religious festivals of bangladesh

8/13/2019 Religious Festivals of Bangladesh

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Introduction:

Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony. People from any religion feel free to celebrate

their religious festivals with a befitting manner and due honor and fervency.

There are as many festivals in Bangladesh as there are days in the year. Fairs and festivals play

an important role in the social life of ordinary Bangladeshis. The biggest Muslim religious

festivals are the Eid-Ul-Fitr (end of the fasting month of Ramadhan). Eid-ul-

Azha, Muharram and Miladunnabi (birth day of the Prophet), Widely celebrated festivals for

other religious communities are the Durga Puja for the Hindus, Christmas for Christians etc.

Religious Festivals of Bangladesh:

There are different religious festivals observe in Bangladesh. They are:

Eid ul-Fitr

As the most important religious festival for the majority of Muslims, the celebration of Eid ul-

Fitr has become a part of the culture of Bangladesh. The festival takes place on the day following

the Ramadan or the month of fasting. The government of Bangladesh declares the holiday for

three days on Eid-ul Fitr. All outgoing public transport from the major cities have become highly

crowded and in many cases the fares tend to rise in spite of government restrictions.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslimshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_ul-Fitrhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_ul-Fitrhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eid_Prayers_at_Barashalghar,_Debidwar,_Comilla.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_ul-Fitrhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_ul-Fitrhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslims


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On Eid day, the Eid prayer are held all over the country, in open areas like fields or inside

mosques. After the Eid prayers, people return home, visit each other's home and eat sweet dishes

called shirni. Throughout the day gentlemen embrace each other. It is also customary for junior

members of the society to touch the feet of the seniors, and seniors returning blessings

(sometimes with a small sum of money as a gift). In the rural areas, the Eid festival is observed

with great fanfare. In some areas Eid fairs are arranged. Different types of games including boat

racing, kabaddi, and other traditional Bangladeshi games, as well as modern games

like cricket and football are played on this occasion. In urban areas, people play music, visit each

other's houses and eat special food. Watching movies and television programs has also become

an integral part of the Eid celebration in urban areas. All local TV channels air special program

for several days for this occasion.

Eid ul-Adha

The most important religion festival. The celebration of Eid ul-Adha is similar to Eid ul-Fitr in

many ways. It is held marking the Hajj in Mecca on the 10th Zilhaj, the lunar month of the

Islamic Calendar. In the Eid day, animals are sacrificed in reminiscence of Prophet Ibrahim's

(AM) preparedness for the supreme sacrifice of his beloved son to Allah. Numerous temporarymarketplaces of different sizes called haat operate in the big cities for sale of Qurbani animals

(usually cows and goats) .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_prayerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirinihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boat_racinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boat_racinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabaddihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crickethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_footballhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TVhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_ul-Adhahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goatshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goatshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_ul-Adhahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TVhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_footballhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crickethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabaddihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boat_racinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boat_racinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirinihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_prayer


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In the morning on the Eid day, immediately after the prayer, affluent people slaughter their

animal of choice. Less affluent people also take part in the festivity by visiting houses of the

affluent who are taking part in qurbani. After the qurbani, a large portion of the meat is given to

the poor people. Although the religious doctrine allows the sacrifice anytime over a period of

three days starting from the Eid day, most people prefer to perform the ritual on the first day of

Eid. However, the public holiday spans over three to four days. Many people from the big cities

go to their ancestral houses and homes in the villages to share the joy of the festival with friends

and relatives.

Eid- E- Miladunnabi

The observation of Milad-un-Nabi is an important Muslim religious festivity. The term itself

means the birthday of the Prophet(Sm) of Islam. But this is also the day of his death. So, we

celebrate this day with mixed feeling. Like every year, this day is celebrated in Bangladesh in a

befitting way. This day is a public holiday. Various religious, socio-cultural organizations and

political parties held various programmes, including Milad Mahfil, discussion meetings and

Qurankhwani to mark the day. Islamic Foundation also holds programmes on the occasion.

Bangladesh Beter and Bangladesh Television and satellite TV channels also air special

programmes.


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Durga Puja

Festivities of the biggest Hindu event in Bangladesh, the Durga Puja begins with the Mahalaya,

invoking of Goddess Durga. The Mahashashthi puja, following Bodhon rituals. In the

Bangladesh, Durga Puja usually held for four days, the days are Mahasaptami, Mahashtami,

Mahanabami and Bijaya Dashami. The Puja committees in the capital and other parts of the

country depend on doles and protection of law enforcing agencies. They usually organize Puja

mondaps and display communal harmony in the name of Puja once a year like other festivals but

in reality, besides begging, there is no security and political and economic power to earn for

them. To commemorate the festival, messages from the figureheads of the country and other

political personalities come forth to give finesse. Well-placed Hindus, like Babus of bygone

days, of different walks of life in the metropolis, dressed in their best, attend state function, the'Bijoya Dashami' reception at Bangabhaban, the presidents palace. The end of Durga Puja

occurs by sink Goddess Durga into the water. The Durga Puja has lost its religious fervor and

festivity in Bangladesh. It becomes a political bargaining factor for a class of beneficiaries. The

celebration of Puja festival committees under the so-called Hindu leaders in Bangladesh is

tutored and cared for by the elected Governments and army regimes.


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So this is the most important and solemn day of the Buddhist, and they observe the day with

great pomp and grandeur.

Conclusion:

Bangladesh is a co untry where every religions people (Muslim, Hindu, Christian, and

Buddhism) live together like brothers and sisters. They have lots of religious festivals. Among

them some of the major festivals are discussed above. Every year these religious festivals

observed with respect and dignity. These festivals not only observed in City but also in villages

too. During those festival days, every religious people seem to be happy and friendly. There are

to conflicts among them. This can be a great example of brotherhood.


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Recommendations:

Religious festivals should not use for some political issues. During the festivals days, security of each and every human being has to be strict. Government should increase the holiday for some more days. So that people who live far

away from their families can spend some more days with them.

Government should create a festive atmosphere like entrance free for every Amusing

park, Zoo etc. So that not only rich people can enjoy the day but also poop people can

also enjoy.

religious festivals of bangladesh

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