Flowers float on Kaptai Lake during Biju festival

Flowers have floated in the water of Kaptai Lake in Rangamati. On the occasion of Bengali New Year and Year's Eve, people from different ethnic groups in the Chittagong Hill Tracts organize this flower float as part of a traditional festival.

People gathered on the banks of Kaptai Lake in various neighborhoods and ghats in the city, including Rajbari, Garjantali, Keranipahar, in a festive atmosphere on Sunday morning. As the sun rose, people of all ages started floating flowers in the lake water.

Different ethnic groups in the hilly region celebrate this festival of New Year and New Year's Eve by various names including Biju, Bihu, Baisuk, Sangrai, Changkran. It is better known locally as 'Phul Biju'.

Women wear colorful pinon and hadi in the festival, while men wear dhoti, Punjabi and fatua. The festive atmosphere spread across the ghats of Kaptai Lake since morning.

According to tradition, the main formalities of the New Year's farewell in Rangamati began on the morning of 29 Chaitra with the floating of flowers to 'Maa Ganga'.