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People participating in the "Procession for well-being" (Mangal Shovajatra) on Bangla New Year / Embassy of Bangladesh |
Fairs and Festivals are an integral part of socio-cultural life in Bangladesh and reflect its rich tradition of folk art and crafts. Such events blend heritage with modernity which is actively participated in and enjoyed by people from all walks of life, irrespective of their class and faith. Some of the important fairs and festivals of Bangladesh are as follows:
The Bangla New Year (Pahela Baishakh): It falls on the first day of the Bengali month " Baishakh," celebrated on 14th April every year. People from all faiths, celebrate this day with friends and relatives. For its celebration, the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka every year arranges "Procession for well-being" (Mangal Shovajatra), which reflects the unity and secular identity of the country. In 2016, UNESCO declared this Procession a cultural heritage of humanity.
The Dhaka International Film Festival: It is one of the prestigious film events of South Asia held annually in the first week of January since 1992.
The Ekushey Book Fair: Popularly known as Ekushey Boi Mela, it is the national book fair of Bangladesh held in the Bangla Academy, Dhaka in the month of February. This month-long book fair takes place to commemorate the sacrifice of the language martyrs of 21st February 1952, which is the Language Martyrs Day of Bangladesh for the last 67 years and recognized as the International Mother Language Day by UNESCO for the past 20 years.
The Baul Festival (Mela): Bauls are mystic folk singers of Bangladesh, dressed in white or saffron-clad clothes, move from village to village with an Ektara, a one-stringed traditional musical instrument in hand. Every year this festival takes place in Kushtia City of Bangladesh to celebrate the birthday of their Spiritual Leader Fakir Lalon Shah.
The Kite-flying Festival: It is one of the traditional festivities of old Dhaka, Bangladesh, dates back to the Mughal era, remains a huge crowd-puller amongst the new generation.
Eid: Eid-ul-Fitr (celebration of month-long fasting) and Eid-ul-Adha (sacrifice in the name of Allah, the creator) are the two main faith based festivals of Muslims. People exchange gifts with family members and relatives, help the poor with donations and prepare special dishes to mark the occasion. Usually, people reunite with their families and celebrate the three-day public holiday on Eid in their ancestral homes.
Durga Puja: This is the most important festival for Hindus in Bangladesh celebrated all over the country. In this five-day event, people reunite with their families and celebrate with traditional culture and cuisine. It is a public holiday in Bangladesh.
Christmas: The Christian Community of Bangladesh observe Holy Christmas every year with religious fervor and gaiety. After visiting churches in the morning, members of the Christian Community distribute gifts among themselves.
Buddha Purnima (Birthday of Buddha): It is the biggest festival for half a million Buddhists of Bangladesh when fairs are held in and around temples. People congregate, pray, listen to stories of the life and teachings of Lord Buddha, light candles and recite the three jewels and five precepts.
Jabbarer Boli Khela (Wrestling): A century-old wrestling competition in the port city Chittagong, Bangladesh introduced by a local merchant Abdul Jabber Sawdagor in 1909 to motivate the youths against colonial rule.
