As the old year wanes and the new dawns, the Chittagong Hill Tracts erupt into jubilant celebration, welcoming the Baisabi festival—a radiant cultural mosaic representing the indigenous peoples of the hills.
Rooted in the ancient Buddhist traditions of Southeast Asia, Baisabi is a convergence of several ethnic New Year celebrations—Bijhu of the Chakma, Sangrai of the Marma, and Baisu of the Tripura.
The name itself, a portmanteau of these three, speaks to a unity born of diversity.
Similar New Year rituals, such as the Thai and Lao "Songkran", suggest a deeper regional kinship that stretches from Tibet to the southern reaches of Bangladesh.
However, Baisabi is far more than a tri-ethnic affair.
Other names and observances—Bisu, Changkraan, Sangkran, and Sangraing—reveal a richer, more nuanced cultural landscape. Despite variations in ritual, the essence remains universal: Joy, love, and renewal.
From 12 April, the hills of Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban, along with communities in Dhaka, will come alive with music, dance, feasting and floral devotion.
Under the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, festivities in the capital will commence with a vibrant procession from the Hill Complex on Bailey Road to the lake at Ramna Park, where flowers will be set afloat in a symbolic farewell to the past year.
In the hills, preparations are in full swing. Homes are bedecked in vibrant hues. Villages echo with laughter and song.
Communities, regardless of ethnic background, unite in a common celebration of renewal. Traditional sports, floral offerings, and water rituals form the beating heart of these springtime festivities.
The Chakma celebrate Bijhu over three days: Phool Bijhu on 12 April involves early morning flower collection and offerings to Buddha; Mul Bijhu on 13 April is marked by ceremonial bathing of elders, blessings, and festive feasts; and Gojjepojje on 14 April is a day of rest and quiet joy. During this time, it is forbidden to harm any living creature, reflecting a deep reverence for life.
For the Tripura, Baisu spans the final two days of Chaitra and the first of Baishakh.
The celebration begins with Hari Baisu, where children gather flowers at dawn.
On Baisuma, prayers are offered for peace and prosperity, and households prepare gontok - a mixed vegetable stew of 25 to 30 forest-sourced ingredients. The festival culminates in Bisi Kotal, a day of family gatherings and shared meals.
The Marma and Tripura water festival - perhaps the most visually arresting feature of Baisabi—combines playful splashing with solemn water offerings. It symbolises the washing away of past sorrows, forging bonds anew.
For the Marma, it’s a public declaration of affection; for others, a spiritual cleanse.
The Tanchangya community in Bandarban celebrates Bisu, with rituals such as the sacred Ghila game and offerings to the river goddess Gangadevi in the Sangu.
Their own version of Pajon, a vegetable medley, is served with traditional reverence and festivity.
This year, the Marma of Bandarban have extended their Sangrai celebrations to four days, featuring not only water games but traditional wrestling (Boli Khela), culinary competitions, and cultural performances.
More than 10 ethno-linguistic communities will participate in the Baisabi celebrations, both in the hills and in Dhaka, blending tradition with modernity, and reaffirming a collective identity shaped by centuries of co-existence.
As the hills resound with the rhythm of drums, the scent of jasmine, and the splash of water, Baisabi stands as a testament to the resilience, harmony and exuberance of the people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.