Santals celebrate Baha festival

Santal community people in Gobindaganj upazila yesterday observed the Baha festival (flower festival) with their colourful traditional cultural events.

Organised by Baha Parob Udjapon Committee, the festival, locally known as 'Baha Parob' was held at Katabari Union Paishad premises and continued till night where hundreds of Santal men, women and children took part.

Baha Parob, the second largest festival of the Santal community, is observed every year welcoming the spring.

The community people observe the day with traditional songs and performing dances, wearing colourful cloths and ornaments.

They also decorate their houses and even the venue with colourful papers and festoons.

On the occasion, a discussion meeting was held at the venue where Gaibandha-4 Lawmaker Monwar Hossain Chowdhury was present as the chief guest.

Following the discussion, Rumila Hembrom, member secretary of Baha Parob Udjapon Committee, handed over a memorandum to the lawmaker inscribed with demands of returning their forefathers' land and justice regarding the killing of three Santal men during an eviction drive at Shahebganj cane farm on November 6, 2016.    

Presided by Philimon Baske, convener of the committee, among others, Gobindaganj Municipality Mayor Ataur Rahman, UNDP representative Shankar Pal, Adivasi Bangalee Sanghati Parishad Convener Advocate Sirajul Islam Babu, spoke on the occasion.