Writings
The Dhamrai Rathajatra and the nature of Asharh
Asharh means kadam flowers, Asharh means rain, and the festival of Rathajatra. In Bangladesh, it is a beautiful fusion of nature and culture. On the morning of the 13th of Asharh, a brief shower occurred. Ignoring the drizzle, I set off from Dhanmondi to Dhamrai. The sky remained cloudy. Since childhood, I have heard that it always rains on the day of the Rathajatra, meaning chariot pulling, with every pull of the chariot's rope. In different places, the rope is pulled at different times. Does that mean it rains locally at those places? Perhaps not. But such is the nature of Asharh rain—it doesn't last continuously for long. It comes and goes.