KURIGRAM — The traditional “Bou Mela,” or wives’ fair, has opened at Balabari Hat in Chilmari upazila of Kurigram, transforming the area into a festive gathering. The event, which began last Friday, has taken on new dimensions through local culture, folk traditions and the active participation of women. The fair is held each year around the Hindu Ashtami bathing ritual.
On Saturday, March 28, the fairground was busy with women and men from across Kurigram district. The presence of newlywed and married women was particularly notable. Dressed in colorful saris, jewelry and traditional rural attire, the women created a vivid atmosphere.
The fair offers a range of goods, including handmade jewelry, earthenware, nakshi kantha embroidery, bamboo and cane products and other rural items. Toys, Ferris wheels and food stalls have drawn families.
Abu Saeed Hossain Pakhi, joint convener of the upazila BNP, said the traditional fair has been held at Balabari Hat for centuries around the Hindu Ashtami bathing ritual. As part of the roughly 400-year-old tradition, the area takes on a special festive atmosphere for two days after the ritual. The first day features the “Jamai Mela,” or sons-in-law fair, followed by the “Bou Mela” the next day, he said, calling it a unique reflection of local culture and family bonds.
Organizers said the Balabari Hat fair is an ancient and traditional event. Primarily organized for women, the fair allows them to display and sell their handmade products, helping them become economically self-reliant, organizers said.
Saleha Begum, a housewife who attended the fair, said she was enjoying it. “We are able to sell things we have made ourselves and also have a good time,” she said.
Rabeya Begum, a vendor from Rangpur, said she comes every year on the day before Ashtami. “Sales were good on Ashtami day. This time at the Bou Mela, I haven’t been able to sell as much. There is some disorganization this year. I hope that next time the fair will be organized by the government,” she said.
Local administration has paid special attention to overall security and management, and organizers said they expect larger crowds in future years, with the fair becoming one of the region’s most popular events.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report