Hill dists in festive mood

Jiotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, Moniswapon Dewan and Maniklal Dewan jointly inaugurating the Boishabi festival at Rangamati Stadium yesterday morning. PHOTO: STAR

All indigenous people belonging to different tribes say good bye to the past year and celebrate the New Year with new hopes through various colourful programmes.

The festival called Boishabi or Bizu is the prime festival in the CHT region.

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The government earlier declared a three-day holiday in the region from Wednesday for the occasion.

Different tribes like Tripura, Marma, Chakma and Tanchangya celebrate the New Year through separate programmes highlighting their distinctive cultural features.

Though the programme began on Friday, it got off to formal kick-off yesterday morning with a colorful procession brought out in Rangamati town.

It was led by CHT Regional Council Chairman Jiotirindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Santu Larma, Deputy Minister for CHT Affairs Moniswapon Dewan, Rangamati Hill District Council Chairman Dr Maniklal Dewan and Bangladesh Adibashi Forum Secretary Sanjeeb Drong. Representatives of different ethnic groups joined the procession.

The five-day programmes undertaken by the CHT unit of Adibashi Forum includes Chakma folk songs, art competition, football tournament, recitation, drama and Rupkathar Asar (sessions of fairy tales).

It also includes various indigenous sports events including Boli Khela (Human Wrestling) Ghila Khera, Nadeng Khara, Potti Khara, Gudu Khara, Fur Khara, Bansh Khorom Dhaba, Badul Marana, Shel Bonduk Marana and Shor Bansh Marana. The events will be held at Rangamati stadium.

The most attractive event is the 'water festival' of Marma people, which will took place at Raikhali Marma village near Chandraghuna on April 15.