Chittagong Hill Tracts: Indigenous Communities Come Together For Boisabi Celebrations
Photo Courtesy of The Daily Star
On 12 April 2017, indigenous peoples from three districts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts gathered to celebrate the ‘Bosaibi Utsab’. Indigenous communities from Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari come together to welcome the Bangla New Year. The event was organised by the Khagrachhari Hill District Council (KHDC) and was also attended by several Bangalee people. Although the different communities have different name for the festivities, the celebrations are a symbol of unity.
Below is an article published by The Daily Star:
'Boisabi Utsab' is a symbol of unity among the Paharis (indigenous) and Bangalee people living in the region.
The festival is widely called Boisabi although the indigenous people have different regional names like -- Boishu of the Tripuras, Sangrai of the Marmas, Sankran of the Mros and Biju of the Chakmas.
Local lawmaker Kujendra Lal Tripura said this while inaugurating a rally in Khagrachhari town yesterday on the occasion of Boisabi, the biggest festival of the indigenous people of three hill districts in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).
Organised by Khagrachhari Hill District Council (KHDC), people from different indigenous communities, wearing traditional dresses, brought out a colourful procession in the district town where a number of Bangalee people also took part.
Khagrachhari Deputy Commissioner Rashedul Islam, Superintendent of Police Ali Ahmed Khan, members of the district council, government officials, students and activists of different social-cultural organisations also joined the rally.
The indigenous communities in Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari districts celebrate the festival to leave behind the sorrows of the previous year and welcome the Bangla New Year.
