Chittagong, June 29: The Chittagong District Shilpakala Academy was filled with colorful arrangements of local fruits, melodious melodies, poetic inspiration and a touching atmosphere of culture. The local fruit festival organized by the Swarlapi Cultural Center has been praised as one of the most exceptional and vibrant cultural events in Chittagong in recent times. The five-hour festival, which lasted from 6 pm to 11 pm on Monday, created a unique cultural atmosphere throughout the auditorium. The stage decorated with various local fruits including mango, jackfruit, litchi, jam, jamrul, guava, pineapple, watermelon, daub, banana, safeda and lemon took the audience back to the memories of Bengal’s villages, nature and childhood. The main sponsor of the program was Engineer Jasim Uddin Joni, Chairman of Nahar Group and Nahar Builders. Shamshul Haider Tushar, Director of Swarlapi Cultural Center and prominent vocalist of Bangladesh Betar and Television, presided over the event. The entire program was hosted by recitation artist Faruk Taher. Chittagong Metropolitan Police Deputy Police Commissioner Amirul Islam, Chittagong District Shilpakala Academy Cultural Officer Syed Ayaz Mabud, eminent musician Muhammad Iqbal Haider, ghazal artist Shahajan Khan, folk singer Manas Pal Chowdhury and journalist, researcher and television presenter Mohammad Kamal Uddin were present as special guests at the program. In addition, the auditorium turned into a lively gathering with the presence of more than two hundred guests and spectators, including various personalities from the social, cultural and media fields. In the cultural segment, notation students Joy Dutta, Ridu Chowdhury, Ivy Das, Nusrat Sumi, Tipu Majumder, Naeem Mahmud and Mujibur Rahman mesmerized the audience by performing music. Later, renowned artists of Bangladesh Betar and Television Shamsul Haider Tushar, Iqbal Pintu, Muhammad Iqbal Haider, Mozaherul Islam, Saifuddin S. B. Sumi and Srabanti Shukla performed songs one after another, captivating the audience with applause. Sumon Das (keyboard), Kanu Chakraborty (tabla), TT Das (octopad), Tanmoy (lead guitar), Palash (bass guitar) assisted in the musical instruments and Masud was in charge of sound control. During the discussion, the speakers said that local fruits are an important part of our agriculture, culture and tradition. Such an arrangement is very necessary to familiarize the new generation with local fruits and inspire healthy eating habits. Journalist Mohammad Kamal Uddin said in his speech, “A nation that loves its soil, its fruits and its culture never loses its identity.” Later, he recited a poem written on local fruits, which was widely appreciated by the audience. At the end of the program, various types of local fruits were distributed among the guests and the audience. Everyone enjoyed the fruits in a joyful atmosphere and captured the memorable moments in photographs. According to the organizers, this fruit festival of the Swaralipi Cultural Center was not just a cultural program; it was a unique celebration of the roots of Bengal, local fruits, literature, art and human ties. According to the participants, this event on June 29 will be remembered for a long time in the cultural arena of Chittagong.