Keeping alive a tradition

A weeklong boat race kicked off in Pabna on September 3. The race was inaugurated at the Char Bolorampur village, of Pabna Sadar upazila. Boatmen from different areas of the district participated in the traditional race that was held in the mighty river Padma.
Varara Union Parishad organised the boat race here in the district to keep alive the typical rural tradition. Varara Union Parishad chairman Md. Abu Sayeed chaired the inauguration programme while the administrator of Pabna Zila Parishad, Md. Saidul Haque, inaugurated the festival.
Among others, Pabna Sadar upazila chairman Mosharaf Hossain; cultural affairs secretary of district unit AL, Abdul Latif Biswas and journalist ABM Fazlur Rahman spoke on the occasion.
The boat race is a typical rural event for Bengalis. During the rainy season the villagers organise boat races in most of the riverside villages of the country but now the boat race has lost its festive mood due to the drying up of the rivers, said the speakers.
Speaking as the chief guest, Md. Saidul Haque said the heritage of traditional boat race must be revived.
Twenty boats from different areas of the district joined the boat race here on the Padma river on the opening day. A weeklong fair also kicked off beside the river marking the race.
“Once, the traditional boat race used to be an annual fixture in the mighty river Padma during the rainy season. The river has lost its early heritage but we are losing our tradition too. To keep our heritage alive we have organised festival for the people who live beside the mighty river Padma,” said Sayeed, also the organiser of the festival.