Introduction:
Bangladesh appeared on the world map as an independent and sovereign state on December 16, 1971, following the victory in the War of Liberation with Pakistan. Bangladesh is a member of the United Nations (UN) and its various specialized bodies and agencies, including ESCAP. She is also a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC), including their various affiliated organs. Bangladesh, which has a thousand years of recorded history, has a rich and varied cultural heritage and is well known for its music, poetry, and paintings. Bangladesh is a small country with a rich cultural heritage.
It is not only the Bengalis (plains people) who have contributed to this culture but also the several hundred tribal communities of the country who live mainly in the Hill areas of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, in the Districts of Dinajpur, Rajshahi, Sylhet, and the plains forests in Dhaka, Tangail, Mymensingh, and Jamalpur. Historically, Bangladesh has earned the reputation of being at the crossroads of many cultures. The ruins of magnificent cities and monuments left behind in many parts of the country by the vanishing dynasties of rulers still bear testimony to the richness of its cultural heritage.
Bangladesh has always been known as a land full of nature’s bounties, as evident from the vast expanses of its lush crop fields, borderland hills thickly covered with virgin forests, and innumerable rivers and their tributaries, making it the world’s largest delta. Ancient chroniclers have described it as “a land of emerald and silver”, “a garden fit for kings”, or “a paradise among countries”. It is no wonder then that this country has always attracted settlers, traders, and conquerors who turned the land into a vast melting pot of diverse races and cultures.
Despite the destruction caused by natural calamities, ever-changing courses of turbulent rivers, heavy humidity, fast-growing vegetation, and expanding population, countless ancient monuments and antiquities are scattered throughout the country. Excavations at Paharpur, Vasu-Bihar, Mahasthan, Sitakot, Mainamati, and other ancient sites, together with research, have greatly helped enrich knowledge about the country’s early history. In the absence of stone in the region, most of the ancient monuments and buildings were built with highly perishable mud, bamboo, reed, or timber, or with durable burnt bricks and mud mortar.
It is, however, no small irony that whatever of these monuments were spared by nature were vandalized by waves of conquerors and treasure hunters. Anniversaries, fairs, and festivals form a vital part of the social life of ordinary Bangladeshis. The biggest religious festival is Eid-ul-Fitr. Other Muslim Festivals include Eid-ul-Azha, Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, Muharram, and Shab-e-Barat. Widely celebrated festivals of other communities include Durga Puja of the Hindus, Christmas of the Christians, and Buddha Purnima of the Buddhists.
Among the non-religious anniversaries, Bengali New Year (Pahela Baishakh, on 14 April), Language Martyrs’ Day (on 21 February, now also called International Mother Language Day), Independence and National Day (26 March), National Revolution and Solidarity Day (7 November), and Victory Day (16 December) are celebrated nationwide.
FAIRS IN BANGLADESH
BAISAKHI MELA:
Bangla new year procession in the city. Celebrations of Pahela Baisakh started during Emperor Akbar’s reign. It was customary to clear up all the year’s dues on the last day of Chaitra (the twelfth month of the Bengali calendar). On the following day or the first day of the new year, landlords would entertain their tenants with sweets. Fairs used to be organized on this occasion. In due course, the occasion became part of domestic and social life and turned into a day of merriment. New year’s festivities are closely linked with rural life in Bengal. Usually, on the day, everything is thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned. People bathe early in the morning, dress in fine clothes and visit relatives, friends, and neighbors. Special foods are prepared to entertain guests.
Baisakhi Melas are arranged in many parts of the country. Pahela Baisakh – the first day of the Bangla Calendar – is heralded at a musical function arranged at dawn at Ramna Park. Various agricultural products, traditional handicrafts, toys, cosmetics, as well as various kinds of food and sweets, are sold at these fairs. The fairs also provide entertainment, with singers and dancers staging Jatra, Pala gan, Kavigan, Jarigan, Gambhira Gan, Gazir Gan, and Alkap Gan. Artists present folk songs as well as Baul, Marfati, Murshidi, and Bhatiali songs. The most colorful New Year’s Day festival takes place in Dhaka.
Large numbers of people gather early in the morning under the Banyan Tree at Ramna Park, where Chhayanat artists open the day with Tagore’s famous song, “Eso he Baisakh eso eso” (Come O Baisakh, come…). A similar ceremony welcoming the new year is also held at the Institute of Fine Arts, Dhaka University. Students and teachers of the Institute take out a colorful procession and parade around the campus. Artists present songs to welcome the New Year. People from all walks of life wear traditional Bengali dress: young women wear white saris with red borders and adorn themselves with bangles, flowers, and tips.
Men wear white pajamas and Panjabi. Many townspeople start the day with the traditional breakfast of panta bhat (cooked rice soaked with water overnight), green chilies, onions, and fried Hilsa fish. Special programs are broadcast and telecast on radio and television, and special supplements are brought out by the newspapers. Selling traditional food items at Baisakhi Mela. Baisakhi Mela is a mirror of our traditional culture. It is presumed to have started about 600 years ago. The number of Baisakhi Melas celebrated in different parts of Bangladesh is around 300-350.
Though Baisakhi Melas are organized in a planned way in almost all cities of the country, originally they were very much rural-based. Traditional handicrafts, handmade cakes, special kinds of foodstuff, sweets, potteries, bangles, pitchers, and cane products are the main exhibits. The Baisakhi Mela is an ancient form of Bengali folk festival that continues to thrive in the modern age. It continues for three days, one week, or even as long as one month.
Amor Ekushey Grontho Mela (Book Fair). Amor Ekushey February is a historic day for the Bengali nation. On that day, five valiant sons of this country laid down their lives to win recognition for Bangla as a State language. Book Exhibition at Shilpakala Academy (Academy for Arts and Culture). On 21st February 1952, a massive procession was taken out, led by the Students Union of Dhaka University, and people from all walks of life joined spontaneously to protest against the declaration of Urdu as the sole State language of Pakistan. The police opened fire on the demonstrators when they reached the location of the present Shahid Minar. As a result, five people were killed, and several others were injured.
Bangladesh is the only country in the world whose people fought for their mother tongue and dedicated their lives to having it recognized as a State language. For the above reason, during 1996-97, UNESCO recognized 21st February as International Mother Language Day. To commemorate this great day, a Grantha Mela, or book fair was started on a small scale in 1974, and it was officially recognized in 1978. After the publishers’ and booksellers’ organizations came together as a cooperative force in organizing the book fair, its popularity increased at a quick pace from 1989. The number of buyers and readers increased in the same manner. Now the Mela begins on 1st February and continues till the end of the month, and it is the most popular fair in Bangladesh.
Dubla Rash Mela. Dubla Rash Mela is not only a big fair for Bagerhat, but it is undoubtedly one of the biggest fairs in the country. At the center of the festival are twenty thousand temporary fishermen who are engaged in catching and drying fish on Dubla and nearby islands. In the Bangla month of Agrahayan every year, the fair continues for 5-7 days during full moon time. Dubla Rash Mela is not only a big fair for Bagerhat, but it is undoubtedly one of the biggest fairs in the country.
At the center of the festival are twenty thousand temporary fishermen who are engaged in catching and drying fish on Dubla and nearby islands. In the Bangla month of Agrahayan every year, the fair continues for 5-7 days during full moon time. Dubla Island stands on the Bay of Bengal and is a part of the Sundarbans Forest. The fair on Dubla Island was started in 1923 by Hari Bhajan, a disciple of Thakur Hari Chand. The life of Hari Bhajan was very extraordinary. During his stay in the Sundarbans for twenty-four years, he lived on the fruits of the forest. He had many disciples in nearby villages.
One of his notable works was to start the Dubla Rash Mela during the Rash Purnima. To celebrate the occasion and keep alive the memory of Thakur Hari Chand, the devotees, especially the fishermen of the Sundarbans, organize this five-day fair. This has become a grand occasion for many foreign tourists visiting the Sundarbans, and people come from India as well. Around 40-50 thousand people join the celebrations every year. Handicrafts and precious wooden items are put on sale. The Adinath Temple in Moheshkhali Island, a place of worship for the Hindu community, is also a fair associated with the temple.
Moheshkhali is an island under Cox’s Bazar district, not very far from the mainland. There, the Adinath temple at the top of Mainak hillock is a place of worship for Hindu devotees. A landlord named Nur Mohammad Shikdar donated 200 acres of land to reconstruct the age-old Adinath Temple. The fair associated with the temple started at that time. Every year in the Bengali month of Falgun, especially during Krishnapakkha, the thirteen-day fair is held at the foot of the hillock on land facing the vast sea. The sweet water of green coconuts especially grown in this place is a most attractive and popular drink. Devotees and visitors to the fair drink it before worshiping the goddess of Adinath.
Golakandail Fair: From the 1st day of the Bengali month of Magh, a fair is held in Golakandail village of Rupganj upazila under Narayanganj district for seven days under a big banyan tree. Nobody knows the origin of the fair, but it has continued for ages and is full of fun and festivity. The main items sold at the fair are wooden furniture, cane products, pottery, and plastic toys. During the fair, there are arrangements for the entertainment of local people, such as Jatra (folk theatre), puppet show, film show, etc.
Gurpukur Fair:
Every year, the last day of the Bengali month of Bhadra is the occasion for worshiping the snake goddess (Monsha Puja), and a fair is held on the occasion at Shatkhira in a place named Gurpukur. Legend has it that during the 11th century AD towards the end of the Bengali month of Bhadra, a person while walking became tired and fell asleep under a banyan tree at Palash Paul. When he woke up, he found a deadly cobra shading him from sunlight. From that legend, the worshipping of the snake goddess began at that place, and the Gurpukur fair also started side by side. The fair continues for one month.
The main exhibits at the fair are furniture made of Sundarbans wood and fruit plants. Moreover, entertainment like puppet shows, magic shows, and Jatra (folk theatre) are also arranged. Since 1992, the idea borrowed from Gurpukur Mela has been nationally replicated in all district and upazila townships in the form of Brikkha Mela (tree fairs). This was done to strengthen the tree-planting movement in the country.
Shib Chaturdashi Fair
A thousand-year-old Shiva temple stands at the top of the Chandranath hill located at Sitakunda in Chittagong, where many other old temples are also situated in various parts of the 500-meter-high hill. Thousands of devotees gather in the temple at night on the 14th of Falgun. The famous fair of Shib Chaturdashi continues for three days following religious rituals. This is one of the oldest fairs in the subcontinent. The number of devotees visiting the temple and the fair sometimes exceeds one hundred thousand. The fairground extends up to 10 km from Sitakunda bazaar.
Langalbandh Fair
Every year on the 8th day of the lunar month falls in the Bengali month of Chaitra, thousands of Hindu devotees from home and abroad assemble on the banks of the old Brahmaputra river for Astami snan, a ritual bath in the river. On the occasion, a three-day fair is held in this place, starting before the day of Ashtami snan (Bath) and ending a day after the bathing ceremony. The main attractions of the fair are exhibits like pottery and products made of bamboo, cane, and thread (like hand fans). These exhibits are very popular among the devotees visiting the place. There are also arrangements for the entertainment of children like puppet shows, circuses, and merry-go-rounds. Sweetmeat stalls do brisk business during the fair.
Baul Mela
On the occasion of Lalon Shah’s birthday, folk singers (Bauls) perform Lalon’s songs, usually under a banyan tree or on the bank of a river near a village, and a group of people organize a fair at the spot. Rural musical instruments, handicrafts, pottery, light snacks, and household items are available in the fair, which runs for three days or in some places one week or even longer than that. At present, such fairs are also organized in urban areas, and a good number of singers come from different parts of the country. Old and young, men and women, rich and poor participate in the fair with great enthusiasm.
Fair of Ashwin Sankranti
One of the renowned fairs of Rajshahi is held in a village of Durgapur upazila named Khulshi. The fair is held on the bank of the river for the first three days of the Bengali month of Ashwin. Nobody knows about its origins. According to the local people, the age of the fair is around 200 years.
Those who are from this area and living away from the village come back to their village home during the fair instead of Eid or the Puja festival. The main attraction of the fair is a circus. A special kind of sweet made of flour and sugar juice named Jilapi is very famous and sold in huge quantities. Other attractions and exhibits include toys, household items, puffed rice, imitation jewelry, pottery, and cosmetics.
The Children’s Academy has been organizing a children’s amusement fair since 1978 in Dhaka. Usually, the fair is organized in the open space in front of the Academy. Many stalls filled with books, science exhibits, cane products, handicrafts, pottery, hand-stitched items, children’s art, and wall newspapers are the attractions of the fair. The fair lasts for seven days, and the main attraction is a children’s drama competition. Many children’s organizations in the country participate in this competition. Children themselves are the directors, actors, and actresses. An award is given to the best production. The fair is organized at a suitable time between the months of January and June.
Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha are the main Muslim festivals. From time to time, folk culture has influenced these festivals, changing the original religious practices. Eid-ul-Fitr is observed after the end of the month of Ramadan. Eid is a day of joy and merriment for children. Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated in Bangladesh with great devotion. Everyone tries to dress well and prepares special dishes according to their ability on this day. Relatives and neighbors also share the joys of this festival with each other. Eid fairs are organized in many rural places. These fairs are basically gatherings that promote friendship among the rural people.
The fairs are arranged on the bank of a nearby river or under a big banyan tree near the local bazar. Handicraft items and foodstuffs, such as chira, muri, khai, manda, and sweets, are sold in the fairs. Nakshi pankha, dolls, decorated pottery, as well as musical instruments such as flute, drum, and ektara, are also sold. Some fairs have merry-go-rounds, puppet shows, and bioscopes. In some areas of riverine Bangladesh, boat races are organized. The main feature of Eid-ul-Azha is the sacrifice of animals, especially cows and oxen. Many people in the villages sacrifice domestically raised cows or goats.
The majority of professionals in towns sacrifice cows on a shared basis. The well-to-do sacrifice cows, goats, or both animals on their own. Eid, for the common people, means meeting family members and friends, buying new clothes, and preparing delicious food on Eid day.
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic or Hijri calendar, also known as the “sacred month.” The tenth day of Muharram is called Ashura, which commemorates the death of Imam Husain (R), the grandson of the Holy Prophet (SM), who was killed on this day at the hands of the troops of Yazid. Muharram has been observed since the 10th century AD, and in Bengal, it has been observed for the last few centuries. The center of observance of the Muharram in Dhaka is the Husaini Dalan Imambara. Muharram processions have been common in this country since the 18th century AD, and horses and elephants were used in the processions.
In Dhaka, the procession begins at Husaini Dalan and winds its way through the city’s streets, terminating at a place designated as Karbala on the banks of the Dhanmandi Lake. The replica of Duldul, the horse of Imam Husain (R), and the flags in the procession symbolize the presence of Imam Husain (R). Also, Latikhela (stick fight) is organized to remind devotees of the battle between the troops of Imam Husain (R) and Yazid. As with other festivals in Bangladesh, Muharram has become an occasion for fairs at various places. In the course of time, it turned into a traditional fair where handicrafts, pottery, brassware, bows and arrows, and swords made of CI sheet were the main exhibits. The merry-go-round and Ferris wheel are added attractions for children. The fair starts on the 7th of Muharram and ends on the 11th.
Durga Puja (bar mase tero puja):
The biggest religious festival of the Hindu community in Bangladesh is the festival of Durga Puja. Hindus participate in this festival with great devotion. Durga Puja is an old festival, but it is difficult to say with any degree of certainty exactly how old it is. The oldest manifestation of goddess Durga, who slew the Mahisasura, belonged to the fifteenth century AD. A series of festivals, centering on Durga Puja, is held in Bangladesh. Usually, on the sixth lunar day of the bright fortnight in the Bengali month of Ashwin, the ceremonial awakening of the goddess Durga takes place. Thereafter, Puja is performed for three days on the seventh, eighth, and ninth, and the immersion of the image of the goddess Durga (with her companions) takes place on the tenth day. People exchange greetings for a period of fifteen days after the immersion of the image of the deity. On the following full-moon day, Lakshmi Puja takes place.
Before that, on the new moon day usually in the month of Kartik, Kali Puja is performed. Then, on the last day of the Bengali month of Kartik, Kartik Puja (worship of god Kartik who is the commander-in-chief of heavenly forces) is performed. On the fifth lunar day of the bright fortnight in the Bengali month of Magh, Saraswati Puja (the Hindu goddess of learning and music) is held. It is particularly popular among students. The series of Pujas, which starts in Ashwin with Durga, comes to an end with Saraswati.
The celebration of Janmashtami (Lord Krishna’s birthday) is an old festival of this region, particularly in Dhaka City. In almost all the regions of the subcontinent, this day is observed in some manner as a religious festival. Janmashtami is celebrated in Dhaka with special pomp and grandeur.
Buddha Purnima, Baisakhi Purnima, and Christmas day:
Apart from the Hindus, there are also two other minority religious communities in Bangladesh, viz., the Christians and the Buddhists, who observe religious festivals of their own. The main festival of the Buddhists is Buddha Purnima or Baisakhi Purnima. The birth of Buddha, his adoption of asceticism, attainment of supreme enlightenment, and nirvana – all these occurred on the full-moon lunar day in the month of Baisakh, and as a result, this is the most important and solemn festival of the Buddhists. Baisakhi Purnima is celebrated in Bangladesh with great splendor. Christians observe their main religious festival, Christmas day, on 25 December on the occasion of Jesus’s birthday. The main components of this festival are special prayers offered in churches, arrangements of feasts, and offering of gifts among friends and relatives.
Baisabi Festival is the main social festival of the indigenous people living in the hill districts of Rangamati, Bandarban, and Khagrachhari. This festival is celebrated by the Chakma and Tanchyanga as “Biju”, by Marmas as “Shangrai”, and by Tripuras as “Baisuk” or “Baisu”. The water festival is a joyful part of Baisabi. Biju is a festival celebrated by the Chakmas and Tanchyangas for three consecutive days – the last two days of Chaitra and the first day of Baisakh. They do not kill any living creature during these three days. They celebrate the last day of Chaitra as the main festival day.
On this special day, they cook a mixed curry with five types of vegetables, which they call Pachan. In the afternoon, teenagers play traditional games like Ghila and Bou-chi. Gaijja-Paijja means going for the somersault on the ground and is practiced by the tribal boys and girls during the first day of Baisakh as part of the New Year festival. Tag-of-war is a traditional game during the Baisabi Festival. The Marinas celebrate Shangrai for four days. They all carry the image of Lord Buddha to the riverfront and set down the image on a floating bed.
Afterward, they complete the bathing of the image in milk or sandalwood water and return with it to set it in the Temple or in their homes. In every locality, the water-throwing festival starts with people throwing water at each other so that the previous year’s sorrow will be washed away. The Baisuk festival of the Tripura tribe is celebrated by worshipping the god Shiva and asking for his blessings. ‘Kothin Chibor Dan’ is a Buddhist ceremony on which occasion ‘viksus’ are given ‘chibor’ or cloth to wear. Buddhists believe that this is the best of all gifts.
Chibor, the cloth that viksus wear, may be of any six colors: those of a tree’s roots, trunk, bark, dry leaves, fruit, or flower. However, the viksu community prefers to wear cloth of the color of red flowers, as it is different from the cloth that ordinary people wear and also because it does not have attractive designs. According to Raja Barrister Debashish Roy, Circle Chief of the Chakma community, Kothin Chibor Dan develops social harmony, creates cooperation, and teaches people how to improve friendships among themselves. Elaborate programs are chalked out on the occasion, including Buddha.
Puja, Ful Puja, Sibli Puja, feeding the monks, Astaporiskardan, taking Panchshil and Astashil, and praying for world peace. The two-day-long “Kothin Chibor Dan Utsab,” the greatest religious festival of the Buddhist community, is celebrated with religious fervor at Rangamati Rajban Bihara in the Rangamati hill district. The religious festival is organized by Rangamati Rajban Bihara Upasak Upasika Parishad. On the eve of the function, Buddhist people from three hill districts begin gathering at Rangamati Rajban Bihara Area to participate in the festival. Many visitors and tourists from home and abroad gather to enjoy the festival.
Every year, about four hundred thousand people of all communities from the three hill districts (Bandarban, Khagrachari, and Rangamati) in greater Chittagong Hill Tracts as well as from other parts of the country come to celebrate and enjoy this festival.
CONCLUSION:
Bangladesh is a country where colorful fairs and festivals are held throughout the year in a befitting manner and with great zeal and zest. With changes in social and economic structures, the nature of festivals also changes, but some festivals are so deeply rooted in the social organism that they continue to entertain people from generation to generation.
Some of the festivals bear the mark of the community and nation, some have the stamp of religion, and again some bear the impress of politics. Festivals, which evolved in primitive society out of the prayer for food, have now become varied and colorful. The main foundation of festivals is ritual, and most of the ancient rituals were collective activities. Many of the rituals were related to agriculture, and their dates were determined according to the lunar calendar. The ancient rituals were magical processes to tame supernatural powers; in subsequent cultures, this characteristic feature was usually retained. The spontaneous agro-based ancient festivals lost their spontaneity with the passage of time and became more formal.
References:
- http://www.independent-bangladesh.com/fairs-and-festivals/durga-puja.html
- http://www.discoverybangladesh.com/fair_festivals.html
- http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/7958491-millions-attend-bangladesh-muslim-festival-biswa-ijtema
- http://www.odhikar.org/pubs/pdf/murder_mayhem_land_and_the_style.pdf
