A colorful rally was held in Sreemangal, Moulvibazar, on the occasion of the ‘Harmonium Festival’ organized in the integration of the cultural heritage of small ethnic groups.
On Thursday (December 11), at 11 am, the rally was organized by the Bangladesh Tourism Board and the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism and in cooperation with the Sreemangal Upazila administration. Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Md. Islam Uddin, Assistant Commissioner (ACLAND) Mohibullah Akon, representatives of various local ethnic groups, teachers and students, members of social and cultural organizations participated in the rally.
The Harmony Festival will be held for three days from December 18 to 20 at the Fulchhara Tea Garden Ground in Sreemangal.
Organized for the second time in the country, this festival will be attended by various small ethnic groups from Sreemangal and surrounding areas including Khasia, Garo, Manipuri, Tripura, Santal, Orao, Munda, Bhuiyan, Baraik, Kanda, Rajbalwab, Khadia, Rikiasana, Bunarji, Bhumij and others.
Each ethnic group will showcase its own traditional dance and culture in the festival.
Dance performances by wearing the traditional dress of the Khasia community ‘Diya Kercha’ and garlands, archery competition, oiled bamboo climbing, ‘Siyat Batu’ are special attractions for the visitors.
Katharak, Besu, Jhum dance of the Tripura people, and Amoyadev, Greek dance, Chawari Sikka and Mandi dance of the Garo people are also part of the diverse performances of the festival.
Along with this, the famous Manipuri Raslila, Pung Chalom (drum dance), and Sylhet’s traditional Dhamail dance will also be presented on stage.