Polo Bawa, century-old traditional fishing festival in the Moulvibazar region, was celebrated amid a festive atmosphere on Thursday at the Dhalai River in Kamalganj.
Almost 300 people including villagers, fishermen from Kamalganj upazila's Dakkhin Kumrakapon, Alepur, Chandipur took part in this festival spontaneously with "polo", a bamboo-made fish catching trap, in knee-deep water forgetting their woes of the summer and cheering with their mates when they trap fishes with their polo.
Polo Bawa festival, which usually takes place in late winter, began early this year as the water of the low land area began to dry up and the farmlands aren't prepared yet to harvest new crops at the riverine regions of the country.
So people of all ages, sitting idle at home or yarning for an adventure, participated in the festival while hundreds of others enjoyed the event.
In the festival, two groups consisting of 40 to 50 fishermen each, took place opposite of each other, and began catching fishes like Wallagos, Ghagats, Tengras, Swamp barbs, with their polo.
Noor Miya of Alepur village who took part on the festival, said: "We wait the whole year for the festival to begin. I caught a Wallogo weighing almost a kg today.”
Abul Hasnat, a spectator who was enjoying the festival by the side of the river, said: "Catching fish using polo is very enjoyable to watch and I was delighted to observe this festival with my friends."
Ismail Miah, a long-time fisherman of the upazila expressed his concerns about the consistent receding water level of the water-bodies in the region and said: "Now-a-days most of the water-bodies are leased to local influential people, so it is becoming difficult to find a place to hold the festival.
"And the poverty stricken people of this area are losing interest in these festivities. I hope the authority would look into it and save our treasured traditions," he added.
