BOISHAKHI breeze blows across 156 tea gardens

Thursday was a day of heavy rains in the Moulvibazar area. Like the new tea leaves blooming on every plant, an air of festivity lingered in the tea estates. 

Tea garden workers were cleaning their houses to welcome the Bangla New Year, Pohela Boishakh, while also picking up on their Boishakhi shopping of colourful attires -- not from the showrooms but from hawkers at the village. 

The seller did not need to call too much after entering into these rural areas in the morning. He was surrounded by the women residents. Prices are reasonable: every item of clothing was between BDT 250 to 450. As a result, the market is quite thrilling. 

These scenes were of the Chatlapur Tea Estate, on the outskirts of the Moulvibazar. Aside from the clothes shopping, other preparations were also on to welcome the New Year. 

Tea garden workers lead a life of labour and hardships, so Boishakh brings joy to their monotonous lives. Colourful festivals are organised to welcome Boishakh in 156 tea gardens under Sylhet division, starting from the last day of Bangla Chaitra month – Chaitra Sangkranti.  Charak Puja is held at the Lakkatura Tea Estate, with the air festive on either side of the airport road in Sylhet. 

The following day is the welcoming day of Pohela Boishakh. Rural youth take the centre-stage in the celebrations, said Bikash Ranjan Das, the convener of the Bangladesh Tea-Student Youth Council.