IPNEWS BD: The end of Chaitra, the last month of Bangla year is almost here and preparations are in full swing for the farewell and welcome festivals in the country’s Chittagong Hill Tracts regions. Various events and celebrations have already started in different parts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. In connection with these festivities, a 3-day fair showcasing the indigenous cultures of the CHT will begin tomorrow in the capital. This is the first time such a fair, featuring the hill people’s festivals — Biju, Baisu, Sangrai, Changkran, and Bisu — is being organized in Dhaka. The fair will begin on Wednesday, April 9, and run through Friday, April 11. The event will take place at the Shakyamuni Buddhist Temple in Mirpur 13, Dhaka, as confirmed by Subimal Chakma, the member secretary of the organizing committee.
He mentioned that the fair will begin every day at 10 AM and continue until 8 PM. The event is being organized by the Dhaka-based Hill Entrepreneurs and Small Business Cooperative Society Limited, with support from the indigenous blood donor organization JUBDA and the CHT Welfare Society.
The end of Chaitra and the beginning of Baishakh mark the start of vibrant farewell and welcoming celebrations in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). Different Indigenous communities of CHT celebrate this festival under various names. This year’s celebration will take place from April 12 to 14, and the Dhaka fair is being organized in line with this tradition.
This fair, being held for the first time, will showcase the diverse cultural activities of the Indigenous Peoples, including their unique clothing, food, household items, and utensils, as well as their rich traditions. Subimal Chakma, one of the organizers, stated, “There’s a lot of interest in the festivals of the Indigenous Peoples. People appreciate the cultural diversity of the indigenous groups, their attire, food, and many other items. This fair will highlight all of that. It’s a new kind of celebration for the city dwellers in Dhaka, where both Indigenous Peoples and Bengalis can participate.”
The fair’s opening ceremony on April 9 will be attended by the advisor to the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, Supradip Chakma, as the chief guest. The opening will be conducted by the Principal of Shakyamuni Buddhist Temple, Venerable Pragyananda Mahathera.
On the second day, the chief guest will be Mustafa Sarwar Faruqi, advisor to the Ministry of Cultural affairs of the Interim Government. On the final day, Farida Akhtar, advisor to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, will attend as the chief guest.
Every evening, there will be cultural performances from various indigenous groups. Stalls at the fair will feature traditional hill clothing, food, vegetables, and household items for sale.
