Staff Reporter, Kishoreganj :
The 400 years -old traditional Kurikhai Mela has started in Katiadi of Kishoreganj. The fair started on last week on the occasion of Urs of spiritual saint Shah Shamsuddin Bukhari. Apart from various products, large size fish are attracting the attention of the visitors in this week-long fair.
A different atmosphere has been created in the premises of the fair with the spiritual songs and melodies of the Baul devotees. The atmosphere of the festival has been created around the fair in the whole area. It is known that Hazrat Shah Samsuddin Aulia Sultanul Bukhari (Rah.), One of the spiritual saints of 12 Auliyas, settled in Kurikhai area of Mumurdia Union in Katiadi Upazila of Kishoreganj about four hundred years ago.
After his death a shrine was built there. Every year disciples and devotees from different parts of the country gather here on the occasion of annual Urs at the premises of Hazrat Shah Samsuddin Aulia Sultanul Bukhari (Rah.)
Since then, Kurikhai Mela has been held every year in the open field adjacent to the shrine. Thousands of people named Dhal at this hundred year old fair. The fair is held every week from the last Monday of Magh. However, this time the organizers decided not to hold the fair officially due to social restrictions in the Corona situation. However, hundreds of Bauls started gathering at the shrine premises before the appointed day. As a result, the fair started ignoring the rules and regulations.
From morning till late night people of different classes and professions are coming to the fair with their loved ones. Visiting Bahari toys, cosmetics, murki-murki, jellies, bangles-jewelry and other daily necessities. Someone is riding in lagardola. Crowd of son-in-law at the fish market
The fish market has become interesting after printing everything. According to the custom of the area, he will go to his father-in-law’s house only after buying the biggest fish of Jamaira Mela of Katiadi Upazila. So traders from different parts of the country have set up fish stalls at the fair. Sales are also big rui, katal, boal, chital, airasaha various species of fish. The competition is on who will buy the big fish.According to the organizers, the last two days of Kurikhai Mela are reserved for women only. Women will shop on this day. This time is called Baumela. The fair will end on February 14.
Mainuzzaman Apu, General Secretary of the Kurikhai Fair management committee, said the fair was not officially organized due to Corona. However, the people themselves organize the fair. It is not possible for us to stop the flow of millions of people.
Former IGP and Senior Secretary Nur Mohammad MP (Pakundia-Katiadi) constituency, who visited the fair, said that, the Kurikhai Mela is a fusion of traditional Bengali folk tradition and life. For the people of this area, Kurikhai Mela is more fun than Eid. Around the fair, the mood of the festival is spreading in the surrounding 50 villages. The people of the area have been celebrating this traditional fair for generations. However, in the Corona situation, everyone has been asked to be aware, including wearing a mask.
