Published: 12:00 AM, 14 April 2016
Pahela Boishakh Festive mood in hill districts
CHITTAGONG, 13 Apr- A festive mood is prevailing in commercial capital Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and three districts in hill tracts with the advent of Pahela Boishakh, the Bengali new year. Sommilito Pahela Boishak Utjapon Parishad arranged the year ending and advent of new year program at DC Hill on Wednesday and Thursday. The Parishad accorded a reception to Bangla Academy prize winner eminent noblest Prof Dr Hari Shankar Jolodas, singer Shila Momen and Tapon Bhattachayria for their contribution in up-gradation of Bengali culture.
On the day of Pahela Boishakh, the first day of Bengali new year several cultural organizations and eminent artists will stage program at DC hill.
Bengali Nobo Borsho Utjapon Porishad will arrange day long program in observance of Pahela Boishakh, at Shirish Tola point at CRB area in the port city on Thursday. The program will start at 6 am while it will be continued till sun set. Besides, historical Boli Khela of Chittagong, (Wrestling) will also be held at Shirish Tola point at CRB area in the port city on Thursday.
The Institute of Fine Arts of Chittagong University will also arrange day long program in observance of the day. The rural sports, art competition, performances of students of institute and eminent artists will he held.
Chittagong Jila Shilpokola Academy and Chittagong Shishu Academy will arrange separate program in observance of the Pohela Boishak. Chittagong Press Club will arrange special program including cultural functions, Pitha Utshob etc at the Engineer Abdul Khalek Hall.
Chittagong University (CU) will arrange day long program which will be inaugurated and chaired by the Vice-chancellor of CU Prof Dr Ifthekhar Uddin Chowdhury to observe the Pohela Boishak. The rural sports, art exhibitions, performances of students of CU will be held during the program. Institute of Engineers in Chittagong, Bangladesh Chhatra Union, Cultural Union, Udichi Shilpi Ghosti will arrange different program in the port city in observance of the Pohela Boishak. Besides, the Borsho Boron Parishad will arrange another program at Chittagong central Shaheed Minar premises which will be inaugurated by Chairman of Chittagong Development Authority Abdus Salam while Mayor of Chittagong A J M Nasir Uddin will be present at the function as chief guest. On the other hand, the law enforcing agencies including elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) have taken special security measures for of the day.
Meanwhile, police is controlling the movements of vehicles at the Chittagong Central Shaheed Minar, DC Hill area, CRB area. The law enforcing agencies have taken special measures to control the law and order situation in the port city.
Meanwhile, fearing the attack of militants and miscreants the law enforcing agencies have started special raids in the city and rural areas in Chittagong. Meanwhile, the CMP has started storm raids at the different spots in the port city to nab the criminals particularly the suspicious militants. CMP has started checking at the hotels and vehicles at the important spots in the port city.
CMP sources said, policemen have already been deployed at the important spots including Chittagong Central Shaheed Minar, DC Hill area, CRB area, Bangladesh Women's Association School and College, IEB area, and Chittagong Club area.
Meanwhile, CMP and district police have set up a total of 32 check posts in the important spots and intersections in the city. Police men are checking the auto-rickshaws, private cars and micro buses in the spots. Police sources said, additional 2000 policemen have been deployed at different places to maintain the law and order situation in Chittagong. Police is prepared to resist any unwanted situation and any anarchy in the city. On the other hand, the three districts of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) take festive look as the traditional festivals on the Pahela Boishakh. The ' Sangrain ' festival of the Marma community at Bandarban, Bijhu Festival in Rangamati and Jhumma Festival at Khagrachari are going on with great enthusiasm and festivity.
The ethnic community Marma of Bandarban is celebrating the biggest ' Sangrain ' festival amid a big preparation of different food items to feed the guests. On the first day of the festival both male and female members of the Marma tribe form a procession to take their images of Buddha down to the riverfront. Sangrain means new year. It falls in the middle of April. Before the days of Sangrain, they clean and decorate their houses because to Marmas Sangrain is an auspicious and significant festival of the year in secular and religious level. The way they celebrate is not much different from Burmese and Thai.
However, Chakmas enjoy a three-day festival, two of which fall into the outgoing year. The first day is dedicated to celebrations for Phul Bijhu, the second for Mul Bijhu, and new year's day for Gojyai Pojya.
During Phul Bijhu there is general merrymaking in preparation for the main festival of Mul Bijhu, celebrated on the last day of the outgoing year. During this time the Chakmas visit one another's homes, socializing and eating together. Meanwhile, the Tripura community enjoy Goraia dance, with between 10 and 100 artists participating in the dance which depicts their daily lives and the processes of Jhum cultivation in Chittagong Hill Tracts. Throughout the Chittagong Hills Tracts, the first day of the New Year is greeted with merriment and the hope for a prosperous and trouble-free year ahead.
On the day of Pahela Boishakh, the first day of Bengali new year several cultural organizations and eminent artists will stage program at DC hill.
Bengali Nobo Borsho Utjapon Porishad will arrange day long program in observance of Pahela Boishakh, at Shirish Tola point at CRB area in the port city on Thursday. The program will start at 6 am while it will be continued till sun set. Besides, historical Boli Khela of Chittagong, (Wrestling) will also be held at Shirish Tola point at CRB area in the port city on Thursday.
The Institute of Fine Arts of Chittagong University will also arrange day long program in observance of the day. The rural sports, art competition, performances of students of institute and eminent artists will he held.
Chittagong Jila Shilpokola Academy and Chittagong Shishu Academy will arrange separate program in observance of the Pohela Boishak. Chittagong Press Club will arrange special program including cultural functions, Pitha Utshob etc at the Engineer Abdul Khalek Hall.
Chittagong University (CU) will arrange day long program which will be inaugurated and chaired by the Vice-chancellor of CU Prof Dr Ifthekhar Uddin Chowdhury to observe the Pohela Boishak. The rural sports, art exhibitions, performances of students of CU will be held during the program. Institute of Engineers in Chittagong, Bangladesh Chhatra Union, Cultural Union, Udichi Shilpi Ghosti will arrange different program in the port city in observance of the Pohela Boishak. Besides, the Borsho Boron Parishad will arrange another program at Chittagong central Shaheed Minar premises which will be inaugurated by Chairman of Chittagong Development Authority Abdus Salam while Mayor of Chittagong A J M Nasir Uddin will be present at the function as chief guest. On the other hand, the law enforcing agencies including elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) have taken special security measures for of the day.
Meanwhile, police is controlling the movements of vehicles at the Chittagong Central Shaheed Minar, DC Hill area, CRB area. The law enforcing agencies have taken special measures to control the law and order situation in the port city.
Meanwhile, fearing the attack of militants and miscreants the law enforcing agencies have started special raids in the city and rural areas in Chittagong. Meanwhile, the CMP has started storm raids at the different spots in the port city to nab the criminals particularly the suspicious militants. CMP has started checking at the hotels and vehicles at the important spots in the port city.
CMP sources said, policemen have already been deployed at the important spots including Chittagong Central Shaheed Minar, DC Hill area, CRB area, Bangladesh Women's Association School and College, IEB area, and Chittagong Club area.
Meanwhile, CMP and district police have set up a total of 32 check posts in the important spots and intersections in the city. Police men are checking the auto-rickshaws, private cars and micro buses in the spots. Police sources said, additional 2000 policemen have been deployed at different places to maintain the law and order situation in Chittagong. Police is prepared to resist any unwanted situation and any anarchy in the city. On the other hand, the three districts of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) take festive look as the traditional festivals on the Pahela Boishakh. The ' Sangrain ' festival of the Marma community at Bandarban, Bijhu Festival in Rangamati and Jhumma Festival at Khagrachari are going on with great enthusiasm and festivity.
The ethnic community Marma of Bandarban is celebrating the biggest ' Sangrain ' festival amid a big preparation of different food items to feed the guests. On the first day of the festival both male and female members of the Marma tribe form a procession to take their images of Buddha down to the riverfront. Sangrain means new year. It falls in the middle of April. Before the days of Sangrain, they clean and decorate their houses because to Marmas Sangrain is an auspicious and significant festival of the year in secular and religious level. The way they celebrate is not much different from Burmese and Thai.
However, Chakmas enjoy a three-day festival, two of which fall into the outgoing year. The first day is dedicated to celebrations for Phul Bijhu, the second for Mul Bijhu, and new year's day for Gojyai Pojya.
During Phul Bijhu there is general merrymaking in preparation for the main festival of Mul Bijhu, celebrated on the last day of the outgoing year. During this time the Chakmas visit one another's homes, socializing and eating together. Meanwhile, the Tripura community enjoy Goraia dance, with between 10 and 100 artists participating in the dance which depicts their daily lives and the processes of Jhum cultivation in Chittagong Hill Tracts. Throughout the Chittagong Hills Tracts, the first day of the New Year is greeted with merriment and the hope for a prosperous and trouble-free year ahead.
