As the final breeze of Chaitra sweeps across the serene folds of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, nature transforms into a breathtaking spectacle. Pure white Biju flowers bloom across the hills, while the melodies of wandering folk poets, known locally as “Genguli,” echo through the forests. Together, these sights and sounds announce the arrival of the hills’ grandest celebration — Baisabi.
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More than just a New Year festival, Baisabi represents a beautiful fusion of the cultures of three distinct indigenous communities. It stands as a powerful symbol of peace, friendship, harmony, and coexistence among the hill people.
The Origin and History of Baisabi
The name “Baisabi” is formed from the initials of three major indigenous festivals celebrated across the hill districts of Rangamati, Khagrachhari, and Bandarban:
• “Bai” comes from the Tripura community’s festival “Boisu.”
• “Sa” comes from the Marma community’s “Sangrai.”
• “Bi” comes from the Chakma community’s “Biju.”
Together, these celebrations evolved into the collective festival known as “Baisabi.”
For centuries, the people of the hill tracts have celebrated this festival with great enthusiasm, leaving behind the sorrows and disappointments of the old year and welcoming the new one with hope and joy. According to Chakma beliefs, the countdown to the festival begins when the “Biju Peik” or Biju bird sings at the beginning of Chaitra.
When and How the Festival Begins
The core celebration lasts for three days — the final two days of the Bengali year and the first day of the New Year. Usually beginning on 12 April and continuing through 14 April, the festive atmosphere spreads across the entire hill region.
1. The Chakma Community’s “Biju” Festival
The Chakmas divide the celebration into three distinct phases.
Phool Biju (Flower Biju)
The festival begins with Flower Biju. At dawn, children and young people collect flowers from the forests. These flowers are divided into four parts:
• One part is used to decorate homes.
• Another is offered at Buddhist monasteries.
• A third portion is floated in rivers and streams as prayers to the river goddess.
• The final part is gifted to loved ones and elders as a sign of respect and affection.
Mul Biju (Main Biju)
This is the principal day of celebration. Families prepare the traditional dish called “Pachon” or mixed vegetable stew, made from 30 to 40 varieties of vegetables. Traditional cakes, sweet dishes, and popped sticky rice are also prepared. People of all ages wear new clothes and visit relatives and neighbors. In the evening, auspicious lamps are lit in homes and cattle sheds.
Gojjepojje Din (New Year’s Day)
The first day of the New Year is considered a day of rest. People spend the day relaxing at home. Younger members bathe their elders and seek blessings, while many visit Buddhist monasteries in the evening to offer special prayers.
2. The Tripura Community’s “Boisu” Festival
The Tripura community also celebrates the festival in three stages: Hari Boisu, Bishuma Boisu, and Bisi Katala Boisu.
On the final day of Chaitra, known as Hari Boisu, flowers are offered to rivers, and children float traditional attire called “Rinai-Risa” in the water. People visit temples to pray for prosperity and well-being in the coming year.
One of the festival’s major attractions is the traditional “Goroya Dance” performed by the Tripura people. They also bathe cows and buffaloes and adorn them with garlands of fresh flowers as a gesture of respect and gratitude.
3. The Marma Community’s “Sangrai” Festival
The Marma community celebrates the New Year through the Sangrai festival. Alongside preparations of semai, traditional cakes, and pachon, the most exciting feature is the “Rilong Poye” or water festival.
Young men and women gather around decorated pavilions and splash water on one another, symbolically washing away all sadness and negativity from the old year. The celebration also includes bathing elders with sacred water and offering prayers to Buddha, marking the festival’s conclusion.
The Sacred Flower of Baisabi
A special flower is deeply connected to the spirit of Baisabi. Scientifically known as Ixora nigrocans, this flower belongs to the Rubiaceae family. Its buds appear light pink, but once bloomed, the flowers turn pure white.
The flower carries different names among different communities:
• “Bhatjora” to the Chakmas
• “Kumuiboba” to the Tripuras
• “Chaigraitong” to the Marmas
• “Patabaha” to the Santals
When these flowers bloom at the beginning of Chaitra, the hill people know that the season of celebration has arrived.
A Message of Harmony and Nonviolence
Baisabi is far more than a cultural celebration. During these three days, all forms of personal and ethnic conflict are set aside. People embrace one another in a spirit of unity, forgetting hatred and division.
For this reason, many describe Baisabi as a profound celebration of nonviolence, friendship, and communal harmony. Every year, countless visitors from home and abroad travel to the Chittagong Hill Tracts to witness the vibrant beauty and cultural richness of this extraordinary festival.