The century-old traditional boat race has taken place in Kashiani, Gopalganj, with the same spirit of community and festivity that had been preserved through generations.
The residents of Aropora village in Maheshpur union of Kashiani upazila organized the event on Friday afternoon.
The race took place at 4pm, spanning 2 kilometers from the west of the Hoglakandi Bridge on the Kumar River to Sarupi. The intense competition continued in three rounds until the evening.
The atmosphere was electric, with participants rowing to the beat of traditional music, while singing Jari Sari songs and dancing.
The rhythmic sounds of the oars slicing through the water created an unforgettable experience. Thousands of spectators standing on both sides of the river were moved by the excitement.
Numerous supporters and spectators joined the rowers, cheering them on enthusiastically. The banks of the river echoed with applause and cheers from the crowd.
A total of 12 selected boats from remote villages of Gopalganj, Narail, and Faridpur districts participated in the race.
In the competition, the first-place winner was the boat "Mobile" from Tungipara upazila of Gopalganj district, the second place went to Rezaul's boat from Dolagram in Kashiani upazila, and the third place was secured by Baku Sheikh's boat from Tamarhaji village in Boalmari upazila of Faridpur district.
After the race, the chief guest, Kashiani police station Officer-in-Charge (Investigation) Md Khurshid Alam awarded the winners in the evening.
Thousands of people of all ages from 20 villages in Kashiani and Muksudpur Upazilas of Gopalganj district, and Boalmari, Alfadanga, Salta, and Bhanga Upazilas of Faridpur district gathered on both banks of the Kumar River to enjoy this century-old traditional boat race on a beautiful autumn afternoon.
The boat race turned into a festival, creating a bond between the two districts. A village fair was also held along the riverbank, where over 100 stalls saw a brisk trade.
Kamal Khan, head of the organizing committee, said that Gopalganj district is surrounded by wetlands, rivers, and canals. For hundreds of years, boat races have been organized during the monsoon season.
“However, with changing times, the tradition is fading, and our cultural heritage is disappearing. To protect the youth from mobile addiction and drug abuse, we have been organizing this event for the last 100 years. We plan to continue this cherished tradition in the future,” he added.
Gias Uddin Galib from Hoglakandi village said: "The boat race was held in a vibrant and pleasant setting. Each round saw fierce competition among the boats. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it. This tradition has survived for a hundred years. People from at least 20 villages in Gopalganj and Faridpur districts gathered eagerly along the banks of the Kumar River to witness the event. The boat race created a festive gathering between the two districts. Families invited their relatives, and there was a feast in every home. I hope that future boat races will be even more grand."
Nazir Khan from Aropora village, members of the organizing committee, said: “Boat racing is a thousand-year-old tradition of our culture. Our ancestors started this race here 100 years ago. Even though the rivers, canals, and wetlands are drying up and boat racing is gradually disappearing, we continue this event amid challenges to preserve our heritage and for the sake of the younger generation.”