New Old Dhaka

On a very spontaneous decision, my friend Ute and I decided to go to Old Dhaka, taking off from Gulshan-2 circle at about 3 pm.
I did not really know where to get off, so I just told the driver to let us out at Shodorghat, the famous harbour in Old Dhaka, where all the launches leave to almost everywhere in Bangladesh. The various rivers with their arms run through the whole country; from north and west to the coastal area in the south.

The CNG ride cost us 350 Taka due to the heavy traffic. We arrived at around 4:30 pm and immediately started to explore a "different" part of Dhaka.
Roaming around Shodorghat, there was lots to see. With a 4 Taka pass you can access the platform and see all the people coming and going, with their lugguage and lunchboxes, on a journey to or from Dhaka - maybe even overnight, as we were, when we went to Kuakata.

On the way from Shodorghat to Shankharia Bazaar/Hindu Street was Ahsan Manzil, also known as "the Pink Palace". As it was after five already, it was closed. But we were able to get some snaps and headed on to Hindu Street.
This part of Old Dhaka was "new" to me, as I have missed out on it around two and a half years ago. Street vendors roam the tiny streets and sell everything from spiritual books to paintings, jewellery and wedding gounds to food and the famous "Old Dhaka kites" for 6 Taka a piece.

On our tour Ute and I stopped and discussed in German what to do next. All of a sudden a man stood beside us, just listening. I asked if I could help him, but he apparently just wanted two people to talk in a foreign language. When I told him that it was German, he said "Oh German! I have heard people talk in German lots of time...".

We headed on. It became dark quickly and my camera wasn't performing as I wanted to. So there are no impressions of our visits to Tara Masjid/Star Mosque, Armenian Churcch and Hussaini Dalan.

But more impressions from Old Dhaka can be found on my blog post from August 2011.

One last time

Pohela Falgun

"Pohela Falgun" means the first of the Falgun month, which marks the arrival of Spring ("Boshonto"). People all over the country welcome the season of flowers. Men and women traditionally wear yellow and orange. Poems, stage plays, dances and songs are being performed, with Dhaka University being the main area of the festivities.

Luckily I had this 13th of February off and my colleague advised me to go to university campus to enjoy this day in a sea of colours. I have never experienced "Pohela Falgun" in Bangladesh before so this was quite exciting to me, as I did not know what to expect.

Dhaka University was full of people - young and old, men and women. Yellow and orange were seen everywhere. People were roaming around, having snacks at the many street vendors, singing songs and just enjoying themselves.

I met up with a friend and ended up at Bangla Academy, where the Ekushey Book Fair (boi mela) takes place every year in memory of the language movement.
Luckily were able to see a live stage play there, which had incredible performances and shadow plays on the side stage.

It seemed that this year Bangladeshis might have had more of a reason to celebrate the arrival of spring, not only because the winter was cold, but it was also politically turbulent...

street vendors

eco-friendly

Hindu shrine

Gate of Bangla Academy