With the arrival of spring, the Santal community immerses itself in a different kind of joy.
During the months of Falgun and Chaitra, when nature adorns itself in new colors and the surroundings are filled with the blossoms of Sal and Palash trees, the beats of festival drums resonate through Santal villages.
The Santals organize this principal festival, “Baha Parab” or “Bahabanga,” known as the Flower Festival, symbolizing gratitude toward nature, where “Baha” means flower and “Banga” means worship in the Santhali language.
With the slogan "If land, nature, and culture survive, life will thrive," the Santal community celebrated the ‘Santal Baha Parab Festival’ for the second time at Jahangirnagar University through dance, music, and the rhythmic beats of the Madal drum.
The two-day event began on Thursday. However, there were not many formal activities on that day. The main celebrations took place on Friday, with Jahangirnagar University students enthusiastically participating in the festival.
Roots of Tradition: Baha Parab
The lives of the Santal people are deeply connected to nature. Their new year begins on Pahela Magh (the first day of the Bengali month of Magh) when they celebrate the first day of the new harvest season and start agricultural work by plowing their fields. After winter ends, from Dol Purnima (the full moon festival) through Chaitra (the last month of the Bengali calendar), the Baha Parab is celebrated in every Santal village.
The budding leaves on Sal and Palash trees, along with the fragrance of Mahua flowers, signal the arrival of this festival. As old leaves shed and new ones emerge, the Santals respectfully welcome nature’s renewal. The festival begins as a way to please nature and ensure a prosperous harvest in the future.
Preparations and Rituals of the Festival
A month before the Baha Festival, Santal homes are thoroughly cleaned. Special colors are prepared by burning soil, cow dung, and straw, and houses are decorated with paintings of animals, birds, flowers, leaves, and various traditional motifs.
The festival's central site, “Jaher Than” (the sacred grove or place of worship), is also cleaned with cow dung, and a shrine structure is built around the Sal or Mahua tree.
Baha Um and Baha Siridi: The Two Phases of the Festival
As spring arrives and Sal, Mahua, and other trees bloom, the Santal community offers these flowers to their deities as an expression of reverence.
- The first day of the festival is called "Baha Um," which marks the beginning of the Baha Puja (worship).
- The second day is "Baha Siridi," where traditional Baha dances, water games, and other religious ceremonies take place.
On Friday, the second day of the festival was celebrated at Jahangirnagar University’s Seventh Chhayamanch (open-air stage). The Bahabanga Celebration Committee organized a day-long event featuring Baha Puja, Sal flower distribution, Prasad distribution, Baha dance, Baha Da (a traditional ritual), water games, and a grand feast after the puja.
Nirala Mardi, the convenor of the Dhaka unit Bahabanga Celebration Committee, said: “Baha Um marks the initiation of Baha Puja. The second day's festival, Baha Siridi, includes the Baha dance, the grand feast, water games, and the rest of the rituals.”
A Vibrant Celebration at the University
At Jahangirnagar University’s Seventh Chhayamanch, preparations for the festival began with the first light of day.
Santal women dressed in yellow saris with red borders, while men donned traditional attire and played the Madal and Dhamsa drums, creating an enchanting festive atmosphere.
The celebration came alive as participants danced to the rhythmic beats of Santal songs and drums. The seamless synchronization of dance moves with the beats of the Madal and Dhamsa created an immersive experience, transforming the university campus into a miniature Santal village.
The festival’s main attraction was the traditional Santal dance, characterized by a mesmerizing blend of stillness and movement. The dancers’ footwork, synchrony, and confident expressions captivated the audience, spreading waves of joy across the campus.
This grand festival was more than just an indigenous celebration; it was a powerful display of Bangladesh’s rich cultural diversity.
Students and teachers were not mere spectators; they actively participated in the festival, deepening their understanding of Santal culture.
Jahangirnagar University student Salahuddin remarked: "This is not just a festival; it is an internal realization. We share an intimate bond with nature. We should respect and learn from traditions like these."
From traditional fairs to cultural performances, heritage exhibitions, and community bonding, the festival was an outstanding spectacle. The event was supported by university organizations ‘Arfi’ and ‘Ganakrishti’.
Nirala Mardi also said: "Just as other communities celebrate their traditional festivals—like the hill tribes celebrating ‘Jhum’ or Bengalis celebrating ‘Noboborsho’—we also celebrate Bahabanga. We hope this festival will gain official recognition at the national level."
A Message of Unity in Diversity
This festival is not just an event for one ethnic group but a symbol of Bangladesh’s cultural diversity and national unity. The Bahabanga Festival reminds us that culture survives when celebrated, preserved, and passed down through generations.
After the festival, Ring Young, a student from the university’s Comparative Literature and Culture, said: "The Bahabanga Festival is an integral part of Santal culture. Organizing such events is crucial for cultural preservation. We are delighted to see it celebrated on our campus."
Harendranath Singh, Director of the Rajshahi Divisional Indigenous Cultural Academy, explained: “The Baha Festival is a seasonal celebration of the Santal community. In the Santal language, ‘Baha’ means ‘flower.’ As spring arrives and the Sal trees bloom, the Santal people celebrate this festival. It is primarily a prayer for the well-being and prosperity of their community.”
This event was not just a Santal festival; it was a grand cultural heritage celebration.
The Bahabanga Festival at Jahangirnagar University has added a new dimension to Bangladesh’s cultural heritage, showcasing the Santal people’s cultural commitment.
Although the festival ended at 5pm on Friday, the colorful traditional attire, the melodies of Santal songs, and the energy of the dances left a lasting impression in the hearts of everyone who attended.
