Langalbandh Mela Celebrations
Bangladesh is a place of culture, religion and nature – a place where colors combine in a new and inspiring way each season, where nature and worship are combined with respect and reverence. The country and its people may have a new government and be progressing with much of the rest of the world, but it also enjoys a timeless culture that effortlessly combines the ancient heritage of the nation with modern trends.
As you explore the country, you will find that the people of Bangladesh are very devoted to their faith. They actively participate in virtually every festival imaginable with the absolute devotion. Many of them truly do believe that their behavior during these festivals and religious rites will have a bearing on the outcome of their life course and so they work hard to ensure that they will have a joyful and successful future. Each of the different cities, towns and villages may have slightly different celebrations from other locations, but ultimately the gods that are worshiped are the same. One of the lesser-known festivals in Bangladesh is Langalbandh Mela.
The Langalbandh Mela festival takes place each year in Sonargaon – a small town that is an absolutely striking destination in itself. Sonargaon, which is situated about 27 kilometers away from the city of Dhaka, was the ancient capital of Isa Khan’s kingdom. As a result it is home to striking, old architecture that will easily captivate your imagination. A more appropriate setting for the Langalbandh Mela festival could not have been chosen – though in truth the festival has probably grown and aged over the years along with the town. Langalbandh Mela is one of the many festivals in Bangladesh that is observed by the Hindu community. This particular festival generally takes place on the last day of Chaittra (around mid April), which is the last month of the year on the Bengali calendar. As part of the celebrations, devotees bathe themselves in the nearby river in order to ceremonially cleanse themselves of their sins. The solemn ceremonial bath is followed by more festive activities, with young men playing drums and much merriment. If you happen to be in the area around that time of year, observing the festival taking place would definitely make for a fascinating diversion from your travel plans.
