Dinajpur: The Santal ethnic community of Hakimpur upazila in Dinajpur today celebrated their biggest religious and social festival, Dal Puja, in a vibrant atmosphere of devotion, fasting, music, and dance.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, villages with a Santal-majority population including Udaygiri, Gohara, Bagmara, and Malancha transformed into festive hubs from noon to evening. Men, women, and children gathered for day-long prayers, rituals, and traditional performances, seeking divine blessings for protection from natural disasters and the welfare of people across the country.
Dal Puja is observed annually on the eleventh day of the full moon in the Bangla month of Bhadra. This tradition, believed by the Santals to be passed down from their forefathers, involves devotees observing a strict fast throughout the day, which is broken only after evening prayers.
This year's celebrations were marked by spirited dances, devotional songs, and kezza performances, filling the villages with color and joy. Community elder Gurudev Srenal Mardi, aged 63, expressed, "We believe that fasting and praying on this day brings blessings not just for Santals but for people of all faiths."
Former chairman of Hakimpur Upazila Adivasi Parishad, Badal Toppo, emphasized the significance of Dal Puja as the most important Santal festival, involving every family. "Today we prayed together for harmony among all religions and for everyone's well-being," he added.
Members of the Oraon community and visitors from nearby areas also joined the occasion, turning the Santal villages into a hub of devotion, cultural expression, and communal harmony.