“Baruni Snan,” (Baruni bath) an age-old religious event of Hindus began in Boalmari Baruni village yesterday in Boda upazila under Panchagarh district.
A large number of devotees thronged the Korotoa River bank to take a holy bath, a symbolic gesture believed to wash away sins.
Alongside the religious event, the Boalmari Baruni Ganga Temple Committee organised a seven-day fair at the venue. Over 200 stalls at the fair displayed handicrafts, pottery, hand-made toys, and other household items.
Traders from Thakurgaon, Dinajpur and Nilphamari participated at the fair. Performance of puppeteers and circus teams added to the spirit of the event.
Local cultural groups and artistes are scheduled to perform everyday in the evening during the three-day event.
President of Boalmari Baruni Ganga Temple committee Dhoni Ram Chandra told the Dhaka Tribune: “Baruni Snan is an annual event that begins on the 13th of Bangla month Chaitra. Around four to five lakh devotees from different parts of the country take the holy dip in the river every year.”
However, this year the turnout of devotees was comparatively less due to the continuous transport blockade programme of BNP, said Dhoni.
