Festivals in Bangladesh

Different
Festivals

Bangladesh is
a country
where
colourful
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 the primitive society out of the prayer for
food, have now become varied and colourful. 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.

Festivals of the Muslims

The main Muslim festivals are Eid and Muharram. From time to time
folk culture has influenced these festivals, as a result of which the
original religious practices have changed.

Eid consists of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha. Eid-ul-Fitr is observed after

the end of the month of Ramadan. The social meaning of Eid is a joyful
festival, while its etymological meaning demotes returning lime and
again. Like all other social festivals, Eid returns every year. Same is
the case with Eid-ul-Azha.

The celebration of those two festivals in the early period was

influenced by the folk belief of the peasants. Later on, a few other
religious practices and customs were added.

One of the main features of the Eid festival is the preparation of

special food an drink. The food would include korma, pilau and various
types of homemade pitha, semai and jarda. One of the main
characteristic features of Eid in the nineteenth century Dhaka was the
Eid procession. Probably the Naib-Nazims of Dhaka introduced this
practice after taking the cue from the famous Janmastami procession
of Dhaka.

After being stopped for some time, such processions were again
revived a few years ago. In many cases, local or urban culture has also
made an impact on this festival.

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 the professionals in towns
sacrifice cows on a share basis. The well to do sacrifice cows or 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 the Eid
day.

Hoseni Dalan, also spelt Husaini Dalan, is a Shia shrine in the old part
of the Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was built in the 17th century AD during
the Mughal Period. This shrine commemorates the martyrdom of Imam
AI Husain (R), grandson of Hazrat Mohammed (SM), during the battle of
Karbala on 10 October 680 AD.

Although the Sunni sect is in the majority in Bangladesh, there is a

Festivals
of the
Hindus

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 during a period of fifteen days after the
immersion of the image of the deity.

On the following full-moon day, Laksmi 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
the students. The series of Pujas, which starts in Ashwin with Durga,
comes to an end with Saraswati.

The celebration of Janmastami (lord Krishna's birthday) is an old

festival of this region, particularly of Dhaka City. In almost all the
regions of the subcontinent, this day is observed in some manner as a
religious festival. Janmastami is celebrated in Dhaka with special pomp
and grandeur.

Festivals of other Communities

Apart from the Hindus, there are also two other religions 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, 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
splendour.

Christians observe their main religious festival, Christmas Day, on 25

December on the occasion of Jesus's (PBUA) Birthday. The main compo-
nents of this festival are special prayers offered in churches, arrange-
ment of feasts and offering of gifts among friends and relatives.

In today's Bangladesh, another festival is gaining prominence, which is

not related to religion - it is Bangla new Year's day or Pahela Baisakh.
It is observed with great enthusiasm on the first day of Baisakh. Its
main characteristic is that it is a social festival and its appeal is
universal.

The Halkhata function, observed mainly by the merchant community,

is still in vogue on the occasion of Pahela Baisakh. The merchants
complete their accounts of the previous year on the eve or New Year's
Day. For this, many of them use a special kind or ledger having the
cover made up of red cloth, which is known as khero khata. On this
day, the customers pay some advance and the merchants treat them
with sweetmeats. There are some who prepare better quality food,
including sweetmeats, on the occasion of the New Year's Day Of the
regional functions arranged on this occasion, mention may be made of
the Bali Khela or wrestling held in Chiltagong in the name of a certain
anti-British nationalist called Jabbar.

However, the biggest function on the first day of Baisakh is the holding
of fairs. In some places, such a fair continues for a week or even a
fortnight. These fairs are the altered forms of the ancient seasonal,
agricultural and other festivals of the country. Baisakhi fair has no
religious fervour. On the first day as well as first week of Baisakh,
about 200 fairs are held throughout Bangladesh. In the fairs arranged
in Dhaka and also in other towns and urban areas, along with the
earthen and handicraft items, book fairs are also held. Many publishing
houses present books to the clients as tokens of New Year’s good
wishes.

Besides the religious festivals, Independence Day (21 March), Martyrs’

day (21 Feb) and Victory day (16 Dec) are also observed throughout the
country with great fervour. Different programmes are organized on
these occasions at State as well as social and various organizational
levels.