Raiganj: Like every year, the traditional 450-year-old Jamaibaran Mela is being held in Raiganj upazila of the district this year too. This fair, also known as ‘Basher Mela’ or Bamboo Fair, commences on the second Sunday of the Bengali month of Jyishtha at Nimgachhi Bazar in Sonakhara Union and continues until the following Monday. Visitors from various ethnic communities, including Orao and Mahato, are seen engaging in vibrant shopping activities as the fair gets underway.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Society and Culture,” written by K. M. Rezaul Karim, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Sociology at Government Michael Madhusudan (MM College) College in Jashore, this fair has been held since 1556 AD. The fair centers around a special bamboo, revered as a deity by the ethnic groups. A week before the fair begins, villages organize the “Madar Bamboo Fair,” where a group decorates a large bamboo and performs traditional games to earn money.
The fair creates a joyous atmosphere in the villages, with relatives and friends gathering in homes, sharing meals, and exchanging gifts. Sons-in-law are particularly honored with gifts and invited to participate in the festivities, hence the name Jamaibaran Fair. Local journalist and poet Abdul Quddus Talukder shared that the fair commemorates the story of Gazi-Kalu-Champabati, where Gazi Saha triumphed in battle and married Champabati, marking the occasion with the decorated Madar Bamboo.
Despite changes over time, the tradition of performing tricks to collect help continues. Nihar Ranjan Sarkar from Dutta Bari village notes the liveliness the fair brings, while Joydev Chandra Mahato from Kanchaneshwar village highlights the joy it brings post-harvest. Former Assistant Professor Jogendranath Sarkar notes that this festival is a significant event for the local communities, celebrated with great enthusiasm.
Ujjal Kumar Mahato, a writer in the Kurmali language, emphasized the unifying nature of the fair, known by various names but bringing people together. Visitors like Hirendranath Mahato and Jhumur singer Upendranath Mahato cherish the fair as an annual celebration for all.