Butterflies are among nature's most beautiful creations. With a day-long display of butterflies with colourful wings, Jahangirnagar University held its butterfly fair on 24 November under the theme "When butterflies fly in the sky, nature gains new momentum". The university's zoology department has organised the fair since 2010 to raise public awareness of butterfly conservation and of the importance of butterflies in maintaining the balance of nature.

In colour and variety, a butterfly can only be compared with itself. Besides their beauty, butterflies help keep the environment in balance by taking part in plant pollination and other natural processes. Each wing looks like a living picture painted by a skilled artist's brush. Butterflies are not only a symbol of nature's beauty; they are also regarded as pollinators and as an indicator of the state of the environment. Yet the numbers of these colourful-winged insects are falling day by day.

To take a short break from the mechanical noise of the city, many came to the fair with family, relatives and friends to enjoy the beauty of the insect. Thousands of visitors from across the country, children, young people and the elderly alike, crowded the Jahangirnagar University campus, known for its natural beauty. Some saw live butterflies, some had butterfly tattoos painted on their bodies, some looked at colourful butterfly photographs and others painted butterflies. The country's only university-based butterfly fair was lively with the buzz of visitors.

The fair included a live butterfly display, a visit to the butterfly haat, drawing and quiz competitions on butterflies for children, a butterfly photography competition and exhibition, a butterfly identification contest, a contest flying kites shaped like butterflies, an open debate competition, butterfly documentary screenings and a prize-giving. Visitors came despite the stillness of a winter morning wrapped in fog.

Imtiaz Ahmed came from Nabinagar in Savar, bringing his two little daughters, looking for a little peace away from the rush of city life. The girls were thrilled, running here and there in the butterfly haat to see butterflies of all colours as he introduced them to different species. "Seeing butterflies is rare in city life of brick and stone. I learned about the butterfly fair on Facebook and rushed here with my daughters. The girls had a wonderful time with the puppet show, songs and drawing," he said.

Mehrab Hossain Opi, who comes to the fair every year, said: "The butterfly fair brings together people of all ages. Children can learn about butterflies from the stalls and other activities. Everyone learns about butterflies' diversity, their importance in nature and the role of butterfly conservation."

Taifa Nur, a child who came from Dhaka, said: "I love seeing butterflies. I see them when I go to the village, but they can't be seen in Dhaka any more. Today I am seeing butterflies of all different colours here. I really like it."

Little Insia, who came from Savar with her father, was delighted to see so many kinds of butterflies, and was very excited to take part in the drawing competition and watch the puppet show. Aiman Binoy, a nursery pupil who came from Kalyanpur with his father, said: "I came to the fair with my father. I saw butterflies of many colours and drew pictures. I like being at the fair."

Farhan Rafi, a student of the university's zoology department, said: "Butterflies are a priceless asset of nature. They are very necessary for the environment and the ecosystem. Everyone from children to the elderly comes to the butterfly fair. Prizes are given through various competitions, and awards are given for contributions to work on butterflies. That brings recognition for the work and encourages everyone to do more for butterflies."

Tanzilur Rahman, general secretary of the Nature Study and Conservation Club of Jagannath University, said: "Butterflies are an important part of our biodiversity. They are as wonderful to look at as their life cycle is varied. Their role in protecting gardens, cleaning the environment and helping us understand the climate is undeniable. We should come forward to conserve butterflies."

The fair's convener, Professor Md Monowar Hossain, said: "The butterfly is a small, beautiful creature that brings people joy. Day by day it is disappearing from nature. Jahangirnagar University once had 110 species of butterflies. Now the number has fallen to 57. If we want to keep trees and plants alive, we have to protect butterflies, because plants and trees come from butterfly pollination. That is why we hold this event, to help people understand the importance of butterflies and to raise public awareness."

After touring the fair, the university's vice-chancellor, Md Nurul Alam, said: "The butterfly fair has become a favourite for everyone. Its butterfly-themed displays have won a special place in people's hearts. The smiling participation of visitors is the fair's success. I call on everyone, visitors, competitors and butterfly experts, to come forward to conserve life and nature."

In the butterfly identification contest, Fahima Akter Sumi and Ali Akbar, members of the Nature Study and Conservation Club of Jagannath University's zoology department, came first, and Mohammad Sabbir Ahmed and Joy Biswas came second. The first team identified 10 species and the second team 7. Amena Akter Anika came first in the open debate competition.

This year the Butterfly Award for special contributions to wildlife and butterfly conservation went to Professor Dr Md Anwarul Islam of the zoology department of Dhaka University, and the Butterfly Young Enthusiast Award for research on butterflies went to Md Zahir Raihan, a student of the zoology department of Chittagong University.

For the first time this year, media awards were given to three people in print, online and broadcast categories. Jago News's Savar correspondent Mahfuzur Rahman Nipu and Bangla Tribune's Jahangirnagar University reporter Wazhatul Islam were among the three who received the Butterfly Media Award for publishing reports on butterflies.

Written by Meherabul Islam Soudip, feature writer.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.