A boat race and village fair with a tradition of about 120 years has been held on the Madhumati river in Mohammadpur, Magura. The festival took place on Thursday afternoon (22 October) at Jhama Ghat in Palashbaria union of the upazila. Large crowds gathered on both banks of the river to watch the race, and the whole area came alive with the rhythm of the oars, the cheers of the rowers and the excitement of the spectators.
By local tradition, the boat race and village fair are held at Jhama Ghat every year on the day after the Durga Puja immersion. The Madhumati rang with the splash of oars and the rowers’ chant of “heiyo re, heiyo re”. With children, teenagers, women, men and older people all present, both banks took on a festive mood.
All kinds of stalls sprang up around the race, selling fish and meat, sweets, chanachur, rural goods, clay toys and cosmetics, along with a Ferris wheel and other rides for children. The fair boosts local traders’ sales, which also helps the area’s economy.
Culture Minister Advocate Nitai Roy Chowdhury, MP for Magura-2, attended the festival as chief guest. He watched the race and later spoke at the prize-giving ceremony. The minister said this century-old fair would further strengthen the bonds of harmony among people in the area. The government is reviving the country’s culture and traditions through its patronage, he said, and holding more festivals like this will help preserve Bengal’s heritage.
Also present were Mohammadpur upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Bedobati Mistri, assistant commissioner (land) Md Sadman Akib, district BNP joint convener Advocate Rokunuzzaman Khan, principal Moumur Ali Mridha and Mohammadpur police station officer-in-charge (OC) M Shamim Ahmed, along with leaders and activists of the BNP and its associate organisations.
Local organisers said the fair is a unique example of the area’s non-communal spirit and social harmony.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report