Jobbarer Boli Khela ends, reliving rich heritage

The Baishakhi Mela (fair), left, was held on the occasion of the Jobberer Boli Khela while two wrestlers, above, battle for retaining championship. PHOTO: STAR

Forty wrestlers took part in the competition. The defending joint-champions Marmasing Tripura, 26, of Khagrachhari and Didarul Alam Didar, 26, of Cox's Bazar retained the championship title jointly for the second time.

It once again swayed the Chittagong people with merriment side by side with reminding them of a rich cultural heritage.

A prominent local merchant Abdul Jabber Sawdagor of Andorkilla Badorpati Road of the city introduced the wrestling with a view to inspiring and organising the local youths for the anti-British movement in 1909 (Bengali year 1316).

Since then the descendants of Abdul Jabber with the support of local people and the administration organise the competition titled "Abdul Jabber Memorial Wrestling Competition" at Laldighi Moidan on Baishakh 12 (the first month of Bengali year).

The "Bolis" (wrestlers) gather here from different areas, particularly from the far- flung coastal areas and offshore islands in Chittagong and adjoining districts on this day. The event helps them as well as the spectators, particularly the elderly ones, remember a history of unique tradition and 'nostalgia.'

Marmasing, a cop of Razarbag police line in the capital, clinched the champion's title for the third consecutive time since his very first appearance at the competition in 2003.

On the other hand, Didarul, a wrestler from Omkhali under Ramu upazila in Cox's bazar, became the champion in the competition for the fourth time. Didarul, a small businessman, also won the championship title (jointly with the then defending champion Siddique Boli of Ukhiya) in 2001. He also retained the title in 2002 and lost it to Marmasing in 2003 before regaining it for two consecutive years in 2004 and 2005.

Apart from the two champions, 38 other wrestlers fought in 19 bouts.

Of them, the bout between two elderly wrestlers - Ayub Ali, 55, of Rangunia Rajanagar and Mafiz, 52, of Hathazari, was the most exciting one. Ayub Ali, won the bout.

The participants like elderly Ayub Ali, Mafiz or young Abdul Gafur talked about the people's love and compassion for the competition as well as tradition.

Abdul Gafur, a youth from Gandamara of coastal Banshkhali upazila, was seen to bring something out of his mouth after winning the bout.

Gafur said that it was a "Tabij" (paper having Quranic verses inscribed on it). His mother gave the Tabij asking him to hold it between the jaws during the bout.

A two-day 'Baishakhi Mela" was also held as usual centering on the wrestling competition.

The fair continued for more than three days as the vendors from different parts of the region opened their makeshift shops since Saturday, one day before the formal opening of the fair, to wind up after the official closure of the event.