, so were a number of art and craft. But fortunately, the country's economic turn-around has happened at a time when those foods, art and craft -highly representative of the country's culture and tradition - did not vanish into distant memory. Today, people have enough money at their disposal to revive many of those fading glories this land was once known for.
Thanks to Rabindranath, he and his enlightened family set the tone of Bangalee taste ranging from clothing to all kinds of bonding of human fraternity. The rakhi bandhan was one such timely celebration in order to cement ties between the Hindus and the Muslims. Now as the citizens of an independent Bangladesh, the people here has an obligation to reinvent its culture. Welcoming the Bangla New Year was the beginning of such a quest for a special identity of the people. On that count, the attempt has achieved a crowning glory. Since then Sarat Utsab and celebration of Nabanno have also attracted many people. But the appeal is admittedly limited to an insignificant number of the total population of the city or elsewhere.          
There is a need for returning to the mooring of this people. The education system has left little respite for children to pursue extra-curricular activities. Also there is bigotry on the way to pulling the masses to the secular space where people can breathe fresh air without being restricted by undue religious sanctions. Sports and cultural activities can indeed liberate minds suffering from many inhibitions.
So it is necessary to get past the boundary of the urban elite up to the rural farmers and people of many occupations. Unless there is a clear understanding and a subsequent bonding between the two sides across the cultural divides, the country will suffer on account of distorted views and values. Let there be no misconception that the task is going to prove daunting but signs are clear too -if cultivated, the divide will come down. If the country's wealth distribution can be made a little more rational, it will not take long for the rural people to appreciate refine taste. Their simplicity and rich culture will help them on their journey to enlightenment. But first of all take the heavy burden of unnecessary syllabus off the back of young learners.