A 6km run while watching the sunrise: 800-900 tourists in Kuakata beach marathon from Zero Point to Gangamati, followed by a pitha festival
Photo: Collected
A 6km beach marathon was held in Kuakata, Patuakhali, with about 800 to 900 tourists taking part on the beach at dawn. A pitha festival was also held after the run, which was organised on the occasion of the tourism carnival.
The run began at 5am on Saturday from Zero Point on Kuakata beach and ended at Gangamati beach.
The pitha festival began after the run. The taste and aroma of various traditional pithas spread the familiar atmosphere of rural Bengal across the venue. Participants were delighted to have run while enjoying the calm of dawn, the rolling waves of the sea and the beautiful view of the sunrise.
As part of the carnival, volleyball and celebrity cricket competitions are being held throughout the day, with a cultural programme in the evening.
The two-day festival will end at dawn tomorrow, 25 October, with a beach clean-up drive.
Earlier, last night’s (Friday) programme featured a stage show by film actress Purnima, songs by Chishti Baul and Pritom Hasan and a comedy show by Saddam Mal. A kite festival, a drawing competition and a beach football competition were held throughout the day.
Background
According to a report by The Daily Star Bangla on 20 October, the tourism carnival on 23 and 24 October is organised by Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, which is holding such an event in Kuakata after nine years. The festival is timed to coincide with the five-day holiday around Durga Puja.
By the numbers
Tourism stakeholders expect 5 to 6 lakh people to visit the beach during this period, and more than 300 hotels, motels and resorts with a capacity of about 50,000 are ready for them, the same report said.
Sources
Background source: The Daily Star Bangla, 20 October 2026
