Dhaka, Jan. 31 -- The 18th National Pitha Festival, one of the flagship winter festivities in the country, began Thursday at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA).

Celebrating Bangladesh's rich culinary and cultural heritage, the festival is being organised by the National Pitha Festival Celebration Council, in collaboration with Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, and sponsored by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.

The 10-day event will continue daily from 3 pm to 9 pm until February 8 at BSA premises.

On Thursday, the festival was inaugurated at 5 pm by Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki as the chief guest. Dr Syed Jamil Ahmed, Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, presided over the opening ceremony.

The event feat...