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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. |
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.: Pahela Baishakh
The
begining of Bangla New Year
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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 |
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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. |
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.: Pahela Falgoon
The
first day of spring
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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 |
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(worn by Men). Other programs of the day include
exchange of flowers, gifts and 'Rakhi-Bandhan',
and poetry recitations. |
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.: Shaheed Dibash (the Martyrs'
Day)
The
21st February, International Mother Language Day
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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 |
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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. |
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