After muted celebrations of two years due to Covid-19, Boisabi, the traditional New Year festival of different ethnic communities living in the hilly districts of Khagrachhari and Rangamti, began on Tuesday.

The word 'Boisabi' is a combination of the Bengali acronyms for various indigenous festivals like Boishuk of the Tripura community, Sangrai of Marma and Biju of the Chakma community.

Wearing traditional dresses, young women and children immersed the flowers in the river in the morning, seeking blessings from the Mother Ganga and praying for the early end to the pandemic and all frustrations and sorrows of the previous year.

Every year, as many as 13 ethnic communities living in Rangamati celebrate  festivals like  Biju, Sangrai, Baisuk, Bishu, Bihu, Jol Utsab and Bengali New Year.

A five-day fair began in Rangamati ahead of the festival from April 5, where various sports events and cultural programmes were organised.

On April 13, the second day of the festival known as ‘Mul Biju ', ‘Boishu’ or ‘Bishu’, the main attraction is an indigenous delicacy named ‘Pachon’ that is cooked in every household.

On April 14, the day of Bangla New Year celebration, the three-day water-throwing festival named 'Jolkeli’ of the Marma community will begin.