Festivals And Holidays
Nabanna
Nabanna, the festival of
the new harvest, is as old as the land itself. It takes place in the Bangla
month Agrahayan (Nov-Dec), proverbially known as the season of plenty. People in
the rural areas celebrate harvesting of the corn as farmers come back home with
loads of golden paddy on their head ringing like new bells. There is joy
everywhere, the children frisk in the yard as the cattle go round and round
thrashing the paddy, separating it from the stalks. The folks beam with
happiness and the women prepare the customary rice gruel sweetened with Patali,
country sugar made of date-palm juice, to be served to all the neighbors. One
can hardly miss the season as one approaches a village sniffing the smell of the
new crop or hearing the drip-drap of the pestle busy making Cheera (beaten
rice). The Nabanna brings a ripple of joy to the otherwise placid homesteads
sleeping in the morning fog of approaching winter.
Pahela Baishakh
Pahela Baishakh (Bangla
new year's day) too is indigenous and has been part of its folk tradition since
no one knows when. The day starts with partaking of a heavy breakfast of cheera,
gur and yogurt. Then people get dressed to go to the fairs which take palce
every year at an appointed place, it being inevitably either the cool shade of a
banyan tree or a riverfront usually at the bend of a river. The fair brings
commodities of every sort, food of every variety and sweets of endless kinds.
The sight of clay dolls and toys made of plastic and rubber delight the
children. A small boy hanging on to his father's arm stubbornly insisting on
buying a toy of his liking, his father cannot afford-is a common sight. But
tears vanish as soon as the boy sees his favourite puppet show or a clown
wearing a mask.
Businessmen and traders
observe this day with due solemnity. They start a new cash register daubing it
with finger marks of vermillion and the new book is known as the Halkhata.
In the urban areas, Pahela
Baishakh has been increasingly becoming popular with the rise of national
consciousness. In the cities there are cutural functions in the morning, the
Ramna Batamool function in the capital Dhaka being the most famous and the
largest. About 100 artists, mostly women, dressed in golden silk sarees with red
border climb a high rostrum under the banyan tree in the Ramna green and render
songs of different kinds, mostly Tagore and Nazrul songs. There are Baishakhi
Melas (fairs) at Bangla Academy and Shishu Academy premises extending over a
week. People throng these places with their children who enjoy the occasion
most.
The merriment of Pahela
Baishakh comes to an end usually with a storm. There is a speck of black cloud
in the northwestern sky and people know from experience about the gathering
storm. But before they wind up, the tiny speck spreads all over the sky in no
time and there is a wind blowing at blinding speed raising a dust storm. Soon a
torrential rain starts pouring in and the heat cools down, bringing a spell of
relief. But sometimes the storm is severe, causing heavy damage to life and
property.
Eid-ul-Fitr
Eid-ul-Fitr
comes at the end of a month-long fasting during Ramadan and on sighting of the
new moon of Shawal, the tenth month of the Arabic calendar. The next day, that
is on the first of Shawal, housewives prepare delicious dishes and male members
go to Eidgahs or the local mosques to offer their prayers. Prayers over, they
embrace each other, high and low, rich and poor all stand on an equal footing
and greet each other wishing a happy Eid. The poor are given fitra, a certain
amount of money per head per family so that they too can celebrate Eid. Everyone
is presented with new clothes and the children enjoy the occasion most as they
visit their friends in small groups, each visit giving them a taste of new
dishes. The occasion is of great national importance and radio and television
put up special programmes and the newspapers bring out supplements to mark it.
The offices and buildings are illuminated and the whole country assumes a
festive look.
Eid-ul-Azha
Eid-ul-Azha
which takes place on the tenth of Zilhaj, is the next important occasion for the
Muslims. Those who can afford, go to Makkah to perform Haj. But most people
celebrate it with devotion offering prayers and making a sacrifice of, either a
cow or a goat. This is done in memory of Hazrat Ibrahim (SM) who out of love for
Allah, was about to sacrifice his dearest son Ismail (SM) but ended up
sacrificing, as he stood blindfolded, a sheep. People distribute meat among the
poor and the poor relations and there is joy and happiness all around. This too
is observed as an occasion of national importance.
Ramadan
A full month of fasting or
Siam characterizes Ramadan, the ninth month of the Arabic calendar. Fasting is
observed from pre-dawn to dusk. Precisely at sunset people partake of iftar,
dishes of different kinds with cold drinks that soothe their thirst. This is a
month of austerity and it teaches the Muslims a number of lessons, or rather
makes them feel certain basic facts of life. It reminds them of the poor and
their hunger as they undergo the experience itself. It teaches them
fellow-feeling, sacrifice and temperance and most of all restraint. People pay
Zakat, a poor tax, voluntarily but compulsive under religious strictures. The
government has formed a Zakat Board to utilize this money for creating
employment opportunities for the poor.
Shab-e-Qadr
Shab means night and
Shab-e-Qadr is a night of special significance. It takes place on the night of
the twenty seventh Ramadan. The Quran was revealed on this night but there is a
general lack of certainty, according to the hadiths, regarding the precise date
of this occasion. The hadiths point at the odd night after the twentieth
Ramadan, namely 21, 23, 25 and 27. People in Bangladesh observe the twenty
seventh of Ramadan as the Shab-e-Qadr and they spend the night offering prayers
which end with a Munazat after the Fazr prayers when, according to Quranic
belief, Allah and the angels wait to give blessings to the pious.
Eid-e-Miladunnabi
Eid-e-Miladunnabi
signifies the birth anniversary of Hazrat Muhammad (SM), the Prophet of Islam.
He was born on Monday, the 12th Rabiul Awwal, an Arabic lunar month, in 570 AD.
The Muslims of this sub-continent celebrate the birth anniversary of their
Prophet with great respect, enthusiasm and passion for several days including
the twelfth. The day is a public holiday. Bangladesh Television and Radio
Bangladesh put up special programmes on the significance of the day. Newspapers
bring out special supplements. The religious institutions hold special prayers
and distribute food among the poor. The Islamic Foundation arranges elaborate
programmes on such occasion.
Shab-e-Barat
It means the night of
fortune. The Muslims believe that on this night Allah determines human destiny
for the rest of the year. Most Muslims spend the night in prayers and Zikirs
hoping Allah would forgive their sins. Housewives prepare sweet dishes and
distribute flat bread among the poor. This takes place on the fourteenth of
Shaban according to the Arabic calendar.
Durga Puja
The Hindus have a number
of religious festivals among which the Durga Puja is the most important. Durga
Puja is to the Hindus what Eid is to the Muslims or Christmas to the Christians.
The Hindu localities either collectively or individually have the images of
goddess-Durga killing Mahishasura made in clay, daub the idols in paint and make
them wear bright clothes. For 10 days beginning from the first appearance of the
moon in Aswin, the youths dance to the sound of drums and cymbals. On the tenth
day the image is immersed in water, usually in a river or pond and the devotees
come back home. This is a great occasion of joy and merriment for the Hindus.
New clothes are presented to all members of the family and there is a lot of
dainty dishes prepared on the occasion. Television and Radio arrange special
programmes on the day.
Christmas
In tune with the rest of
the world the Christians of Bangladesh observe their most important religious
festival, X-mas, on the twenty fifth December to celebrate the birth of Jesus
Christ. Each house is tastefully decorated, the Christmas tree being an
indispensable part of the decoration. There is the traditional Christmas dinner
and since there is no turkey raised in Bangladesh bigger chickens make do for
the occasion. And, of course, there is the traditional Santa Claus sending
ripples of laughter on the innocent faces. Special features are published in the
newspapers and Television and Radio beam special programmes to mark the
occasion.
Shaheed Day
After Independence
February 21 has been officially declared the Shaheed Day (the Martyrs' Day). On
this day in 1952 the youths, especially the students, rose in protest against
the imposition of Urdu as the only state language of Pakistan. This was taken as
a conspiracy against the Bengalee culture and as the students brought out a
procession in violation of official prohibitory order, the police fired on the
demonstrators killing a number of students and members of the public. Barkat,
Salam, Rafiq and a number of unknown others lost their lives. The consequent
mass upsurge was so tumultuous that the Pakistan government had to yield and
recognize Bangla as one of the state languages of the country. This was the
first significant victory of the Bengalees against attempts at cultural
domination. Since then the occasion has inspired the Bengalees in their struggle
for autonomy and, later, independence.
Also called Omar Ekushey
(the Immortal 21st), the day is observed with great solemnity, beginning from
the midnight. Streams of people come and pass by the steps of the Central
Shaheed Minar (and it has replicas all over the country) laying wreaths on the
steps. People either pass in silence or chant the Ekushey song `Amar bhaiyer
rakte rangano' (The 21st daubed with m.y brother's blood). People go barefoot to
the graveyard where the martyrs are lying in eternal sleep. By mid-morning the
entire Shaheed Minar is a veritable sea of flowers. Poets are seen reciting
their poems sitting on the road islands on this occasion. And there is a book
fair at the premises of the Bangla Academy, the national academy for arts and
letters.
Independence and
National Day
Following the Pakistani
army crackdown on 25 March 1971, the independence of Bangladesh was declared on
March 26. Since then the day is observed as the Independence and National Day.
As the Bangladeshis had to wade through the blood of an estimated 3 million
people who lost their lives to gain independence, the day is of great
significance and inspiration for the whole nation. National flag is hoisted atop
all buildings and the streets and houses are draped in banners and festoons. In
the morning, school children take part in parades, sports and games as thousands
of people watch their performance. In the evening cultural shows are arranged
and films are shown. Special diet is served in hospitals, orphanages and
prisons. In the urban area people go out onto the streets at night to see
colourful illumination. Radio and Television put up special programmes and
newspapers bring out supplements to mark the occasion.
The Victory Day
On 16 December 1971 the
Pakistani army, an estimated 90,000, surrendered to the allied forces. The
valiant freedom fighters entered the city of Dhaka with arms in their hands. As
they marched along the streets, the entire people welcomed them with rejoicings.
The jubilant crowd stood by as the Pakistani army marched in silence with their
head drooping low.
The day is observed with
due solemnity - the first rays of the morning sun being heralded with 31
gunshots. In the capital there is usually a ceremonial military parade in which
all the uniformed services are represented. Hundreds of thousands of people
gather to watch this parade. Wreaths are laid at the Jatiya Smriti Shoudha
(National Martyrs' Monument) at Savar, near Dhaka city, in memory of those who
sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the country.
National Holidays (List)
Public
holidays are observed on the following occasions:
Shaheed Day - 21 February
Independence National Day - 26 March
Pahela Baishakh or Bangla New Year's Day - 15 April (14 April in a leap year)
May Day - 1 May; Victory Day - 16 December
Christmas - 25 December
The following holidays are
determined according to the lunar calendar depending on sighting of the moon.
Buddha Purnima
Juma'a-tul-Bida
Eid-ul-Fitr
Eid-ul-Azha
Eid-e-Miladunnabi
Durgapuja
Official holidays are
observed on the following occasions under executive order of the government:
Shab-e-Barat
Shahb-e-Qadr
Ashura (10th Muharram, the first month of the Hijri calendar year) and 3 days
for each of the two Eid occasions.
All you need to know to travel Bangladesh: