Flower offerings in rivers and lakes marked the start of traditional Bengalee new year festivities across the Chittagong Hill Tracts, as ethnic communities came together in a vibrant display of culture, faith and renewal, while similar celebrations were also held outside the region for the first time.
Kaptai lake rituals mark vibrant start
The hills erupted in celebration as the region’s largest traditional festival — Biju, Sangrai, Baisu, Bishu, Changkran and related community observances — began with flower offerings in the waters of Kaptai Lake.
Festivities spread across Rangamati with youths carrying banana leaves and colourful wildflowers, while women dressed in traditional red-and-black pinon-hadi attire joined the celebrations.
On Sunday morning, flower offerings were made at Rajban Bihar Bain Ghat, Porjowel Park, Kerani Hill and Baluchar, welcoming the festival with renewed spirit.
At dawn, participants collected flowers, offering a portion to Ganga Devi while using the rest to decorate homes.
Buddhist temples and statues were cleaned, followed by prayers to Lord Buddha, with lamps lit in the evening at monasteries and households.
Sangrai and Biju begin in Bandarban
In Bandarban, diverse ethnic communities launched their traditional new year celebrations through a series of cultural activities.
The Chakma and Tanchangya communities began their four-day festival with Phool Biju, offering flowers into the Sangu River at Ujani Para Ghat on Sunday morning.
Children and young people floated flower-decorated banana leaves, symbolising the cleansing of the past year’s sorrows.
The communities believe Ganga Devi resides in the river, and that offering flowers ensures blessings and prosperity for the coming year.
Colourful Phool Biju opens festivities in Khagrachari
In Khagrachari, the celebrations commenced with the Chakma community’s traditional Phool Biju.
Flower offerings were made in the Chengi and Maini rivers and nearby streams, with people gathering from early morning at points including Khobongpuria and Riverview.
The riverbanks turned vibrant with colourful flowers as participants symbolically bid farewell to the past year and welcomed the new one.
Hundreds gathered along the riverbanks to take part in the rituals. The Tripura community is set to begin its three-day Baisu festival from Chaitra Sankranti, while the Marma community will celebrate Sangrai with Buddha worship, ceremonial bathing of elders, cultural programmes and the traditional water festival.
Away from home in Narayanganj
In a first for Narayanganj, members of hill communities organised Biju celebrations to keep their traditions alive away from their native regions.
Residents from Chakma, Marma and Tripura communities living in Kanchpur and nearby areas took part in the event.
A colourful rally and procession began at 6am on Sunday along the eastern bank of the Shitalakkhya River in Sonargaon’s Kanchpur, followed by flower offerings in the river for collective well-being.
Participants said work commitments often prevent them from returning home during the festival.
“We only get a single day off during Pohela Boishakh, so celebrating in our native hills becomes difficult,” they said.
Organising committee adviser Sumit Barua said the initiative was taken for those unable to travel home. “We organised the festival here for the first time with support from the administration, hoping the new year brings well-being for all,” he said.
