3-day colourful Boisabi festival starts in CHT
Indigenous people float flowers in Kaptai Lake in Rangamati during 'Fulbijhu' yesterday, the first day of the three-day traditional festival of indigenous communities across Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban hill districts.Photo: STAR
The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region is pulsating with life as the indigenous people of Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari hill districts started their three-day-long 'Boisabi' festival yesterday. The festival is celebrated for three days -- last two days of the old year and the first day of Bangla New Year -- with the hope to shed the sorrows of the past year and welcome the new year. Different indigenous communities call the festival in different names -- the Tripura people call it Boisuk, the Marmas call it Sangrai and the Chakmas call it Bijhu. And so, it is commonly known as Boisabi, comprising abbreviated forms of the different names. Traditionally a cultural and religious festival of the indigenous people, it is now enjoyed by the Bangalees as well. In Rangamati, the first day of the festival is called 'Phulbijhu', the second day is 'Mulbijhu' and third day or first day of the Bangla New Year is called 'Gojya Pojya Din'. On the first day of the festival yesterday, people floated flowers on river or spring water and took bath, seeking divine blessing for peace and prosperity. A cultural function was arranged at Gorjantali in Rangamati. The indigenous people gifted cloths to the elderly people and entertained guests with homemade delicacies. During the main festival 'Mulbijhu' on the second day today, the indigenous people will entertain guests with pachan, a popular mixed vegetable curry. Groups of people also like to enjoy drinking locally prepared liquors like do-choani, hanji and jaghora. On the first day of the Bangla New Year tomorrow, indigenous people will relax at their homes and perform religious function at temples.
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