And this very idea constitutes the theme of the upcoming Bengali New Year 1420.
A colourful rally (Mongol Shobha Jatra) to welcome the New Year will be organised on Apr 14 – the first day of Bengali month Boishakh, themed ‘Come truth, come good, come freedom’.
While the Eastern philosophy considers the dragon a harbinger of good fortune and a master of authority, this year’s theme would portray it as a symbol of bad influence.
The organisers, who are now busy making artefacts for Pahela Boishakh, want to express their solidarity to the cause of the Shahbgah movement, seeking capital punishment for war crimes by displaying this mythical creature.
The mammoth reptile, shown exhaling flames from its mouth, has been portrayed as one from outside wanting to gobble up Bangladesh, which was earned through a bloody war against Pakistan in 1971.
This beast will be placed on a 30-foot wooden frame installed on a hand-pulled cart during the rally.
Organisers say this year’s rally will convey a message to establish a country free from war criminals in the nation’s 42nd year of independence. There will also be some other artefacts such as symbolic rickshaws, crocodiles and horses to highlight the Bengali culture, tradition and history.
A rally seeking good fortune in the New Year is organised each year. Many enthusiasts from even outside Dhaka join it on the day that coincides with Apr 14.
Manabendra Ghosh, Coordinator of this year’s rally, said they would express solidarity with the call for capital punishment for war crimes. “We will symbolise that call through the rally.”
“We want that Bengali people to move ahead with their own tradition and culture. But evil forces want to destroy those values and traditions. We want to make efforts to keep those alive for ages to come,” he said.
He said there would be many replicas of the dragon that would be displayed in Dhaka. “Those look-alikes would be displayed in many other parts of the country on the first day of the Bengali New Year,” he said.
About the alien dragon, Ghosh said, “This reptile does not belong to this soil...this is from somewhere else, from another country. They, who do not love this country, cannot live in this country.”
To make the rally more colourful, many would wear masks and carry artefacts such as birds and butterflies. Many plan to dance, beat traditional drums and dhols. The preparations are going on in full swing everywhere.
A group of students of the institute was seen selling clay frogs, elephants, horses and dolls to raise fund for the rally. Another group was making frames for the planned artefacts for the rally. Those show pieces will finally be covered with colourful papers.
Nabendu Saha Naba, who was the Coordinator last year, said they would paint the walls and the street in front of the institute.
“T-shirts bearing slogans are being readied. The participants will wear those T-shirts during the rally,” he said.
Both Manabendra and Nabendu said they needed fund for the rally and called upon all to buy masks and other artefacts, though they organised the rally previously without any sponsors.
“But sales are not that good this year. We will call upon all through you (the media), so that everybody buys something to help us,” Manabendra said.
A colourful rally (Mongol Shobha Jatra) to welcome the New Year will be organised on Apr 14 – the first day of Bengali month Boishakh, themed ‘Come truth, come good, come freedom’.
While the Eastern philosophy considers the dragon a harbinger of good fortune and a master of authority, this year’s theme would portray it as a symbol of bad influence.
The organisers, who are now busy making artefacts for Pahela Boishakh, want to express their solidarity to the cause of the Shahbgah movement, seeking capital punishment for war crimes by displaying this mythical creature.
The mammoth reptile, shown exhaling flames from its mouth, has been portrayed as one from outside wanting to gobble up Bangladesh, which was earned through a bloody war against Pakistan in 1971.
This beast will be placed on a 30-foot wooden frame installed on a hand-pulled cart during the rally.
Organisers say this year’s rally will convey a message to establish a country free from war criminals in the nation’s 42nd year of independence. There will also be some other artefacts such as symbolic rickshaws, crocodiles and horses to highlight the Bengali culture, tradition and history.
A rally seeking good fortune in the New Year is organised each year. Many enthusiasts from even outside Dhaka join it on the day that coincides with Apr 14.
Manabendra Ghosh, Coordinator of this year’s rally, said they would express solidarity with the call for capital punishment for war crimes. “We will symbolise that call through the rally.”
“We want that Bengali people to move ahead with their own tradition and culture. But evil forces want to destroy those values and traditions. We want to make efforts to keep those alive for ages to come,” he said.
He said there would be many replicas of the dragon that would be displayed in Dhaka. “Those look-alikes would be displayed in many other parts of the country on the first day of the Bengali New Year,” he said.
About the alien dragon, Ghosh said, “This reptile does not belong to this soil...this is from somewhere else, from another country. They, who do not love this country, cannot live in this country.”
To make the rally more colourful, many would wear masks and carry artefacts such as birds and butterflies. Many plan to dance, beat traditional drums and dhols. The preparations are going on in full swing everywhere.
A group of students of the institute was seen selling clay frogs, elephants, horses and dolls to raise fund for the rally. Another group was making frames for the planned artefacts for the rally. Those show pieces will finally be covered with colourful papers.
Nabendu Saha Naba, who was the Coordinator last year, said they would paint the walls and the street in front of the institute.
“T-shirts bearing slogans are being readied. The participants will wear those T-shirts during the rally,” he said.
Both Manabendra and Nabendu said they needed fund for the rally and called upon all to buy masks and other artefacts, though they organised the rally previously without any sponsors.
“But sales are not that good this year. We will call upon all through you (the media), so that everybody buys something to help us,” Manabendra said.
He said they started selling several art pieces and other items made by the teachers and students of the institute from Mar 13.
According to tales and legends, Pahela Boishakh celebrations date back to third Mughal Emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar’s reign.
In order to ease tax collection, Akbar changed the tradition of agricultural tax collection according to Hijri calendar and ordered a reform of the calendar because it being a lunar calendar did not coincide with the harvest sessions, and thus the farmers faced difficulties in properly paying taxes.
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