Khagrachari city is in a celebratory mood ahead of the Boisabi festival that is scheduled to take place in the Chattogram Hill Tracts. Everywhere you look, from the outer reaches to the remote hillside villages, you can feel the festive mood. Changing into a thriving centre of celebration, Khagrachari gets ready for the much-awaited Boisabi.
Traditional sports, melodious tunes, exuberant merrymaking, and bustling marketplaces adorn the landscape. Across Khagrachari and its surroundings, Biju fairs, cultural extravaganzas, and sporting events kickstart the revelries, marking the onset of Boisabi, Sangrai, and Biju festivals.
Dubbed as the Bengali New Year's counterpart in the hills, Boisabi brings forth a kaleidoscope of colours and customs. Rooted in the traditions of the region's three ethnic communities—Biju of Chakma, Sangrai of Marma, and Baisu of Tripura—the festival ignites
anticipation among hill dwellers,
particularly the young hill girls
eager to adorn themselves in Boisabi attire.
Commencing on Thursday, the Boisabi festivities in Khagrachari span three days, from April 12 to 14, embodying the essence of renewal and rejuvenation. The festival derives its name from the amalgamation of Baisu, Sangrai, and Biju—the New Year festivities of the hill tribes—representing a cultural tapestry unique to the region.
For the Chakmas, Biju unfolds in three phases, featuring rituals, feasts, and traditional games. Similarly, the Marma community celebrates Sangrai with fervent joy, marked by culinary delights and lively water ceremonies. Meanwhile, Tripuras usher in Baisu with elaborate rituals, sports competitions, and communal feasts, symbolising hope and prosperity.
As the festivities ensue, Khagrachari bustles with activity, adorned in the vibrant hues of Baisakh and Boisabi. Local markets buzz with shoppers, while cultural events and traditional sports animate the hills and valleys. Notably, a five-day Boisabi fair, inaugurated by State Minister Kujendra Lal Tripura MP, promises a showcase of indigenous cuisines, crafts, and games, fostering community cohesion and cultural pride.
Beyond the surface revelries, Boisabi embodies a deeper significance, bridging tradition with modernity and fostering communal harmony. With each passing year, the festival evolves, blending age-old customs with contemporary flair and resonating as a universal celebration of hill life and cultural diversity.
As Khagrachari embraces the spirit of Boisabi, locals and visitors alike anticipate not just a festival but a harmonious convergence of
tradition, festivity, and communal joy, echoing the timeless rhythms of the hills.
