Coronavirus outbreak: Biju celebrations in CHT limited to indoors

The three-day celebrations for Biju, the biggest festival of the ethnic minority communities of the Chattogram Hill Tracks that started today, is on hold this year due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Different ethnic groups call the festival by different names. The Chakma call it Biju, the Tanchangya Bishu, the Tripura Baisu and the Marma call the festival Sangrai.

The communities celebrate Biju to say goodbye to the past year and celebrate the new year.

Sanjay Chakma, 55, a resident of Kalindipur area of Rangamati town, said he never witnessed such a situation in his lifetime. "Due to the corona panic this year, my daughters are celebrating Fulbiju (making flower offering on Biju) on our rooftop."

Pratyasha Chakma, 22, said she and her friends usually celebrate Biju at Kaptailake. "But this year, we are celebrating in the yard of our home."

Intumoni Talukder, general secretary of Bangladesh Adibasi Forum, CHT region, said they organise a colourful Biju festival every year. "But this year, we cancelled."

"In this time of pandemic, we will all stay in our homes and celebrate."

The first day of the celebration starts with Fulbiju. The Chakma people wake up early, clean their houses and decorate it with flowers, and make flower offerings in rivers, canals and springs to seek divine blessings for peace and prosperity.

Then in the evening, they go to Buddhist temples and light candles.

On the second day, they cook a popular food item called "pajon".

On the last day, known as Goijja Pojjya Din, people spend the day resting and going to nearby monasteries to pray for the following year.