CHT in festive mood as Boisabi begins today

CHT in festive mood as Boisabi begins today

 

Local artistes perform a traditional Marma dance at a cultural function held on the premises of Khagrachhari Town Hall yesterday. The district council arranged the programme on the eve of the three-day ‘Boisabi’ festival. Photo: Star

A festive atmosphere prevails over the three districts of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) as the three-day ‘Boisabi Utsab’ of the indigenous people begins there today.
The festival is widely called Boisabi although the ethnic people have its regional names. The Tripuras, the Marmas and the Chakmas call it Boisuk, Sangrain and Biju respectively while the first two or three letters of each form the word ‘Boisabi’ collectively, reports our correspondents.
The ethnic communities in Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban districts celebrate the festival to leave behind the passing year with all its sorrows and welcome the Bangla New Year with hope for a brighter future.
The last two days of Bangla month of Chaitra is called ‘Phul Biju’ and ‘Mul Biju’ and the first day of Baishakh is known as ‘Gojya Pojya Din’.
The indigenous people of CHT float flowers on river or fountain water on ‘Phul Biju’ day. Biju Udjapan Committee and Tripura Kalyan Foundation will organise the ‘floating flower’ programmes on Kaptai Lake at Rajban Bihar Ghat and Garjantali in Rangamati.
As a mark of respect to the elders, Tripura people will give a bath and new clothes to them at Garjantali in Rangamati in the morning. They will also entertain their guests with pithas (cakes) during the programme.
Local Tripura artistes will perform at a cultural programmeat at Garjantali in Rangamati.
In Khagrachhari, the zila parishad will bring out a colourful procession in the town today. Sarbajanin Boisabi Udjapan Committeee has arranged a three-day cultural programme and traditional games competition at Shanirbar in the town.
The cultural activists of Kharang Cultural Development Society will perform traditional Garaiya Dance, Hazagiri Dance and Romantic dances of Tripura community in the programme.
On April 13, during the main function of Mul Biju festival, the indigenous people will prepare ‘pachan’, a kind of mixed vegetable curry at every house to treat the guests. They will also make their own traditional pithas (cakes), sweetmeats and liquor to celebrate the day. Pitha Utsab (preparing traditional cakes) will take place in Khagrachhari town.
On the occasion, Utsab Udjapan Committee in Bandarban has arranged a three-day long programme in Bandarban town with the performing of ‘Shoyeng Daan’ (delivering food) in the Kheuya Kiong (local temple).
A religious procession will parade the town with the statue of Lord Buddha and after that the statue will be taken to Shankho River to arrange a bath of the statue.
On the day of  “Gojjya Pojjya Din” or the first day of Bangla New Year, the indigenous people go to Kiong (temple) to offer cakes and hear Dharma Deshana (religious preaching) and pray for the well being of their family. They also host their neighbours at their respective houses on the day.