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The stadium comes alive

Fahmim Ferdous
The classical music festival last year, in all its grandeur, had slipped through the calendars of many, as they got to know about it late. The audience grew over the days in the 2012 festival - thanks to on-spot registration - as people got to find out about it as it was happening. Many people missed the festival altogether, getting to know about it too late.
This year was different. With the platform set last year, many people had kept this event on their radar, and Bengal Foundation's in-advance online/cellphone-based registration policy meant anyone interested were prepared for it from beforehand.
Even as Vishal Krishna - one of the lesser-known names of this year's lineup - took the well-designed Army Stadium stage at 7pm, the seats were filling up quickly. And not just die registered users; complimentary VIP pass holders were also uncharacteristically early to the grounds, not willing to miss any of the marvel. As die night progressed, the number grew - with many taking seats in the gallery at die back, while others sat at the dining area - a bigger zone this year widi a higher ceiling and better viewing on one of die several big projection screens.
Bengal Foundation's attention to details in organizing the festival was praised last year, and it seems they have improved on that. The entire venue was structured more or less like last year, with a few stalls displaced.
Water-containers were placed at quite a few points for the audience to drink, while stalls selling tea and coffee were also spread around. The food court was a long, single line selling a wide variety of delicacies - from bhapa pitha to light snacks to heavy dinner items.
There were quite a few other stalls of the partners of the events, at the other side of the grounds; people visited The Daily Star Books and Prothoma Prokashoni (from The Daily Prothom Alo), while stalls by Bengal Foundation, Square group and BRAC Bank were also set up.
The exhibition space that drew interest last year -featuring photos and short bio of all the classical music and dance greats of this region of the past few centuries -was set up this time as well, and many were seen spending time there in between performances. A sculpted version of the logo of the festival was also put up there.
The media centre set up this year - for coordination with journalists conveniently, was also appreciated by the media-men, as they collected required information, and availed sendees such as internet and charging their electronic gadgets.
If the first night of the festival - amid an ongoing strike in the city prompting a halt to the shuttle sendee to the festival venue - was any indication, the next three nights, two of which are weekends, were only going to see a more pulsating, throbbing festival thronged by people of all ages and class, brought together by the common denominator of taste for good music and dance.