The entire Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region wore festive look as the three-day traditional 'Bizu' festival of the indigenous communities, began on Wenesday with great enthusiasm and festivity.
Indigenous people celebrated ‘Ful Bizu’, first day of the three-day festival through floating flowers in the rivers, Kaptai Lake, canals, springs and fountains seeking divine blessings for peace, prosperity and healthy life.
On the occasion, Bizu, Sangrain, Boisuk, Bishu, Bihu and Sankran celebration committee-2023 on Tuesday formally floated flowers in Kaptai Lake at Rajban Bihar Ghat in the town.
Convener of Bizu celebration committee and president of Adivasi Forum, CHT chapter, Prakriti Ranjan Chakma and its member secretary Intu Moni Talukder conducted the flower floating session.
The ethnic people of three hill districts of Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari are celebrating Bizu festival which will continue till tomorrow (Friday).
On the occasion, every year the jumma people in the CHT, who have been living in the region since the time immemorial, are celebrating this festival at the end of Bengali old year to shed the sorrows of old year and welcome the Bengali new year.
Though the festival is merely related to the indigenous people other community people also enjoy it.
Of the eleventh indigenous groups living in hills, only eight communities---Chakma, Marma, Tangchangya, Tripura, Mro, Khumi, Khiyang and Chak celebrate the carnival.
But the Lusai, Bawm and Pankhua did not celebrate the festival from the beginning as they have no cultural value about this.
Virtually, the event is celebrated for three days, including two days of the Bengali old year and first day of the Bangla New Year.
After passing a humdrum of routine life round the year, the ethnic people celebrate ‘Bizu’ with the preparation of different food items.
The significance of the festival to the indigenous communities is same although they term it in different names.
The Chakma called it Bizu, the Marmas-Sangraing, Tripura-Boisuk, Tangchangya- Bishu, Ahmia Bihu and Mro Chankran.
The first day is called ‘Phulbizu’ the second day ‘Mulbizu’ and third day or first day of the Bangla New Year is called "Gojya Pojya Din."
Today (Thursday) is mulbizu (the main function). People at every house prepare ‘Pachan,’ a kind of mixed vegetable curry to feed the guests. The ‘Panchan’ is very popular as the indigenous people believe that the "Panchan" is their hedges like ‘talisman’ against any disease for the New Year.
Moreover, they also make various types of indigenous pithas (cakes) and sweetmeats. They also specially prepare alcoholic items like Do-choani, Hanji and Jaghora. Starting from adult to youngsters they drink it and enjoy it by going from one house to another in groups.
On the third day or ‘Gojya Pojya Din’ the ethnic people spend the day relaxing in their respective houses and they invite each other for luncheon. They do not go to field for work and perform religious function at temples in the evening.
However, the Marmas celebrate the Bengali New Year through holding of ‘Water Festival (Pani Khela)’ where the young boys and girls spray water jets to each other.
Caption: Indigenous people are seen floating flowers in Kaptai Lake to mark the Ful Bizu, first day of three-day festival, on Tuesday.