BSS, Rangpur :
The ‘Nabanno Utsab’ (a traditional festival of the Bangalees) was celebrated at Kalapara village in Chandanpat union of Sadar upazila here enthralling tens of thousands of rural people on Friday afternoon.
The festival is celebrated in the Bengali month of ‘Agrahayan’ for time immemorial bringing a message of unbridled joy in Bengali life centering on harvesting of new paddy and eating of ‘pitha-puli’ (cakes) prepared using the first rice of that paddy.
However, in the evolution of time, the festival is now on the verge of extinction.
That is why the district administration has organized ‘Nabanno Utsab’ in a colorful way to highlight this thousand year old culture of Bangalees.
Under the initiative of the district administration, Sadar upazila administration with assistance of Chandanpat union chairman Md. Amenur Rahman organized the festival to let the new generations know the heritage and culture of this delta.
From time immemorial, the Bangalees irrespective of caste, creed and religion have been celebrating the ‘Nabanno Utsab’ which is aligned with Bengali history, tradition and culture.
Marking the festival, various events, including threshing of newly harvested Aman paddy using traditional wooden ‘Dheki’, cutting of Aman paddy, journey by bullock carts, horse race and ‘lathi khela’ (stick games) were arranged there.
Around this ‘Nabanno Utsab’, rural women, housewives and young girls prepared traditional cakes, ‘muri’ (puffed rice), ‘murki’ (puffed rice covered with molasses) and the dancers danced and sang with visitors.
At the beginning of the festival, Deputy Commissioner Md. Asib Ahsan, District Awami League Adviser Md. Mofizar Rahman, Chandanpat union chairman Md. Amenur Rahman and other guests participated in paddy cutting with farmers.
Deputy Commissioner’s wife Nazira Banu, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Shahnaz Parveen, Sadar upazila chairman Nasima Zaman Boby, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Nur Nahar Begum and other female guests traveled in a bullock-driven cart on the occasion.
Later, a colorful cultural program was arranged and prizes were distributed among the winners of the traditional stick game and horse race competitions.
Officer-in-Charge of Rangpur Sadar Kotwali Thana Md. Mostafizur Rahman, Sadar upazila vice-chairmen Masudar Rahman Milon and Kajoli Begum, other officials and employees of district and upazila administration and their families were present.
