Top Festivals in Bangladesh That Celebrate Its Culture & Traditions
Bangladesh, a country of history, culture and spirituality is a country of rich tapestry of festivals that portrays the deep rooted tradition and diverse communities. Whether it is ancient Hindu ritual, Muslim religious practice and the festivals of colorful Bengali culture, every festival depicts the spirit, warmth and cohesion of the Bangladesh people. Not only does the cultural festivities demonstrate the national pride, but it is also an effective tourism lure to international visitors who want to experience the real South Asian experience.
In case you intend to be a participant in these miraculous festivals, then you must obtain a Bangladesh Visa beforehand. With proper guidance, especially those with Omani Travelers will find the process to be easy. The Bangladesh visa requirements of Oman can guide you through the process of your trip and make your travel experience comfortable and fast.
1. Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year)
Observed on 14 th of April Pohela Boishakh is the first day of the Bengali calendar. Streets are filled with processions, traditional music, dance and color clothes. Panta bhaat and hilsa fish are the favorite sweets of people and markets and fairs are full of activities. This is a secular festival that brings together people of all religions and cultures together making it as one of the most inclusive and happy festival in Bangladesh.
2. Eid-ul-Fitr
Muslims in Bangladesh celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with great zeal after a one month fasting period during Ramadan. The festival starts with special prayers after which there are family feasts and exchange of gifts. The streets are adorned and the shops are made to look beautiful and charity (zakat al-fitr) is shared with the less fortunate. To the visitors, this is an ideal moment to practice the Bangladesh hospitality and the Islamic culture.
3. Durga Puja
Also, Durga Puja is one of the greatest and most popular Hindu festivals in Bangladesh; it is also characterized by so much piety and artistic wizardry. The festival is held in month of October and is all about Goddess Durga and various decorative pandals (temporary temples), IDOLS processions on streets and cultural events. The most spectacular festivals are celebrated in Dhaka and Chittagong and it is one of the places that an aficionado to the culture must visit.
4. Nabanna ( Harvest Festival)
Nabanna is a rural festival and it is celebrated in late November and celebrates the rice harvest. Traditional fairs, folk music, and food feasts are held and food prepared using freshly harvested rice is served in villages. This agricultural festival represents the strong attachment the nation has to its soil and provides an exclusive insight into the lives of rural Bangladesh.
5. Eid-ul-Adha
Eid-ul-Adha, also called Festival of Sacrifice, is a holiday which honors the readiness of Prophet Ibrahim to offer a sacrifice to God by sacrificing his son. Animals (goats or cows) are killed and the meat is distributed to family, friends, and poor. The festival is all about charity, faith and community which are very significant values in the Bangladesh society.
6. Bishwa Ijtema
Bishwa Ijtema is an annual Muslims convention held in banks of river Turag near at Dhaka city is one of the greatest Islamic congregation in the world after the Hajj. Members of over 150 nations attend to pray, listen and chat. It is a very remarkable image of religious conviction and international unity in Islam.
7. Buddha Purnima
The Buddha Purnima falls is mainly observed in Chittagong Hill Tract and Buddhist community. It celebrates the birth as well as enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha. Lighting of temples, singing of prayers and offerings of worshipers with flowers and candles are done. It is a spiritual as well as a religious event and it reveals the level of religious diversity in Bangladesh.
8. Day of Language Movement (21 st February)
This national day is also called international mother language day, and it is celebrated in memory of the Bengali language movement of 1952. The martyrs that were killed are honoured by the citizens so that citizens have the right to talk their own language. Rituals and cultural events make people recall the importance of language, identity, and freedom to the history of the country formation.
9. Independence Day (26 th March)
A patriotic spirit is noted during Independence Day when the people are celebrating the onset of Liberation War in 1971. The country has parades, flag hoisting and concerts. One of the monuments that welcomes thousands of tourists is the National Martyrs Memorial as far as they recall those people who sacrificed their lives to see that the country is independent.
10. Victory Day (16 th December)
Another national holiday that is celebrated with pomp is the Victory Day which marks the conclusiveness of the Bangladesh Liberation War and the independence of the country that was earlier part of the Pakistani State. There are military parades, patriotic songs and cultural programs to celebrate the heroes of the nation and to have a retrospect of the freedom path.
Conclusion
Whether it is the ancient harvest festival, colorful religious holidays or the patriotic national holidays, the festivals of Bangladesh present a beautiful image into the soul of the country. Not only do these events help in preserving the cultural heritage, but they are also open to visitors to the core of the Bangladesh way of life. It is also an unforgettable experience to feel like a local and to know how deep the roots of the culture of the country are by participating in these festivals.
In case you feel motivated to attend these colorful festivals, it is prudent that you process your Bangladesh travel visa in good time. As an Oman resident, knowledge on the Bangladesh visa requirements in Oman will enable you go through the process faster. From cultural excursion to viewing these historical events, getting your Bangladesh visa from Oman via a reputable company will make your experience easy and worth the trip.
