Baisabi colours paint Rangamati as five-day festival begins

The hills have once again come alive with the vibrant Baisabi festival as the five-day celebration began in Rangamati on Monday afternoon, April 6.

The festival was inaugurated at 3:00 pm by Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Minister Dipen Dewan at an event organised by the Small Ethnic Groups Cultural Institute.

The festival brings together the traditional New Year celebrations of various indigenous communities, including Biju, Baisu, Sangrai, Bihu, Chankran, Bishu, Sanglan, Chankrai, Pata and Bengali New Year.

The first day featured the Marma community's traditional water games, walking on bamboo khurum, weaving bein, the Tripura community's Garia dance, a Pajon cooking competition, the Mro community's drama 'Rinaflung', a children's essay competition and cultural programmes.

The second day will include a Baisabi fair, indigenous Nadeang games, an exhibition of bamboo and cane products, a children's art competition and cultural programmes.

The remaining three days will feature traditional cake making and exhibitions by the Chakma, Marma and Tripura communities, a Chakma drama, Dulo Peda Doli Bhangana, Naksha Luri performances and an all-night band show.

Baisabi is not just a festival but a unique expression of the traditions, culture and communal harmony of the hill communities.