Fairs
and festivals have always played a significant
role in the life of the citizens of this country.
They derive from them a great amount of joy, entertainment
and color for life. While most of the festivals have
sprung from religious rituals, the fairs have their
roots in the very heart of the people, irrespective
of religion, caste or creed.
Pahela Baishakh
The advent of Bengali New Year is gaily observed throughout
the country. The Day (mid-April) is a public holiday.
Most colorful daylong gatherings along with arrangement
of cultural program and traditional Panta at Ramna
Park are special features of Pahela Baishakh. Tournaments,
boat races etc. are held in cities and villages amidst
great jubilation. Many fairs are held in Dhaka and
other towns and villages.
Independence
Day
March 26 is the day of Independence
of Bangladesh. It is the biggest state
festival. This day is most befittingly observed and
the capital wears a festive look. It is a public holiday.
The citizens of Dhaka wake up early in the morning
with the booming of guns heralding the day. Citizens
including government leaders and sociopolitical 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. At night the main public
buildings are tastefully illuminated to give the capital
city a dazzling look. Similar functions are arranged
in other parts of the country.
21st
Feb, the National Mourning Day and World Mother Language
Day
21 February is observed throughout the country to
pay respect and homage to the sacred souls of the
martyrs' of Language
Movement of 1952. Blood was shed on this
day at the Central Shahid 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 Shahid 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). Nationals pay homage to the martyrs
by placing flora wreaths at the Shahid Minar. Very
recently the day has been declared World
Mother Language Day by UNESCO.
Eid-e-Miladunnabi
Eid-e-Miladunnabi
is the birth and death day of Prophet Muhammad (s).
He was born and died the same day on 12th Rabiul Awal
(Lunar Month). The day is a 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
Eid-ul-Fitr
, 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-Azha
Eid-ul-Azha
is the second biggest festival of the Muslims. It
marks 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.
Durga
Puja
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.
Christmas
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.
Rabindra
& Nazrul Jayanti
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.
Langalbandh
Mela:
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.
