The entire Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) wore a festive look as the three-day traditional 'Bizu' festival of the ethnic minority groups, has begun on Wednesday with great enthusiasm and festivity.
Traditionally the ethnic minority people observe 'Ful Bizu',festival on the first day of the three-day festival through floating flowers in the rivers, canals, spring and fountain by seeking divine blessing for peace, prosperity and healthy lives.
On the occasion, Bizu, Sangrain, Boisuk, Bishu, Bihu and Sankran celebration committee-2023 on Wednesday formally floated flowers in Kaptai Lake at Rajban Bihar Ghat in the town. The ethnic people of the three hill districts of Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari are celebrating the Bizu festival.
On the occasion, every year the people in the CHT, who have been living in the region since the time immemorial, celebrate this festival at the end of Bengali old year to shed the sorrows of the old year and welcome the Bengali new year.
Though the festival merely is related to the indigenous people but people from other communities also enjoy it. Of the 11 indigenous groups living in hills, only eight communities --- Chakma, Marma, Tangchangya, Tripura, Mro, Khumi, Khiyang and Chak, celebrate the carnival.
Lusai, Bawm and Pankhua do not observe the festival from the beginning as they have no cultural value about this.
After passing a humdrum of routine life round the year, the ethnic people celebrate 'Bizu' with preparation of different food items.
The significance of the festival to the indigenous communities is the same though they term it by different names. The Chakma call it Bizu, the Marmas call it -Sangraing, Tripura-Boisuk, Tangchangya- Bishu, Ahmia Bihu and Mro - Chankran.
The first day is called 'Phulbizu' the second day 'Mulbizu' and third day or first day of the Bangla New Year is called "Gojje Pojje Din."
On Wednesday is mulbizu (the main function) in every house of indigenous people prepares 'Pachan' a kind of mixed vegetable curry to feed the guests. 'Panchan' is very popular as the indigenous people believe the "Panchan" is their hedges against any diseases for the New Year.
