Public Holidays in Bangladesh (2015)

A Happy New Year!
New Year's Eve and New Year's Day were Hartal(Strike), but anyway 2015 has started.
I will be leaving Bangladesh in 3 months, but will update till my the end of my stay.
 
Here is holidays for 2015.
Some irregulars can happen, so please check again if you plan the trip. 
In addition, be careful that some of holidays depend on phases of the moon.
 

<Holidays in 2015>

Jan.4  Eid Milad un-Nabi
Celebration for The Birth Day of Prophet Muhammad.

Feb.21  Shahid Dibash(Language Martyrs' Day)
The day is for the remembrance of the martyrs' of Language Movement of 1952.
The Shahid Minar in Dhaka is the symbol of the sacrifice for the mother tongue.

Mar.17 Bangabandhu Birthday
The birthday of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman(Bangabandhu) who is founder of the country and the first president.

Mar.26 Independence Day
On this day in 1971 was the beginning of a 9 month long war for liberation that resulted into the independence of Bangladesh.

Apr.14 Bangla New Year's Day
The day also called Poyela Boishakh, is the first day of the Bengali calendar. People celebrates the day wearing red and white color of traditional dresses.

May.1 May Day
This day celebrated to establish the rights of workers.Worker organisations are hosting various programmes.

May.13 Buddha Purnima*
It is a celebration that commemorates the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death, and his passing into nirvana.

Jun.3  Shab-e-barat*
It is the special night of seeking forgiveness and repenting to Allah.
Usually 15 days after of the day Ramadan starts.

Jul.15  Shab-e-Qadar*
27th days of Ramadan. The night is highly virtuous since the Holy Quran was transferred on the holy heart of the Holy Prophet in this night.

Jul.17  Jumatul Wida*
The last Friday of Ramadan. Muslims gather at the mosque and pray.

Jul.17-19  Eid Ul Fitr (Rojar Eid)*
The day marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. People wear the new dresses and greet "Eid Mubulak".

Aug.15  National Mourning Day
It is the day for rememberance that Bangabandhu and most of his family members at his house were assassinated.

Sep.5  Krishna Janmashtami
It is an annual commemoration of the birth of the Hindu deity Krishna.

Oct.23 Durga Puja
It is an annual festival that celebrates worship of Hindu goddess Durga. Thousands of Puja Mandaps are set up across the country. Festival at Dhakeshwari Temple in Dhaka is one of the biggest.

Oct.24-26  Eid Ul Azha (Korbani Eid)*
"Feast of Sacrifice" is a religious festival celebrated by Muslims as a commemoration of the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismael for Allah. Following the story, people buy cow(or goat) to sacrifice n the day and share the meat with themselves, their relatives, and the poors.

Nov.24  Muharram(Ashura)*
Also called 'sacred month' is the first month of the Islamic or Hijri calendar. The tenth day of Muharram is called Ashura. Imam Husain, the grandson of the Holy Prophet was killed on this day at the hands of the troops of Yazid.

Dec.16  Victory Day(Bijoy Dibosh)
In the year 1971, the 9 month-long Bangladesh liberation war had ended.  The national flag is hosted in all important offices, buildings, institutions and shops.

Dec.25  Christmas Day
Christmas is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Christmas ceremony can be seen in northern area like Mymensingh where Garo tribe lives. 

*The day can be changed due to phases of the moon.

International Day of the World Indigenous People

August 9th is International Day of the World Indigenous People.
Every year on the day, event is organized by indigenous people to seek human right, cultural preservation.
It was in Shahid Minar near Dhaka University this year.

My neighbor told about this event on the day.
I was a bit late(the program started from 10am), but I could see.

When I arrived, some people were giving speech.
In hot weather, I couldn't make myself listen to it.
While waiting for dance, we went around to take pictures.

Too lovely kid!

  

Dancers with their traditional dress.

They are Chakma, but a girl in the right side of above picture wears Marma's dress.
Their face is somewhat similar to us, Japanese.....

When I walk on the street, sometimes Bangladeshi(usually boys) looks at me, says "Chin-Chan Pon!(they are mimicking Chinese language)".
One of them told me that it happened to them, too.
How does it feel like to be treated as foreigner in their own country?

So after a while...dance started.
Chakma presented their dance and music at first.

Then, Garo tribes.

Stilts?

I heard it was also Chakma culture.

(Japan has the same kind of thing!)

However, now it is only found in village.

(Not sure where to be found in Japan these days....?)

After dance and music, drama started.

The story is about independence of Bangladesh, but by the view of indigenous people.

When Bangladesh fought for independence, people tried to establish country for Bangladeshi, who speaks Bengali.

However from that time, there are many indigenous people.....the story told about it.

Program finished around 2pm.
Then, people started rallying to Bangla academy where stalls were prepared.

Bags, cloth, folkcrafts.....

And some food.....unique in area where indigenous people live.

 

Can you find bamboo shoot?
Thinner than Japanese one, but I used to eat a lot every year when season comes in Japan.

Event is organized every year on August 9th, but time/venue/contents of program aren't the same. (Organizer is also not the same.)
You have to wait for 1 year, but if you are in Bangladesh next year on August 8th, please check information.

Pohela Boishakh

Suvo Noboborsho!!(A Happy New Year!)
April 14th is Pohela Boishakh, Bengali New Year.
The day is the first day of Bengali calendar, and celebrated throughout the country.
It became 1421.

Last year on April 14th, I was in hospital suffering from fever.
So this time, I tried my best to enjoy this important holiday.

Not like December 31th, the new year starts with sunrise.
My colleague advised me to visit Ramna park in the early morning.
Many cultural events take place there.

I got up at 6 a.m.
Red & white are the colors for the day.
I wore red color saree because it was the only one which includes red.
(It still takes long time, but I can manage to wear saree now..)

Leaving home, I found door of landlord opened.
"Good morning, Shuvo noboborsho!"
They offered me New Year's breakfast, but unfortunately I didn't have time.

There wasn't jam in the morning, so it didn't take long time to go there.
However, roads were closed in the area.
Getting off the bus, and found a Rikshaw puller.....

With hat!
I was excited at the atmosphere of festival.

Girls wore red & white saree.

Going forward, then I found long line to enter the area.
Police officers were giving sweet to people.

Sweet white stuff....not too sweet, "so so" I would say.
But giving sweet to people is lovely idea.
Then passing the gate,

Got in the park.

Kids were playing,

People are sitting and talking,

There was music, but concert would start later.
Getting out from the park, many shops were on the street.

Toy like whistle was sold, and people blew loudly.
I wondered if it wasn't too much volume for themselves.

Anyway, my next mission is to have typical breakfast for New Year, "Panta Bhat" and "Ilish(Hilsa) fish".
Panta bhat is "water rice" in direct translation.
It is originally eaten in village.
leftover rice was soaked in water to be kept cool, and be prevented spoiling during hot summer season.
Village people have it with salt, onion and chili.

Ummm............but wouldn't it be spoiled faster if you pour water??
But as people used to do it, maybe it is true....

Anyway, it became the typical food for Boishakh breakfast.
I am in doubt if panta bhat is tasty, but I have to try.
I asked around restaurants on the street, and finally found.

So let's eat.

Panta bhat came with fried Illish fish, fried eggplant, bodda(mashed vegetable), and chili.
Looks normal......

However, water was found slightly in the plate.
You can see more clearly in the big pot.
This is Panta bhat!!

Taste is......"rice in water".
Not really my favorite, but my Japanese friend liked it.

Around 11 a.m, rally started.
Rally takes place to wish peaceful, fruitful year.
There are symbol for the year, and duck and owl are ones for this year.

Umm....too much people.
If you miss rally, you can visit faculty of art in Dhaka university to see the work.

This is work by students.
There were many people inside the campus.
There were also many people taking pictures.

As Japanese pint of view, their pose is.....surprising.

I planned to leave a bit earlier, but I stayed there whole morning.
Walking in crowd under sun exhausted me.
It is very vibrant, lively event.....but you have to prepare yourself before getting into the crowd!

After walking around, I and my friends visited Bangali friend's home.
Actually, my friend's friend.
Even though I have never seen him, he and his family warmly welcomed us, and treated very well.
Panta bhat, Illish fish, Potato bodda were served.

 

Biscuit which looks like leaf is sweet.

This sweet is available everywhere on the day.
At super market, a corner is for New Year's sweet.

 

I was exhausted, but New Year's Day hadn't finished.
My friend invited me to "Boishakh Buffet Dinner" at Ascott Hotel in Baridhara.
Restraints and Hotels hold the Boishakh fair, so it is also one choice to visit one of them.

Terrace seat felt good at night.
Live folk songs were played in front.

As we sat, traditional mango drink was served as welcome drink.

It was a bit sour.

Juice is made of Mango, salt, and chili.....chili again!

But wasn't bad.

 

Bengali food was available.



Harim, soup and variety of curry....illish of course, chicken, beef, shrimp...e.t.c.
I don't eat beef much in Bangladesh, but the beef was very soft!

Of course, dessert is for New Year's Day.

Walking in crowd and feeling live atmosphere was good.

However, setting at terrace and having dinner with music is definitely lovely.

 

I couldn't see any last year, but I saw twice as much in this year.

(Though I was tired twice as much.....)

 

April 14th is one of the best time to visit Bangladesh.

Come to celebrate New Year's Day in 1422!

(Though I am not here..)

Independence Day

March 26th is very important day for Bangladesh.
It is Independence Day.
This is the day independence war from Pakistan started.
On the day, many cultural events or concerts take place.
More than 250,000 people gathered to sing national song "Amar Shonar Bangla" at Parade Square in Dhaka this year.
How many are 250,000 people like.....?
I have no idea.

Bangladesh Tourism Corporation arranged cars to Savar where National Monument is.
Savar is located 35km north from Dhaka, and people visit there to offer flowers.

Of course, I joined the tour.
A colleague told me to come to the office at 7am.
It's quite early morning!

However, as I asked some more people......figured out cars were supposed to leave office between 7-7:30am.
Then, I would be there at 7:30 since they won't be able to leave at 7.
I left home 6:50, and called my colleague on the way.
He told a car would pass near my house, so they could pick me up there.
So...I had waited for nearly 1 hour.
The car picked me up, went to office, stayed for 10 minutes, and started for Savar......passing the road in front of my house.
Oh......

Anyway, after 1 hour drive we were in Savar.
Opposite of the National Monument, there is a restaurant Tourism Corporation operates.
A colleague told me that we had breakfast at first.
So......waited for breakfast for 1 hour.
We had Porota and vegetable curry, and finally started to the monument.

You will find many people wearing red and green colors of cloth.
Yes, they are the colors for Bangladeshi flag.

My colleague, too.

Not clear in this picture, but her eye shadow is also green & red!!

Another colleague.
See their passion for this day??

So, we marched with singing national song.
At the entrance, people were waiting to paint flag on our hands, face.....so enjoy the paint/be careful not to be painted.

Took some photos.

There is the place to give flower in front of the monument.

Mission completed.
It took only 5 minutes.......so quick(especially thinking the long way before)!

However, I am always impressed by this culture that people spend time for commemorate history, visit monument , sing national song......e.t.c.
I didn't really care meaning of holidays in Japan. Only cared because it was days off from work.
Living in Bangladesh, I had many chances to be asked if I know Bangladeshi history of independence, meaning of holidays.
So now I can answer some.
One another impressive thing is almost everyone can answer these kind of questions.
Even though literacy late isn't very high, not everyone goes to school, Bangladeshi people know their history.

So, back to the day.
Having breakfast at 11am and offering flower to the monument for 5 minutes, what we did next was.....waiting for lunch. 
So much waiting for the day.

Killing time, we visited "Pottery and Hadicraft Market" located next to the restaurant.

Cups, pen stands, e.t.c.
I didn't buy, but they actually looked very good.

Picture is again not clear......but can you see the clock whose shape is Bangladesh?
Don't you get one for your living room?

 

Waiting for 2 hours, we had lunch and head back to Dhaka.
I was tired though I didn't really do anything.
However, it was precious experience to have time together with my co-workers on this important day.
Thank you! 

Sri Mangal (3)

The day of Wedding ceremony.
At the day, groom goes to bride's home and takes her to his village.
Wedding ceremony is organized at bride's home.
Groom is supposed to leave his home at 11 a.m, arrive at bride's home at 1:30 p.m.
 
We visited groom's home before 11 a.m.....but they didn't seem ready to go.
Do you know why?
Of course, this is Bangladesh.
 
While we were waiting, we watched magic.
He is a member of professional music group, but also good at magic and talking.

See the boy's eyes??

He made small plum(which is now season in Bangladesh) appear on his hand, and gave it me.
He said to eat it, so I did.
Then, he took it out from my belly :)
(I mean, he snapped his fingers near my belly.....and a plum was on his hand)
 
Half pass 11, a ritual started.
Groom and his brother sat on the mat.
People came and dropped money, touched groom's head.
Groom bowed and touched his/her foot.
Touching foot shows respect to the person, and only elder people than groom do this ritual.

After this, groom stepped out from the mat(it seems there is certain step he has to take) and went out from home.

Car decorated with flower was waiting for him.
He rode the car to bride's village.

More than 10 cars were waiting for all the guests.
Cars made line to village.

However.....it was already 12:30 when we left.
He was supposed to leave home at 11:00 a.m and arrive at 1:30 p.m.
But.......troubles continued.
Groom's  car ran out of gas, had some engine problem on the way.....
it was already 3:30 when we arrived.

But then, bride's family was waiting for the groom's arrival with flower.
They made line for welcoming them.
It was lovely.

Groom came in, and music follows.
Before ceremony started, lunch(at 4 p.m.....wasn't it dinner?) was served.

Of course, curry.
Seafood is mainly served.
"Rich food" like meat and fish is served mainly like this event.

Event was supposed to start from the evening, and supposed to continue until midnight.
However........I am sorry, I came back before it started.

Why did I do 3 hours journey to bride's village?
But excuse me, my cold got worse and we had to take night bus leaving from Sri Mangal at 8 p.m.
So instead of the story, I will tell you an interesting custom for wedding.

Groom visits bride's home to bring her with him.
The most emotional moment for bride's family is when he took her to his village.
(people especially bride's parents cry.)
Then, young kids from bride side hide groom's shoes.
Yes, they try to disturb groom to take her!
If they succeeded, they will say something like...
"If you want shoes back, give me 5,000tk!!"
Then, bargaining will start.
It is for fun.

What is more interesting is that groom's family tries to prevent his shoes from being stolen!
It is a fight between both parties.
I wanted to see the it.

I didn't see whole process of wedding, but it was still very interesting.
Wedding ceremony is one of the events culture is presented.
Thank you for all giving me this precious chance.



Children in the village



Scenery on the way back from Bride's home

Finishing story of wedding, I will introduce some more information about Sri Mangal next.

Sri Mangal (2)

After filling our stomach full, we headed to a house of Monipuri tribe, Mr. Anand.
We had lunch there(I thought I could die because of too much eating), and talked about tourism he has been working for.
He and my co-worker have worked together to develop tourism regarding Monipuri culture since 1994.
He told there were foreign tourists, but it is problem they don't have any information online.
I inquired information for this blog.
Even though there is potential, tourists won't find if there is no information online.

So.....
Main event for the day is ceremony called "Gaye Holud".
It takes place the day before wedding ceremony.
In both bride and groom house, family and relatives put turmeric on bride/groom's skin.
Why?
Turmeric is said good for skin......so make skin beautiful before wedding ceremony.
It's the concept.

The ceremony started at 7 p.m.
We took a rest, and had "snacks" before going to the venue.
Snacks......means fried noodle and soup.

My co-worker said
"Fill your stomach, and you don't have to worry when next meal will be served."
But I was worried,
"When I will have to eat again......"
After eating whole day.

Anyway, with full stomach we went to the venue.
As program started, music was played and people were coming.
Children brought cake and set it on the table.

Then, groom came in.
A man made announcement to start the program.
His parents went to the stage, and put termeric on his skin.
Then, groom give a piece of cake to his parents, and so did their parents.

One ofter another, family and relatives went to stage and did the same.
Mr. Anand offered me to go to the stage, too.

Wow!
Even not every participant went.
It seemed only close relatives did.

However....I took this precious chance he gave.
Went up to the stage with my co-worker and his daughter, gave him a big piece of cake, put turmeric on his hand.



And, a picture.

I tried to get down from the stage quickly, but was stopped.
"His father wants a foreigner coming all the way from Dhaka to give a speech"

Speech!?
What do I say????

But somehow......I did.

After finishing turmeric session, music and song were played.They were really professional, and music was so great!

Then, cousin of groom sang.

 and danced....

Dance and music was still going on, but we left around 11 p.m.
Of course, we had Dinner(!!) before we left.

At last, I will give information for guest house we stayed.
The name is "Holiday Guest House".
(what a pupular name for guest house!!)

Dining room.

Room is......normal, I didn't have any problem.

We are supposed to have hot water....but unfortunately, it was broken.
So unfortunate!!

As I took cold shower.....
I started sneezing, had headache at night, had sore throat next day.....
Wow......have I been that weak?
But be careful, Sri Mangal is colder than Dhaka.
Especially in the morning and at night!

<Holiday Guest House>
Addess：Sri Mangal Rd. Bhahugach, Komlogonji, Moulobhi bazaar
TEL：01766-481606
Budget：2,000tk(AC/TW)