At different times of the day, be it on a rainy afternoon, or a hot sunny one, the city reveals itself to us in its different forms. Sometimes the city partners up with the sky and takes a red hue or blue. The city takes different looks at different parts of the day. But you know something? This familiar city becomes quite unfamiliar at some points. Sometimes, it becomes more colorful and extravagant. If you know which times they are, you can also capture these beautiful portrayals of the city. Keep reading to find out more about these six spectacular sceneries of Dhaka.
Ramna Batamul
Ramna Udyan is near Shahbagh Children’s Park. The Banyan tree in the whole garden creates a different feeling for everyone. It’s not just a Banyan tree anymore, it has become a root of our culture. Bengali New Year’s call on the first morning of Baishakh starts at Ramna, beginning the day of celebrating the Bengali spirit. The event has crossed the boundaries of Chayanat and has now become a national festival. Every year on the first day of Baishakh, millions of people gather at Ramna Udyan from dawn.
The longing to welcome the New Year through the Chayanat ceremony after wearing colorful clothes is worth experiencing as a spectator. In a united voice, everyone sings, “Esho Hein Baishakh, Esho Esho”. On the Bengali New Year’s Day, Ramna Batamul floats in the fountain of joy. Everyone in attendance takes the same colors. In a trance of White and Red, everyone collectively takes the form of our cultural spirit. Among the six spectacular sceneries of Dhaka, this one is a memorable one. You’re welcome to one of the most beautiful forms of Dhaka to experience every year.
Mangala Shobhajatra
Although the history of the Baishakhi calendar is hundreds of years old, the history of the Mangala procession is not very old. The parade has been organized by Dhaka University’s Institute of Fine Arts since 1989. Since then this Mangala parade has been a big part of our culture. From the Institute of Fine Arts, Dhaka, every year on the morning of the first Baishakh, students carry out various colorful sculptures and masks made of bamboo and paper to the rhythm of musical instruments and start the procession.
These bamboo and paper sculptures are one of the highlights of the procession every year. The masks and sculptures are based on a single theme. Masks or any of the other motifs are inspired by our local culture and traditions. Handmade dolls, Nakshi fans, costumes and masks from Bengali folk cultural plays, etc. On this day of the year, Dhaka takes on many shades of colors. Among the six spectacular sceneries of Dhaka, this New Year scene is a favorite of everyone regardless of age.
Chaitra Sankranti
This Chaitra is the last month of the Bengali year! Since we start the Bengali year with the first day of the month of Baishakh, we end the year by also celebrating Chaitra Sankranti all over the country, especially in Dhaka. Every year on Chaitra Sankranti, various ceremonies, puja festivals or fairs have been going on all over the country since ancient times. This folk festival is celebrated in different places of the country quite differently. It’s nice to see these festivals that are so strangely beautiful and fun. Charak puja, breaking of dates, sherbet, picking of vegetables, blue festival, Biju or Vaisabi festival, Gamvira Puja, etc. are some of the regional variations of Chaitra Sankranti. There are also various events in Dhaka city to celebrate the day.
Apart from Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, various other socio-cultural organizations also celebrate Chaitra Sankranti through various events. Dhaka University, National Press Club, Dhaka Reporters Unit, various educational institutions of the capital hold various programs on the occasion. These events include fairs, kite festivals, popular stick games in rural Bengal, etc. Apart from these, there are various folk cultural events like Punthi Path, Puppet Drama, Palagan, Gambhira, and Raibesh.
Heem Utsav
You can take a break from your busy schedule at Jahangirnagar University in Savar, not far from the capital. Go to JU to see another look at Dhaka in winter. In full winter celebration mood, the ‘Heem Utsav’ is going on at Jahangirnagar University this winter. This 3-day festival has a presentation of the folk culture of classic Bengal about winter. Crowds of people from all walks of life, including former and current students of the university, are flocking to see Gazi’s songs, tribal dances, snake games, and stick games. Crowds have been growing over the years on the Selim Al Deen Open Stage in the evening to enjoy this unique festival. Heem festival can be a wonderful festival to spend the evening seeing a different look of the city and is a truly spectacular scenery of Dhaka.
Butterfly Fair
Everyone loves butterflies and their beautiful fluttering wings. Wrapped in a white net, vibrant trees inside, various species of butterflies are flying in the middle of it. Some yellow, some blue, some white. Hundreds of visitors come to Jahangirnagar University (JU) from different parts of the country to see this colorful butterfly flying. This butterfly fair is a universal one and people recognise it across the globe. You can also go to this fair which has been going on for about ten years. Compared to the other candidates of the six spectacular sceneries of Dhaka, this one is rather unique.
Sadar Ghat
There is a serenity in the lazy moments on the banks of the river in the late afternoon. You will find an unknown stillness as you watch the sunset enjoying the brisk wind and the quiet around you takes over. In this mammoth of a city, we are constantly running to get things done, without rest, without a moment of contemplation. You need a little comfort and a sigh of relief, don’t you? This is exactly what you will find at Sadar Ghat. On the day when the port traffic is a little lighter, you have to run to the Sadar Ghat. Can anything beat the refreshing air and the vastness of the river in the early lights of the day?
The six spectacular sceneries of Dhaka are so beautiful and captivating that you don’t want to miss out on them. If you want to capture such a diverse form of the otherness of Dhaka on camera, come by and enjoy the six spectacular sceneries of Dhaka.
