A pitha mela (rice cake fair) featuring a cultural programme was held in Jhenidah last Sunday. Organised by 'Hunger Free world,' the mela was held at Kaliganj upazila in Jhenidah. Kaliganj upazila Nirbahi officer (UNO), Kamrul Huda inaugurated the mela on Sunday afternoon.
Housewives of adjacent villages gathered at the mela with different kinds of rice cakes including 'Pakan pitha,' 'Pati Shapta,' 'Dudh pitha,' 'Dhupi pitha,' 'Labango Latika,' 'Nakshi pitha,' 'Katakuli' and more hand-crafted with utmost care and love. Prices of pitha ranged from Tk 3 to 20.
A cultural programme held on the occasion included music, dance and poetry recitation.
'Hunger Free World' authorities also awarded scholarships among local students.
Flora Khatun, a local housewife, said that as people and families get bogged down with work, the art of pitha-making is likely to meet its demise. Certain kinds of pitha, which take painstaking efforts and time, are already disappearing from homes and festivities. Events like this pitha mela will help revive the culinary art form.
