PBS-304: Bangladesh Studies

Lecture 02
Bangladesh: Culture, Festivals & Celebrations

Professor Dr. Sadik Hasan

University of Dhaka
 Culture
▪ The Culture of Bangladesh refers to the way of life of the people of Bangladesh. It has
evolved over the centuries and encompasses the cultural diversity of several social groups
of Bangladesh. The Bengal Renaissance of the 19th and early 20th centuries, noted
Bengali writers, saints, authors, scientists, researchers, thinkers, music composers,
painters, and film-makers have played a significant role in the development of Bengali
culture.
▪ The Bengal Renaissance contained the seeds of a nascent political Indian nationalism and
was the precursor in many ways to modern Indian artistic and cultural expression.
▪ The culture of Bangladesh is composite and over the centuries has assimilated influences
of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity. It is manifested in various forms, including
music, dance, and drama; art and craft; folklore and folktale; languages and literature;
philosophy and religion; festivals and celebrations; as well as in a distinct cuisine and
culinary tradition.
 Festivals & Celebrations
▪ Festivals and celebrations are an integral part of the culture of Bangladesh. Prominent and widely
celebrated festivals are Pohela Boishakh, Independence day, National Mourning Day, Eid ul-Fitr,
Eid ul-Adha, Durga puja, and Language Movement Day and other national days.
▪ Pohela Boishakh: It is the first day of the Bengali New Year. Now it is celebrated on the 14th of
April of the Gregorian calendar. Celebrations of Pahela Baishakh started from Akbar’s reign.
The main event of the day was to open a Halkhata (new fresh book) of accounts. This was
wholly a financial affair. In villages, towns and cities, traders and shopkeepers closed their old
account book and opened new one. They used to invite their customers to share sweets and
renew their business relationship. This tradition is still practiced among the jewelers, local
store-businessman, retailers etc. Pohela Boishakh is a public holiday. On the occasion the
home is thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned; people bathe early in the morning and dress in fine
clothes depending on ability. Women particularly young girls dress up white saris with red
borders and men clothed Punjabi, fatua with traditional art in Pahela Boishakh. They spend
much time of the day visiting relatives, friends, and neighbors and going to fair. Fairs are
arranged in different parts of the country where various agricultural products, traditional
handicrafts, toys, cosmetics, various kinds of foods and sweets etc. are sold.
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▪ These fairs also provide entertainment, with singers, dancers and traditional plays and
songs. Horse races, bull races, bullfights, cockfights, flying pigeons, boat racing etc. The
most colorful New Year’s Day festival takes place in the Ramna Batamul, Dhaka. Large
numbers of people of different ages gather early in the morning under the banyan tree
where Chhayanat’s artists open the day with Rabindranath Tagore’s famous song, “Esho,
hey Boishakh, Esho Esho”. People celebrate this cultural festive starting their day having
breakfast with Panta-Ilisha (plain boiled rice soaked overnight in water and slightly
fermented & Hilsa Fish fry) supplemented with different kind of Vortas (saluted or fried
vegetable with green or fried chilly and other spices) pickles, lentils etc. It is the traditional
dish for the Pohela Boishakh festival. The dishes are served in a plate made by clay.
▪ Language Day: To commemorate the language Movement of 1952, 21 February is revered
in Bangladesh as the Martyrs' Day. This day is the public holiday in Bangladesh. Since
1999, UNESCO decided to observe 21 February as International Mother Language Day.
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▪ Eid ul-Fitr: As the most important religious festival for the majority of Muslims, the celebration of Eid
ul-Fitr has become a part of the culture of Bangladesh. The government of Bangladesh declares the
holiday for three days on Eid-ul Fitr. All outgoing public transport from the major cities have become
highly crowded and in many cases the fares tend to rise in spite of government restrictions. On Eid day,
the Eid prayer are held all over the country, in open areas like fields or inside mosques.[1] After the Eid
prayers, people return home, visit each other's home and eat sweet dishes called shirni. Throughout the
day gentlemen embrace each other. It is also customary for junior members of the society to touch the
feet of the seniors, and seniors returning blessings (sometimes with a small sum of money as a gift).
Money and food is donated to the poor.
▪ In the rural areas, the Eid festival is observed with great fanfare. In some areas Eid fairs are arranged.
Different types of games including boat racing, kabaddi, and other traditional Bangladeshi games, as
well as modern games like cricket and football are played on this occasion. In urban areas, people play
music, visit each other's houses and eat special food. Watching movies and television programs has
also become an integral part of the Eid celebration in urban areas. All local TV channels air special
program for several days for this occasion.
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▪ Eid ul-Azha: There are many similarities between the celebration of Eid ul-Azha and Eid
ul-Fitr in many ways. The only major difference is the Qurbani (sacrifice of domestic
animals) on Eid ul-Azha. It is the second major Muslim festival and is celebrated with
much meat. Beside the permanent market, numerous temporary marketplaces of
different sizes called Haat operate in various places for sale of Qurbani animals (usually
cows and goats).
▪ The cows are then paraded along the streets and each animal is decorated with paper
flower garlands and glitter. Each family that has ability buys cow, bull or goat to slaughter
on the name of holy Allah. It is believed that the slaughtering is not animal but the all evil
motives of minds.
▪ In this occasion, people and relatives are given meats who don’t have ability to buy any
animals. This is a tradition of sharing. The occasion is also known as Sacrifice Eid.
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▪ Shab-e-Barat: At the full moon 14 days before the starting of Ramadan, Shab-e-Barat is a
sacred night when Muslims in Bangladesh pray all night long for the satisfaction of the
Almighty Allah. Besides, ruti, halua and other sweetmeats are distributed to the poor,
neighbors and relatives.
▪ Durga Puja: Durga Puja is the biggest celebration of Hindu community. It is celebrated
during October. On the occasion, the Debi Durga (Goddess) statues astride a lion, with her
ten hands holding ten different weapons, are placed in not only regular Hindu temple but
also enormous temporary stages. Hindu community shop new dress and so on knick-knack
on the occasion. Almost all Puja stage, Village fair sits aside. It is now a day’s one of the
most public gathering occasion. Puja stage and such fair is visited not only Hindu
community but also all classes of people of Bangladesh.
▪ Nobanno: In the rural area, the farmers’ community starts harvesting and with this joy they
celebrate Nobanno. They made PAYESH (Sweet dish made with rice and boiled milk),
various kind of traditional rice cakes to celebrate Nobanno.
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▪ Pahela Falgun/Bashanta Utshob: The day is celebrated on February 13. A colorful festival
held to welcome Bashanto (spring). Attired in reddish-yellow saris with red border and hairs
decorated with flowers, young girls and boys wearing traditional pajama and Punjabi,
carrying flowers, took part in the colorful march. A good number of kids also got their
attractive faces painted with different motifs including birds, national flag, butterflies etc.
▪ Songkranti/Shakrain/Ghuri Festival is another remarkable traditional festival. Kite
Festival is one of the ancient and popular traditions. People especially young boys fly
different kinds and colorful kites on the occasion. It is still now celebrated widely in old
Dhaka.
▪ Paush Parbon: In this season people celebrate Paush Parbon with Date Juice and various
kinds of Pithas. Kuli pitha, Khajer pitha, Vapa pitha, chitai pitha and various date juice based
pitha are remarkable. Grihasto (farmer) invites their married daughter and son of law on the
occasion.