Fairs of Bangladesh - Baisabi Festival

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Baisabi Festival

Sunday, 23 March 2008

Water festival, a joyful part of Baisabi

Baisabi is the main social festival of the indigenous people living in the hill districts of Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari. This festival is celebrated by the Chakma and Tanchyanga as "Biju", by Marmas as "Shangrai", Tripuras as "Baisuk" or "Baisu".

Biju is a festival celebrated by the Chakmas and Tanchyangas for three consecutive days- the last two days of Chaitra and the first day of Baisakh. They never kill any living creature during these three days.

Tag-of-war, a traditional game during Baisabi Festival

They celebrate the last day of Chaitra as the main festival day. On this special day they cook a mixed curry with five types of vegetables, which they call Pachan. In the afternoon the teenagers play traditional games like Ghila and Bou-chi. Gaijja-Paijja means going for the somersault on the ground and is practised by the tribal boys and girls during the first day of Baisakh as part of the New Year festival.

The Marinas celebrate Shangrai for four days. They all carry the image of Lord Buddha to the river front and set down the image on a floating bed. Afterwards, they complete the bathing of the image in milk or sandalwood water and return with it to set it in the Temple or in their homes. In every locality, the water throwing festival starts with people throwing water at each other so that the previous year's sorrow will be washed away. The Baisuk festival of the Tripura tribe is celebrated by worshipping the god Shiva and asking for his blessings.