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Eid is the biggest religious festival of Muslim community. As a Muslim majority country, Bangladesh also celebrates every year Eid. How the grassroots people celebrate the Eid? The mission was to discover the reality, festivities expression, indigenous traditions as well ascertain the power of communal spirit of rural poor whose income mostly less than one dolor. Regarding I visited a village named `Mujati` of Mymensing district and celebrate with villagers.
The findings, in Mujati have hidden community conflict (generally for land and or young love relater matters), hatred community to community, tribe to tribe, that mostly happen for land and youth's love affair related disagreement. Recently national political conflict also added for local government leadership election between `Fakir bari and Parchim bari ` < Fakir tribe and Parchim >, a big quarrel happened. But in Eid day they forget this misunderstanding, even though community leader don't `Kulakuli` ( traditional embrace of Eid). The Landlord and rich family live in nearest town Muktagacha, just visit on the eve of Eid and harvest session. Most of lands are owned by only 3 families. Even though sixty percent dwellers don't have sufficient amount land and or landless, but don't have beggar.
Though they don't have ability to buy the multinationals products. But they forget this reality for Eid day. After morning bath with Liver's shop, they wear new cloth ( the poorest can not buy, but use clean on ) and use ator –surma ( scent, eye makeup ) for high spirit. White Panjabi – Paijama < Bangladeshi local dress > is common dress of Eid day. First hours of day men go to Eidgah < open air play ground >, women pastime to cook special food like Shamie, Pulow, Berani etc. Afternoon youth girl and women drassup new Shalur, Kamis, Shari ( Bangladeshi woman dress ) and visit relatives to exchange Eid greetings. But the children play in near Eidgah. I saw many children to drink Coca-Cola, even though are not available in Mujati. A youth Fariowala (mobile shopkeeper ) sale every Eid bring from adjacent town. Whole year children don't get money, but during receive `Eid Bokshis` ( money as gift ) from parents and relatives. When they say me with camera, all children requested o take photo. All children followed me and enjoy to see their photo in LCD screen my digital camera, was the first experience to instant photo.
Approximately 9:30 at morning men and youth gathered at Eidgah (open air playground) on bank of river. In open environment the high volume mick`s sound speeded and reflected around the village and creates a festivities mode. Even though villagers can not understand Arabic lechers (Kudba) of Imam ( religious leader ), but they hear in pin drop silence by faith. During scriptures reading the community fund for mosque and imam was withdraw. Some poorest community members also asked money in this time. Although national holiday, but the rickshaw puller, shopkeeper don't have rest. They do work with hope to income some more.
The conclusion, even though they are poor, has gender inequality, economical imbalance, conflicts but visionary, hopeful, live with faith and communal spirit. Few years before also in this village the education rate was very low, but within 10 year the scenario has been changed.
Shahjahan Siraj
27 January, 2006, Dhaka
( note: the video footage was collected from Mymensing district )
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