To popularise the traditions of rural Bangladesh, a day-long Poush mela and pitha utshab was held at Jela Shilpakala Academy (JSA) premises in the port city on Sunday.

Haatkhola and District Shilpakala Academy jointly organised the programme. Mahbubul Alam, President of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, inaugurated the festival.

A variety of pithas, like tal, bokul, narkel puli, ring pitha, bhapa, golap pitha, beni pitha, mung pakon, dudh chitoi, patisapta and more were sold at seven stalls all day long. Apart from the mouth-watering pithas, different kinds of winter clothes were also on display.

People from all walks of life thronged the venue to get a taste of different varieties of pithas, an integral part of our winter, with the rhythm of folk dance and folk songs of Chittagong. Baul songs also accompanied the festival.