Harmony Festival to be held in Sreemangal Jan 10-12

Bangladesh Tourism Board and Sreemangal upazila administration will jointly organise a three-day Harmony Festival from January 10-12 for the first time.

The event will be held from 11:00am till 8:00pm daily on Kakiachhara Government Primary School grounds, located near the Bangladesh Tea Research Institute in Sreemangal upazila of Moulvibazar.

The festival aims to celebrate the rich heritage, communal unity and cultural diversity of the region to promote tourism. It will feature an array of cultural programmes, exhibitions, and traditional performances by members of the diverse ethnic communities in Sreemangal.

Extensive preparations are being made to make the festival successful.

Travelers from across the country are expected to attend the event. Local tour operators are offering different affordable travel packages to the tourists.

The local ethnic Khasi, Garo, Manipuri, Tripura, Sabar, Kharia, Rikiasan, Baraik, Kanda, Rajbalwab, Bhuiyan, Santal, Orao, Gorait, Munda, Kurmi, Bhumij, Bunarji, Lohar, Ganju, Kara, and Teli communities will showcase their unique traditions through performances and exhibits during the event.

"Traditional Dhamail dances of Sylhet, as well as performances by Manipuri, Sabar, Khariya, Rikia, Baraik, Kanda, Santal, Orao, Munda and Kurmi communities will be the highlights of the event. Different communities will also showcase their costumes and unique traditions, such as archery and bamboo pole climbing contests as well as betel and bamboo crafts by Khasi community, loom weaving by Tripura and Manipuri communities, among others," said Saju Marchiang, publication secretary of the Khasi Social Council.

Expressing excitement over the first-ever Harmony Festival in the upazila, Shahjahan Mia, a local resident, said, "We are eagerly waiting to witness the communities come together and participate the festival in an exhibition of harmony and coexistence."

Shahnur Begum, another local resident, shared similar sentiment.

Md Islam Uddin, upazila nirbahi officer of Srimangal, said the initiative to organise the Harmony Festival is expected to attract both domestic and international tourists, while bringing in all small ethnic groups on a single platform.

"The event will feature 44 stalls displaying and selling products, food items, clothing, and other lifestyle items, alongside cultural performances, dances, songs, and rituals. Comprehensive arrangements are in place to entertain all attendees. Local police, tourist police, and upazila administration are actively involved in maintaining security and monitoring the festival grounds," he added.