Cultural Festival of ethnic minorities held in Thakurgaon

The first-ever day-long cultural festival of ethnic minorities in the plain land area was held at Lokayan Biodiversity Museum in Thakurgaon's sadar upazila on Friday.

Eco Social Development Organisation (ESDO) along with HEKS EPER organised the event to protect and promote cultural diversification and uphold their demands to recognise basic rights of plain land's ethnic minorities.

Sarala Murmu, a member of Gilabari Village Development Association, delivered the welcome address at the inaugural session while Executive Director of ESDO Dr Muhammad Shahid Uz Zaman presided over the programme.

A total of eight different ethnic groups living in Thakurgaon and Dinajpur districts including Santal, Orao, Pahan, Mahali, Mushar, Kara, Turi, and Bhunjar communities participated in the programme.

The cultural programme showcased their cultures through costumes, food habits, ornaments, hunting tools, utensils and traditional items through different stalls.   

The festival started with the national anthem by Habel Hembram, a valiant freedom fighter from the Santal community. Manaranjan Shil, a lawmaker of Dinajpur-1 attended the programme as chief guest.

A seminar titled 'Culture of Small Ethnic Groups in the Plains: Trends in Evolution' was held at the same venue where former Principal of Ranishankail Degree College Tajul Islam presented the keynote paper.

After the seminar, the cultural programme began with the mesmerising performance by Santal. They staged their traditional hunting and wedding customs through music with dances at the beginning of the cultural event.

The Orao community war-winning dance highlighted the struggle of the people of the ethnic groups.

Bijon Kara, a member of the 'Kara' community also talked at the stage during the ceremony.

"I am delighted to join the festival as we get a chance to display our own culture and heritage before the mainstream people that helps to introduce ourselves to them," mentioned Bijon Kara. 

"Every day we are losing our traditional pride and cultural heritage. Such event helps to promote our tradition as only a total of 26 families of 'Kara 'community is living in Dinajpur," added Kara.

Dr. Muhammad Shahid Uz Zaman said that people generalise 'adibashi' culture as ethnic people living in hill tracts. However, there are ethnic minorities living in plain lands that have separate rich cultures that they have been following for ages ago.   

'We have taken to organise such event for protection and promotion of their culture and diversification', he added. 

In the concluding ceremony, the cultural secretary for Cultural Affairs Ministry attended as chief guest while Deputy Commissioner of Thakurgaon Md. Mahbubur Rahman, along with many others were present as special guests.

The special guests handed over crests to Bishuram Marmu, Gopal Mormu, and Dadud Soren as a best organiser while Tajul Islam and MA Kuddus Boideshi were given crest as Ethnic Friend.