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Fairs and Festivals of Bangladesh

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Fairs and festivals are common to all societies and cultures. With the change of 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 from generation to generation. Some of the festivals bear the mark of the community and nationality, some have the stamp of religion, and again some bear the impression of politics. The festivals, which got started in the primitive society centering on the prayer for food, have now been filled with various colours and varieties.

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 were determined by lunar months. The ancient rituals were magical processes to tame supernatural power; in the subsequent cultures, this characteristic feature was retained. The spontaneous agro-based ancient festivals lost their spontaneity with the passing of time and became more formal.

.: Pahela Baishakh
The begining of Bangla New Year

The advent of Bengali New Year is celebrated throughout the country with much pomp and funfair. The Day (mid-April) is a public holiday. People accord rushing reception for the day by bringing out rallies in Dhaka city with colourful dresses and festoons. The New Year begins at dawn, and the day is marked with various cultural activities: singing, processions, fairs and having traditional Panta at Ramna Park, Dhaka.

Pahela Baishakh

Tournaments, boat races etc. are held in cities and villages amidst great jubilation.

Traditionally, businesses starts on this day with a new ledger (known as Halkhata), cleaning out the old. Singers sing traditional songs welcoming the new years. Food vendors sell traditional foods and artisans sell traditional handicrafts.

.: Pahela Falgoon
The first day of spring

Another traditional day (though not a national holiday) is Pohela Falgoon, the first day of spring, which is observed across the city through traditional festivities and colourful programs. Spring fairs, cultural programs and exchanges of greetings and gifts among friends and beloved ones mark the day. People from all walks of life through the venues of different programs wearing colourful dresses including traditional 'Spring Saris' (worn by women) and 'Panjabi'

Pahela Falgoon

(worn by Men). Other programs of the day include exchange of flowers, gifts and 'Rakhi-Bandhan', and poetry recitations.

.: Shaheed Dibash (the Martyrs' Day)
The 21st February, International Mother Language Day

The 21st day of February (Ekushey February) is being officially observed as the Shaheed Dibash (Martyrs' Day) since the emergence of Bangladesh. Nation pays respect and homage to the sacred souls of the martyrs' of Language Movement of 1952. On this day in 1952, students and youths rose in protest against the imposition of Urdu by the then government as the lone state language of Pakistan.

Shaheed Minar

Blood was shed on this day at the Central Shaheed Minar (near Dhaka Medical College Hospital) area to establish Bangla as a state language of the then Pakistan. All subsequent movements including struggle for independence owe their origin to the historic language movement. The Shaheed Minar (martyrs monument) is the symbol of sacrifice for Bangla, the mother tongue. The day is closed holiday. Mourning procedure begin in Dhaka at midnight with the song "Amar vaier raktay rangano ekushay February" (21st February, the day stained with my brothers' blood). Nations pay respect to the martyrs by placing flowers wreaths at the Shaheed Minar.

The day has also been accorded recognition by the UNESCO as the international mother language day in 1999, and the day is being observed accordingly throughout the world since 2000.

.: Independence Day
 26th March 1971

The independence of Bangladesh was declared on 26th March 1971 following the crackdown by the Pakistani army on the night of 25 March 1971. Since then, the day has been observed as the Independence Day. On 3 October 1980, the government headed by President Ziaur Rahman decided to observe it as the National Day as well.

Rally for Independence War

On the occasion the national flag is hoisted atop all public buildings, and the streets and houses are draped in banners and festoons. Citizens including government leaders and socio-political organizations and freedom fighters place floral wreaths at the National Martyrs Monument at Savar. Bangla Academy, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and other socio-cultural organizations hold cultural functions. In the morning, the school children take part in parade, games and sports, and in the evening, cultural and film shows are presented and the streets are illuminated to give the capital city a dazzling look. Special diet is served in hospitals, orphanages and prisons.

.: Bijoy Dibash
The Victory Day, 16th December 1971

Bijoy Dibash commemorates the day in 1971 (16th December) when ninety thousand troops of the Pakistan occupation army surrendered to the allied forces of Bangladesh and India at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka. The day is observed with due solemnity and nationalistic fervour. The first ray of the morning is heralded with a 31 gun-salute.

Triumph of Independence War

In capital Dhaka, there is usually a ceremonial military parade in which all uniformed services are represented. Hundreds of thousands of people gather at the National Parade Square to watch this parade. Floral wreaths are laid at the Jatiya Smriti Saudha (National Memorial Monument) at Savar near Dhaka in memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the country. [Helal Uddin Ahmed, Banglapedia]

.: Eid-e-Miladunnabi
The birth and death day of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

Eid-e-Miladunnabi is the birth and death day of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). He was born and died the same day on 12th Rabiul Awal (Lunar Month). The day is national holiday, national flag is flown atop public and private houses and special food is served in orphanages, hospitals and jails. At night important public buildings are illuminated and milad mahfils are held.

.: Eid-ul-Fitr
The biggest Muslim festival

The biggest Muslim festival observed throughout the world. This is held on the day following the Ramadan or the month of fasting. In Dhaka big congregations are held at the National Eidgah and many mosques.

Eid-ul-Fitr

.: Eid-ul-Azha
The second biggest Muslim festival

The second biggest festival of the Muslims celebrated all over the world. It is held marking the Hajj in Mecca on the 10th Zilhaj, the lunar month. Eid congregations are held throughout the country. Animals are sacrificed in reminiscence of Hazrat Ibrahim's (AM) preparedness for the supreme sacrifice of his beloved son to Allah. It is a public holiday.

.: Rabindra & Nazrul Jayanti
 Birth anniversary Rabindranath & Nazrul

Birth anniversary of the noble laureate Rabindranath Tagore on 25th Baishakh (May) and that of the National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam on 11th Jaystha (May) are observed throughout the country. Their death anniversaries are also marked in the same way. Big gatherings and song sessions organized by socio-cultural organizations are salient features of the observance of the days.

Tagore is the writer of our national anthem while National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam is famous as Rebel Poet.

There are various other festivals that are habitually observed by Bangalees all the year round.

Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore

Kazi Nazrul Islam

Kazi Nazrul Islam

.: Durga Puja
The biggest festival of the Hindu community

Durga Puja, the biggest festival of the Hindu community continues for ten days, the last three days being culmination with the idol immersed in rivers. In Dhaka the big celebrations are held at Dhakeswari Temple, where a fair is also held and at the Ram Krishna Mission.

Durga Puja

.: Langalbandh Mela
An attractive festival of the Hindu Community

At a place near Sonargaon (about 27 km. from Dhaka) a very attractive festival observed by the Hindu Community every year on the last day of Chaittra (last Bengali month) - mid April, when the devotees take religious bath in the river.

There are various other festivals that are habitually observed by Bangalees all the year round.

Langalbandh Mela

.: Christmas
The biggest Christian festival

Christmas, popularly called "Bara Din (Big Day)", is celebrated with pomp in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country. Several day-long large gatherings are held at St. Mary's Cathedral at Ramna, Portuguese Church at Tejgaon, Church of Bangladesh (Protestant) on Johnson Road and Bangladesh Baptist Sangha at Sadarghat Dhaka. Functions include illumination of churches, decorating Christmas tree and other Christian festivities.

Christmas

Eid-ul-Azha

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