Festivals of Bangladesh

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.







Independence Day :

26^th March is the Independent day of Bangladesh. On this day in 1971, Bangladesh’s independence was formally declared by the lead of Sheak Mujibor Rahman. The nine-month war culminated in the independence of the country on December 16, 1971 after the sacrifice of the lives of three million people.The day is a public holiday. The government has ordered beefed-up security in all its cities, towns and major installations. The Shaheed Minar in Dhaka University & the National Memorial in Savar would be under extra security surveillance.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. On the other hand" President Zillur Rahman", "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina "and leader of the opposition" Khaleda Zia "issued separate messages, greeting the countrymen on this solemn and joyful occasion. And also various political, social and cultural organizations have chalked out elaborate programmed to observe the day.

Pahela Baishakh:

Pahela Baishakh is the first day of Bangla Year. It is the day of "Subho Nabobarsho". To celebrate this day is an integral part of our culture and tradition. So, the day is celebrated with traditional festivity across the country. People in villages celebrated this day according to their age-long customs. Special meals are arranged at home and Baishakhi Melas are held at different places. It is a day of great pleasure to the village people and children. City dwellers also celebrate this day with delight. The Chhaynat a leading cultural organisation begins the day's first program me at dawn at Ramna Batamul in Dhaka. The main attraction of the day is Baishakhi Mela which is also held in the rural area. People in cheerful mind visit Baishakhi Mela and buy different things.Girls wear red sarees and boys wear pajama- panjabi. Some people eat watered- rice with onion, green chilly, and hilsha-fish. Shop-keepers both in villages and towns open" Halkhata" and distribute sweets among their customers and clients.

Christmas:-

Christmas popularly called "Bara Din (big Day)". This day is celebrated with in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country. It is celebrated on 25 December on the occasion of Jesus's (PUBA) Birthday. The main components of this festival are special prayers offered in churches, arrangement of feasts and offering of gifts among friends and relatives. This day is most exciting day for the younger children who like to get various types of gift.In addition, Father Christmas known as "santa claus " is a popular folklore figure in many countries, associated with the bringing of gifts fir children. This day has a great significant. Because gift- giving and many other aspects of the Christmas festival involve heightened economic activity among both Christians and non Christians. The holiday has become a significant event and a key sales period for retailers and business.


Buddha Purnima:


In Bangladesh Buddha Purnima is one of the biggest religious festivals to the Buddhists. Buddha Purnima is observed to mark the birth anniversary of the founder of Buddhism, Lord Buddha. It is celebrated all over the country on the full-moon lunar day in the bangla month of Baisakh (April-May) . THe day is celebrated to observe three significant incidences of Lord Buddha's life that is the Buddha's birthday, attainment of supreme enlightenment and achievement of Nirvana during the time of his death. In this day various events and celebrations are arranged by the Buddhist to make the as a grant event. People pray and utter summons which related to the life of Lord Buddha, religious discussions are also arranged. On the other hand, there is also arranged a Meditation which is considered as a major event on this occasion. Colourful processions are also taken out to the street. Apart from this people also gather to the statue of Loard Buddha for pray as well as enjoy the day.