Once upon a time, the fair culture of Dhaka was vibrant and bustling with life.
The city was renowned for its colorful fairs and festivals, which brought together people from all walks of life.
These events were not just about entertainment; they were a celebration of the city’s rich cultural heritage and traditions.
However, as life became more mechanized with the turn of the century, the culture of organizing fairs became almost extinct.
Dhaka already lacks open space, and children of the city are now busy with their studies and mandatory extracurricular activities.
As a result, going to restaurants or a few accessible parks on weekends becomes an exciting part of their monotonous lives.
To break the repetitive schedule, children of the city can visit the Kids Time Fair at Bangladesh Shishu Academy.
The fair offers attractions such as puppet shows, magic shows and special games.
Additionally, children can participate in dance, music and poetry recitations.
Tamanna, one of the thousand children who joined the fair, shared her excitement with Dhaka Tribune: “I look forward to Friday because I can spend the whole day with my father.”
Tasmiah Nowshaba, a resident of Banasree, brought her 3-year-old child Zayra to the fair.
Zayra engaged in activities like throwing rings to hoops and playing with dirt balloons and received card stickers for her participation.
Nowshaba said: “As many children are participating here, Zayra is enjoying the event.”
She usually takes Zayra to indoor playgrounds but occasionally brings her to her university campus to enjoy the open space.
Reflecting on her own childhood, Nowshaba recalled: “I grew up in the city where Shishu Park and Wonderland were available for children at a nominal cost. Now, there are more activities available for children, but they come at a cost.”
She called for the reopening of publicly owned children’s parks to make playtime accessible for all children.
The fair’s organizer, Light of Hope CEO Waliullah Bhuiyan, emphasized the uniqueness of each child and the importance of providing spaces where children can express themselves.
“Every child is different, which makes their expressions different. We are trying to create a space where every child can express himself or herself,” he told Dhaka Tribune.
Kids Time founder Tahmina Rahman said: “This event aims to bring together different brands and initiatives focused on the education, health and well-being of children aged 3 to 12.”
She emphasized that one of the goals of the fair is to inform parents about creativity, safe food and nutrition.
Ten Minute School founder Ayman Sadiq, child influencer Umme Maisun and influencer Shuvasish Bhowmick conducted sessions for children and their parents.
Organized for the fifth time, the Kids Time Fair will continue until January 26, offering a nostalgic glimpse into the vibrant fair culture that once defined Dhaka.
