Online Desk: Dhaka University campus experienced a vibrant and eventful day on Wednesday when students and others celebrated the Valentine’s Day and other major events amid festivity and celebrations.

February 14 is known as “the day of love” in the English calendar while the day coincided with the beginning of the Bengali month of Falgun, the first day of the Spring season.

Additionally, Wednesday also coincided with Swaraswati Puja, a Hindu festival celebrated at the renowned Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University, intensifying the festive atmosphere.

The day commenced with the Pahela Fagun festival at the Bokultola of the Fine Arts Faculty, where the campus was adorned with shining rays of the rising sun. Simultaneously, Swaraswati Puja commenced at Jagannath Hall, featuring 72 idols from various departments, institutes, universities, and halls.

Dhaka University was enveloped in a kaleidoscope of traditions as people from diverse backgrounds, adorned in festive attire, flocked to the campus.

The Bakultola hosted day-long programmes organised by the Bosonto Utsab Udjapon Committee to welcome the Spring season. Concurrently, another cultural programme took place at the ‘Bot tola’ of the Arts Faculty, celebrating the arrival of Falgun.

Students in panjabis and sarees, were a common sight at Charukola Faculty, holding red roses as they embraced the festive spirit.

Wasif Khan, a visitor from Mohammadpur, shared his plans for the day, expressing his intention to enjoy the festivities with his loved one. His day included visits to Charukola, Jagannath Hall for the Puja, the book fair, and possibly Rabindra Sarobar.

Tanni Das, a visitor to the Puja from Mirpur, highlighted her family’s annual tradition of paying homage to the goddess of knowledge, Saraswathi, at Jagannath Hall’s Puja ground. Despite the convergence of four mainstream festivals, she emphasized their focus on Swaraswati Puja.

As the book fair opened at 3:00 pm and continued until 9:00 pm, a discussion honouring language movement veteran Gaziul Haque took place at the main stage of the fair at Bangla Academy Premises. The influx of people from Pohela Falgun and Swaraswati Puja contributed to the bustling atmosphere at the book fair, with book sellers reporting increased sales.

However, the festivities led to substantial crowds and traffic jams in the Dhaka University area, causing inconvenience for students. Arif Hasan, a DU student, expressed frustration, noting the challenges to the university’s security and the well-being of its students amid the dense crowds.