Jabbarer Mela a testimony to rich heritage
1) Laldighi Maidan turns into a human sea during the Jabbarer Mela (fair) that ended on April 26. 2) Judges declare both Didarul Alam Dedar Boli and Marma Singha Tripura joint champions of 100th show of Jabbarer Boli Khela, main attraction of the Baishakhai fair. 3) A potter gives final touches to vases before putting them on display at the fair. 4) Pottery of different colour and design attracts visitors to the fair. 5) Wide variety of handmade sweetmeats on sale at the fair. 6) Visitors admire wooden handicrafts at the fair. Photo By Zobaer Hossain Sikder
The historic Jabbarer Baishakhi Mela concluded in the port city on April 26 reminding the people of rich heritage of Chittagong. Amid traditional fervour and huge enthusiasm, thousands of people from all walks of life thronged the fair spanning a two-square kilometre area of Laldighi, Badarpati, Anderkilla and Kotwali intersection throughout the day and night, prompting the authorities to stop plying of vehicles through the area for three days. Though the fair was scheduled to begin on April 24, hundreds of sellers from different parts of the country started arriving the fair ground from April 22 and stayed with their products after two days of the scheduled date of ending the fair on April 26. The traders rushed with huge varieties of products like potteries, household items, handicrafts, handlooms, textile garments, showpieces and nice toys. Home made traditional sweetmeats and seasonal fruits were also there in plenty for sale. Mohammad Aslam, who came from the capital with seven trucks of the potteries, told this correspondent that the fair has different appeals that draw huge people there every year while its 100th year also created much enthusiasm among the people. “I brought huge products this year and all the items have almost been finished,” Aslam, who attended the fair for sixth times, said on Tuesday. Abu Yusuf, a sweetmeat trader from Comilla, said he was waiting to sell a little number of sweetmeats that remained unsold till last day. He, however, was happy with the turnout and profit this year. Zahirul Islam, a buyer who bought eight hand fans from the fair, said he was waiting for the fair for around six months as these are not available at the common shops in the port city. The main attraction of the fair Boli Khela (wrestling competition) was held on Saturday, the second day of the fair, at the historic Laldighi Maidan where thousands of onlookers enjoyed it. The defending joint champions Marma Sing Tripura and Didarul Alam Didar again jointly clinched the title of the competition for fifth times this year. A total of 94 wrestlers of different ages from different areas, particularly those from the coastal areas of Anwara, Banshkhali and Swandwip in Chittagong and Ukhiya, Teknaf, Chakoria, offshore islands of Moheshkhali and Kutubdia in Cox's Bazar, participated in the competition. Mobile phone operator Banglalink sponsored the competition while satellite television Channel i telecast the event live. “Abdul Jabbaer Boli Khela and Boishakhi Mela Udjapan Parishad” organises the event every year. The Parishad Chairman and local Ward Councillor Zahar Lal Hazari said the fair this year had different appeals for its 100th show and everything completed without any major problem. “We are trying to keep alive our fading traditional wrestling through the competition and to support the wrestlers financially so that they can practise this throughout the year,” Zahar said. “We are determined to keep the historic event on any how in the future and financial organisations should come forward in this regard,” he added. A prominent local merchant - Abdul Jabbar Sawdagar of the city's Badorpati area, introduced the wrestling as a traditional event in 1909 (Bangla 1316). The aim was to organise and inspire the youths for anti-British movement. Since then the wrestling competition is being held on Baishakh 12 every year. The history of this popular sport event dates back to the Muslim and Arakani rules when aristocratic and rich families, particularly the “Zaminders” (landlords), used to employ healthy and strong wrestlers to counter their rivals. According to Historian Abdul Haq Chowdhury, there were 22 families of wrestlers hailing from 20 villages on the alluvial plain between the river Karnaphuli and Shankha in South Chittagong. Long before the partition of this sub-continent some two lakh people of Chittagong expatriated to Burma (now Myanmar). With huge savings they used to return home to organise wrestling competition in the month of Chaitra or Baishakh every year. Beating drums or tins they made publicity of the competition when people from all the neighbouring localities came in groups and gathered at the wrestling venue with band parties and along with the wrestlers. The descendants of Abdul Jabber Sawdagor with the support of local people, particularly those from Badarpati and Bakshirhat, have succeeded in keeping up the glorious past of the wrestling through holding the Boli khela and Baishakhi mela till date.
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