Cultural Information of Bangladesh

MUSIC & SONGS
The musical instruments one will see or hear in Bangladesh include the bamboo flute, the tabla (a set of two percussion drums) and a wide variety of stringed instruments from the crude banjo like village 'ek-tara' (one stringed), 'do-tara' (two stringed) and to the highly refined multi stringed 'Sitar' and 'Sarode' used for classical music. Violins are also used and electric as well as ordinary guitars are played. The 'Tanpura' is used for the drone accompaniment in classical music. Harmonium is popular as an accompaniment in vocal performances.
Living in the land of torrential rains, mighty rivers and lush green beauty, the average Bangladeshi has a deep relationship with nature. The music of Bangladesh is therefore emotional, ecstatic and romantic. Among the genres sung or performed quite regularly are :
Classical songs and music Semi-classical songs and music Palli Geeti or folk songs Rabindra Sangeet (songs by Rabindranath Tagore, the 1913 Nobel Prize winner in Literature) Nazrul Geeti (songs by the Rebel poet of Bangaladesh). Religious songs Adhunik Gaaan or modern Bangla songs Gano Sangeet or inspirational songs for the masses Pop Songs Bhatiali or boatmen's songs Bhawaia or bullock cart drivers song Band music or rock music

DANCE
The tradition of dance in Bangladesh is an old one. The classical dance forms have mostly been taken from North and South Indian schools, while influences of middle eastern dance is also noticeable in local dance forms. The indigenous and folk dance traditions are practiced widely and reflect the rich culture and history of Bangladesh. Many ethnic gorups have their own, distinct dance that are distinguished by grace and charm. For the santals and the hill people of Chittagong hill tracts are also have many attractive dance forms that quite popular with the people.

ART AND CULTURAL CENTERS

---

Alliance Francaise De Dhaka 26, Mirpur Road , Dhanmondi Dhaka , Tel: 8611557 Fax: 8616462, Email: infoad@afdacca.com		Bangla Academy Dhaka University Area, Dhaka Tel: 8619577, 8619583 Fax: 8612352, Email: bacademy@citechco.net
Bangladesh Shishu Academy Old High Court Road (Opp. Carzon Hall), Dhaka- 1000 Tel: 9550317, 9564128		British Council 5, Fuller Road , Dhaka Tel: 8618905-7, 8618867-8 Fax: 8613375, Email:britcoun@thebritishcouncil.net
Bulbul Lalitkala Academy 7, Wise Ghat, Dhaka- 1100 Tel: 7391838		German Cultural Center House 10, Road 9 Dhanmondi, Dhaka Tel: 9126525, 9126526 Fax: 8110712
Indian Cultural Center H-25, Road-96, Gulshan-2 Dhaka-1212 Tel: 8850141, Fax: 8850142		Nazrul Institute House 330B, Road 28(Old) Dhanmondi, Dhaka Tel: 9114500, Fax: 9118051 Email: nazrulin@citecho.net
The Russian Centre of Science & Culture House-510, Road-7 Dhanmondi, Dhaka Tel: 9118531 Fax: 8113026, Email: roscult@accesstel.net

Festivals in Bangladesh

There are as many festivals in Bangladesh as there are days in the year. Fairs and festivals play an important role in the social life of ordinary Bangladeshis. The biggest Muslim religious festivals are the Eid-Ul-Fitr (end of the fasting month of Ramadhan). Eid-ul-Azha, Muharram and Miladunnabi (birth day of the Prophet), widely celebrated festivals for other religious communities are the Durga Puja for the Hindus, Christmas for Christians and Buddha Purnima for the Buddhists. Bangla New Year's Day (Pahela Baishakh), Shahid Dibas (Language Martyrs' Day), Independence Day (March 26) and Victory Day (December 16) are celebrated nation-wide.

Besides these religious and national festivals, villages and townships, professional groups, cultural organizations arrange their own festivals.

PAHELA BAISHAKH

---

Bengali New Year's day is colorful event in the cities and villages throughout the country. The day (14 April) is a public holiday.The most attractive event in Dhaka, that spreads throughout the day, takes place at Ramna Park. Students of the Fine Art Institute of Dhaka University organize colorful pageant where paper made animals and masks figure prominantly. Tournaments, boat races and other forms of celebration take place amidst great jubilation. Many fairs are held in Dhaka and other towns and villages.

EID-E-MILADUNNABI

---

Prophet Muhammad (SM) was born on 12th Rabiul Awal (Lunar Month). He also breathed his last on the same day. The day is national holiday, the National flag flies from rooftops and food is offered to destitutes and the orphans. Prayers are offered in Milad mehfils in the afternoon.At night important public buildings are illuminated.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

---

The biggest state festival, the Independence day (March 26) is observed throughout the country. All major cities wear a festive look. It is a public holiday. The citizens of Dhaka wake up early in the morning to the sound of booming guns heralding the day. Leaders of the government, political and social organizations, freedom fighters and ordinary citizens alike place floral wreaths at the National Martyrs' Memorial at Savar. Bangla Academy, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and other socio-cultural organizations held cultural function. Sports meet and tournaments are organized including the exciting boat race in the river Buriganga. At night the main public buildings are illuminated. Similar functions are arranged in other cities and towns.

21st Feb,
the National Mourning Day and World Mother Language Day

---

21 February of every year is observed throughout the country in remembrance of the martyrs' of Language Movement of 1952. Blood was shed on this day at the Central Shahid Minar (near Dhaka Medical College Hospital) area to establish Bangla as a state language of Pakistan. All subsequent movements including the struggle for independence owe their origin to the historic language movement. The Shahid Minar (martyrs' monument) is the symbol of the supreme sacrifice for the mother tongue. The day is a public holiday. Mourning services begin in Dhaka at midnight at the Shahid Minar with a song that tellingly recall the sacrifice of the martyrs. The event of the day include processions, song sessions, placing of flowers at the Minar and prayer at the graves of martyrs' at Azimpur.

• The day has been declared the International Mother Language Day by the UNESCO

EID-UL-FITR The biggest Muslim festival, Eid-ul- Fitr is observed throughout the world. The Eid falls on the following day of Ramadan or the month of fasting. EID-UL-AZHA Eid-ul-Azha is the second biggest festival of the Muslims. It marks the Hajj in Mecca on the 10th of Zilhaj, the lunar month. Large Eid congregations are held in mosques and public prayer grounds. Animals are sacrificed in the memory of Hazrat Ibrahim's (AM) preparedness for the sacrifice of his beloved son to Allah. The day is a public holiday. MUHARRAM Muharram is a month of sad memories of the tragic martyrdom of Imam Hussain (RA) at Karbala in Iraq on the 10th day of the month.The day is marked by a huge procession in Dhaka that is brought out from the the Hussaini Dalan Imambara in old city. DURGA PUJA Durga Puja, the biggest festival of the Hindu community in the country, continues for ten days with the last three days being the most joyful. The festivities culminate with the idol of goddess Durga immersed in the river. In Dhaka the big celebrations are held ; at Dhakeswari Temple, where a fair is also held and at the Ram Krishna Mission. CHRISTMAS Christmas, known as "Bara Din" or The Big Day in Bangla is celebrated with festivities in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country. Several day-long congregations are held at St. Mary's Cathedral at Ramna, Portuguese Church at Tejgaon, Church of Bangladesh (Protestant) on Johnson Road and Bangladesh Baptist Sangha at Sadarghat, Dhaka. Functions include illumination of churches, decorating Christmas tree & other festivities. RABINDRA & NAZRUL JAYANTI The birth anniversary of the nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore on 25th Baishakh (early May) and that of the national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam on 11th Jaystha (late May) are observed throughout the country. Big gatherings and songs sessions organized by socio-cultural organizations are the main features of the observance of the days. Tagore is the writer of our national anthem while National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam is famous as Rebel Poet for his fiery writings. LANGALBANDH MELA The mela which accompanies the annual bathing at a place near Sonargaon (about 27 km. from Dhaka) is a very attractive festival observed by the Hindu Community every year on the last day of Chaittra (last Bengali month - mid April ). Devotees dip in the river to ceremonialy cleans themselves of all sins.