The Chakma community’s major cultural festival, ‘Biju,’ and the Tanchangya community’s ‘Bishu’ began with candle lighting and floral offerings on the Sangu River in Bandarban.
Members of the Chakma and Tanchangya communities participated in the ceremony held on the banks of the river on Sunday morning (April 12).
From early dawn, people of different ages, dressed in traditional attire, gathered in groups along the riverbank carrying flowers. They later lit candles and offered flowers to Jalbuddha and Goddess Ganga. During the ceremony, they sought forgiveness for past mistakes and prayed for happiness, peace, and prosperity for all families in the coming year.
Orni Chakma said that, to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one by washing away past sorrows and regrets, flowers are offered to Jalbuddha and Goddess Ganga, praying for everyone’s happiness, peace, and prosperity.
This is the largest cultural festival in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and is known by different names among different communities. It is called Biju among the Chakma, Sangrai among the Marma and Chak communities, Boisu among the Tripura, Bishu among the Tanchangya, Changkran among the Mro, Sanglan among the Khyang, and Baha among the Santal communities. Although known by different names, the joy of the festival is shared by all. This long-standing celebration is an important part of the heritage and culture of the hill region.