Bangladesh is a country with numerous festivals and carnivals. This saying is very popular, ‘Bangladesh celebrates 13 perforations in 12 months.’ It is a traditional festival of farmers in West Bengal and Bangladesh. “Nabanna” means “New Rice.” It is the cooking festival of new rice after harvesting Amon rice. Nabanna is one of the most popular festivals in the agricultural society of Bengal.
History of Nabanna
The Nabanna festival is an ancient Hindu tradition. The Hindu scriptures mentioned and specified the duties of Nabanna. According to Hindu belief, the fathers pray for food during the production of new rice. That is why Hindus perform the rituals in Nabanna according to the Parban rules. According to the scriptures, if you eat new rice without performing Nabanna rituals, you have to share the sin.
Once, the people of Bangladesh celebrated Nabanna most solemnly. The Nabanna Festival is hailed as the most irreligious carnival. The celebration of Nabanna has been officially celebrated in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, since 1998. The National Nabanna Festival Board celebrates the Nabanna festival on the first Agrahayan every year.
Nabanna in present days
Nabanna festival is celebrated officially in Bangladesh and some parts of West Bengal. The people of Bangladesh are agricultural and straightforward. The Nabanna festival is held in Boishakh in northwestern India. They celebrate it after harvesting summer crops. This festival is also common in southern India.
Some tribes of Bangladesh also celebrate the festival while harvesting their crops. The Santals harvest their winter crops in Poush-Magh and celebrate the festival with seven nights of singing and drinking. The Usui tribe celebrates Mylucoma by welcoming Anandatri(food giver), Lakshmi.
The Moro tribe feeds everyone with new rice by sacrificing chickens at the Chamoinat festival. The Garo tribe celebrates the Onegala festival by drinking, dancing, and thanking for the new crops.
Rituals of Nabanna
Farmers observe some rituals at the Nabanna festival. They harvest the crops together and then take them home. Their wives prepare food from new rice and make a snack named ‘Chira.’ They also make Pithas and arrange cultural functions. There are many rituals in the Bengali community during the Nabanna festival.
In the northern districts, the son-in-law is welcomed with different kinds of Pithas and snacks. Farmers in Khulna and Sathkhira celebrate this festival with Moiona Shail rice. The Hazans of Netrokona prepare foods with Hatibanda and Mandira Midim rice. Besides, the Koch people of the Sherpur region also celebrate Nabanna with Purbini rice.
Can you join Nabanna?
Well. There are no particular events of the Nabanna festival in any specific place. It happens in different places on different dates because there is no particular date of harvesting crops. But, if you’re desperate to join this traditional fest, you may contact the Bangladesh Ministry of Cultural Affairs. They can help you with proper information about different Nabanna events and also other cultural events.
Cultural Importance of Nabanna
As Bangladesh is an agricultural country, we have a lot of hope for our farmers’ development. With pride and challenge, we can declare the Nabanna as National agriculture day to hear the demands of the farmers. It will allow us to take Bangladesh’s agriculture far away. Bangladesh’s agriculture will develop as much as we prioritize Nabanna festival.
We will get much more from agriculture than we invest in it. That is a mathematical investment and geometric achievement. And the possibility is infinite. Agriculture has no sector where there is no hidden potential, no promise. All we need is a non-stop motivation and a real-time supply of essential fuel and supplies.
Let us dedicate ourselves to the empowerment of farmers and the evolution of agriculture. Let’s stand up to the world with agriculture in Bengal, ensuring a lot of prosperity, more than any other sector or branch.
Importance of farmers
The number of farmers in Bangladesh is 80%. If they are not linked to the flow of development with the right status, then it is certain that the development of the country will not be of any use. All plans, programs, and activities will be disrupted. Rabindranath said, “We start; we don’t end.”
The Nabanna should not be limited to the formality of one day. It has to be effective. It is necessary to have all the sincere collective efforts. These ideas must be implemented if there is any kind of change in the climate. We have to ensure the progress of agriculture through the logical management of these.
Can Jatiya Pitha Utsab be considered similar to Nabanna in celebrating food and tradition?
The Jatiya Pitha Utsab tradition celebrates the diversity and richness of Bangladeshi cuisine, similar to Nabanna’s focus on food and tradition. Both festivals bring the community together to honor traditional dishes, showcasing the cultural significance of food and its role in preserving heritage.
How Is Nabanna Celebrated Compared to Holi?
Nabanna, the festival of harvest in West Bengal, is celebrated with great grandeur and enthusiasm, unlike Holi, the festival of colors. While Holi involves throwing colored powders and water, Nabanna is a time for feasting and cultural performances to honor the end of the harvest season.
Conclusion
The dignity and credit of farmers and agricultural people can be the strength of food and nutrition security for the future. The old and modern bridges are needed for a revival of the agricultural age. The celebration of Nabanna declares the existence of happiness, struggle, and achievement of those times.
This is why every year we should celebrate Nabanna and rice harvest with due respect on 1st Agrahayan. The day will be celebrated with the sincere efforts of all of us and in reflection, the agriculture of Bengal will prosper, and Bangladesh will be happy. Then we will definitely achieve our agricultural goals.
Learn about more Traditional Festivals in Bangladesh