'Ghonoghota 2' brings Charukola alive with dance, rain and resilience
Organised by the Arthy Ahmed Dance Academy, the 90-minute open-air programme began at 11am today (17 July) and featured more than 300 performers aged between three and seventy.
As monsoon rains continue to drench Dhaka, hundreds gathered at Bakultala of the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka, where "Ghonoghota 2" transformed the season from a source of disruption into a celebration of culture, community and compassion.
For most people in Dhaka, the monsoon brings flooded streets, endless traffic and disrupted routines. Today at Bakultala of the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka, rain became a celebration.
Organised by the Arthy Ahmed Dance Academy, the 90-minute open-air programme began at 11am today (17 July) and featured more than 300 performers aged between three and seventy.
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Inspired by the spirit of the monsoon, the production combined dance with the poetry of Rabindranath Tagore, the works of Kazi Nazrul Islam and Bengal's rich folk traditions.
The event was the academy's first major production since its founder, Ekushey Padak-winning dancer and choreographer Arthy Ahmed, received the country's second-highest civilian honour earlier this year.
Participants came from remarkably diverse backgrounds. Alongside trained dancers were doctors, engineers, teachers, journalists, researchers, homemakers and first-time performers, demonstrating that dance can be a shared cultural language rather than the preserve of professionals.
Beyond its artistic appeal, the festival carried a humanitarian message. Donation booths run by JAAGO Foundation collected funds throughout the programme for people affected by recent floods in the Chattogram Hill Tracts. Many visitors stopped to contribute, adding a layer of social responsibility to a celebration of art and beauty.
The audience reflected the same diversity as the performers. Families, students, photographers and cultural enthusiasts filled Bakultala, many dressed in shades of white, blue and green, creating a vibrant backdrop beneath the open sky.
Mahjabin Tasnim Munia said she enjoyed the mesmerizing performances very much. "I'm not a fan of crowds, but I couldn't resist coming after hearing about such a beautiful cultural programme on campus. It was wonderful seeing so many familiar faces. I especially enjoyed watching people's expressions, and I managed to capture some beautiful photographs."
For Samiul Sadid, the youngest performers stole the show. "I enjoyed the event very much, especially the children's performances. I came without an umbrella, expecting it to rain, but the rain never came."
Not everyone, however, had an effortless experience. Tabia Taiara Islam said Dhaka's notorious traffic kept some of her friends from joining the celebration. "Some of my friends couldn't make it from Mohammadpur because of the congestion. We had also planned to wear sarees for the occasion, but the heat made it difficult."
Among the crowd was a High Court lawyer carrying a professional drone to capture the performances from above, a reminder that the festival had become as much a visual spectacle as a cultural one.
A media professional praised the performances but felt the organisers could have made better arrangements for journalists covering the event. "I really enjoyed the performances. However, the arrangements weren't very media-friendly. I was pushed three times while trying to cover the event."
As the programme concluded, the expected rain still had not arrived. Yet the absence of rainfall did little to diminish the spirit of the occasion. Through music, poetries and collective participation, 'Ghonoghota 2' offered a different way of experiencing the monsoon--one where culture, inclusivity and empathy flowed more freely than the season's rain itself.
