In the spirit of Pahela Baishakh
By: JULIAN FRANCIS
The celebration of the Bangla New Year is a relatively recent event. However, for thousands of years, people have observed the celebration known as “Songkran” in Bangladesh and “Songkran” in Thailand.
The Sanskrit word “Sankranta” means “a transition or alteration.” It is associated with the Zodiac cycle, and naturally, every point on the circle serves as both a commencement and a conclusion.
In northern India, April marks the onset of spring, characterised by the emergence of buds and blossoms on trees and the awakening of hibernating animals in search of food. This marks the commencement of a fresh start. April had great significance for the ancient Indian civilization, as it symbolized the emergence of new life and the commencement of a fresh year.
About 16 years ago, I visited an ecological agricultural center in Pathrail, Delduar, Tangail. During my tour, I witnessed the observation of “Songkran.” People of all faiths celebrate Songkran, a festival that predates the arrival of any religion in this region.
Typically, the communities adhere to specific customs. At the start of Songkran Day, the spiritual leaders consume a highly nourishing beverage to sustain their energy levels throughout the day, and they may choose to abstain from eating. They make the beverage, known as Chatu, from millet and sorghum. Upon arrival, I consumed a glass of this beverage and a “bel” juice, renowned for their sunstroke-preventing effects. We also received two types of puffed reddish rice, along with “tok doi” (yoghurt) and liquid “gur.”
During the fair, several farmers from all regions of the country who are members of the Naya Krishi Andolan gathered to attend a seminar and participate in Songkranti’s cultural festivities. In addition, several local Tangail weavers have established stalls to promote and sell their exquisite handwoven fabric.
Approximately 500 weaving households could sustain themselves quite satisfactorily by marketing their goods through Prabartana, located in Mohammadpur and now also in Banani. Unfortunately, the mahajans and moneylenders continued to trap numerous additional weavers, similar to bonded labor, under their control.
The celebration of the Bangla New Year is a comparatively recent tradition. At the same time, the festivities known as “Songkran” in Bangladesh and “Songkran” in Thailand have ancient origins dating back thousands of years.
Sanskrit is the source of the word “Sankranta,” which means “a transition or alteration.” The Zodiac cycle connects it; naturally, each point on the circle represents both a commencement and a conclusion.
In northern India, April marks the onset of spring, characterised by the emergence of buds and blossoms on trees and the awakening of hibernating animals in search of food. This marks the commencement of a fresh start. In ancient Indian culture, April symbolised the emergence of new life and the commencement of a new year.
About 16 years ago, I visited an ecological agricultural center in Pathrail, Delduar, Tangail. During my tour, I witnessed the observance of Songkran. People of all faiths celebrate Songkran, a festival that predates the introduction of any religion in this region.
Typically, the communities adhere to specific customs. At the start of Songkran Day, the religious leaders consume a highly nourishing beverage to sustain their vitality throughout the day, and they may choose to abstain from eating. They make the beverage, Chatu, from millet and sorghum. Upon arrival, I consumed a glass of this beverage and a glass of “bel” juice, which is reputed to possess characteristics that safeguard against sunstroke. We also received two varieties of inflated reddish rice, along with “tok doi” (yoghurt) and liquid “gur.”
During the fair, several farmers from all regions of the country who are members of the Naya Krishi Andolan gathered to attend a seminar and participate in Songkranti’s cultural festivities. In addition, several local Tangail weavers have established stalls to promote and sell their exquisite handwoven fabric.
Approximately 500 weaving families were able to support themselves at that time by selling their products through Prabartana in Mohammadpur and, currently, also in Banani. Regrettably, the mahajans and moneylenders continued to trap a significant number of other weavers, akin to indentured servitude.
Over 50 distinct medicinal plants in pots surrounded the village midwife I encountered. She uses these herbs to address prenatal, natal, and postnatal complications. Undoubtedly, it is imperative to disseminate this indigenous wisdom more extensively.
She stressed the need to allow the plants to develop in their native environment rather than in containers to achieve optimal results. We introduced the pots to the fair with the aim of educating individuals like ourselves.