by Md Mamun Islam
 
RANGPUR, Dec 26, 2024 (BSS) - People of all ages are rushing the 'Swanirvor 
Pitha Mela' at Adarsha High School ground to take the taste of different types 
of winter 'Pitha' and 'Puli' and experience rural life in the city. 
 
Everyone visiting the fair is highly appreciating its organiser, social 
worker and former Premier Division Cricketer Arifa Jahan Bithi, for arranging 
such an event to make the distressed women self-reliant.
 
Bithi, founder and president of Women's Dreamer Cricket Academy (WDCA) 
Rangpur and Humanity Foundation, has earned a reputation by conducting 
multidimensional social welfare activities and standing beside suffering 
humanity for many years. 
 
Bithi, also the founding trainer of the WDCA, has organised the nine-day 
'Swanirvor Pitha Mela' (Season-2) for the second time and extended assistance 
to 32 poor women to set up stalls, prepare winter cakes and sell those in the 
fair.
 
Beginning from last December 23, the fair will end on December 31 next. The 
stalls there will be open from 3 pm to 10:30 pm every day. 
 
The 32 destitute women, who generally sell pitha sitting on the sidewalk for 
their survival with family members, are participating in the fair and selling 
their produced winter cakes to the tune of Taka one-lakh everyday.
 
The organiser has decorated the surroundings of the fair in the style of a 
rural atmosphere and Bengali culture creating a fascinating scene there. 
 
While visiting the fair on Wednesday afternoon, this reporter found that rows 
of stoves were burning with the sound of bubbling in the pots and steamed 
Pitha was being made. Oil Pitha was being fried in hot pans. 
 
A crowd of people of all ages, including young people, was seen walking 
around the fairgrounds. 
 
All participating women were busy making various types of Pitha and Puli and 
selling those to the visiting school, college and university-level students, 
youths, couples, men and women. 
 
In the evening, the fair, decorated with colorful lights, was filled with a 
crowd of Pitha-lover visitors. 
 
Shahnaz Begum, who makes Pitha and sells those in the fair, said she used to 
prepare and sell Pitha sitting on the sidewalk in the city to earn 
livelihoods. 
 
"Like last year, I am participating in this Pitha Mela organised by the 
Women's Dreamer Cricket Academy," said Shahnaz. 
 
She is making two types of Pitha at the fair. One is oyster Pitha, the other 
is rose Pitha. She is charging Taka 15 and Taka 20 per piece of Pitha 
respectively. 
 
Another woman Bilkis Begum is making Semai Pitha and Dudhkuli Pitha and 
selling each plate of these highly popular winter cakes at Taka 50. 
 
Another distressed woman Rubina Begum said she is making several types of 
Pitha including egg Pitha. Her Pitha costs Taka 20 per piece. 
 
All Pitha-selling women, who are financially insolvent and run a family by 
selling Pithas on the sidewalk, said none of them had to pay single money for 
participating in the fair. 
 
Talking to BSS, Rafiul Islam, Mubarak Hossain, Dulala Mian, Nargis Parveen, 
Lubna Rahman and Mahfuza Jasmine-Farhad Hossain couple, who visited the fair, 
said the fair had more visitors this season than the last time. 
 
"The decoration of stalls and assortment of different types of Pitha caught 
our concentration. We are happy that the fair aims to show women 'the path to 
employment'. Thanks to Arifa Jahan Bithi for her noble initiative," said 
Rafiul Islam.
 
Talking to BSS today, Bithi said the fair has been organised mainly to extend 
assistance and show the way to the hard-working distressed and poor women to 
become self-reliant.
 
In addition, the fair will introduce the present generation to the Bengali 
tradition of winter Pitha while experiencing rural life in the city. 
 
"Every mother and sister participating in the fair is struggling and 
financially poor. But they continue to sell Pitha on the sidewalk even in the 
bitter cold of the city. They are constantly trying to restore prosperity to 
their families," she added. 
 
The WDCA president said, "We have given an opportunity to these women to 
participate in the fair. We have supported them in every possible way. 
Through the fair, they will be encouraged and supported to start a new path 
in their career." 
 
At the end of the fair, the profit generated from the sale of Pitha, along 
with the ingredients for making Pitha, will be divided equally among the 
participating women. 
 
"Arrangements will be made to make 16 out of the 32 participating women in 
the fair self-reliant," Bithi said, and called on everyone to respect and 
stand beside the helpless people of the society in all possible ways to give 
them a new life.