Mahanabami in Bangladesh

When did the Mahanabami in Bangladesh start?

The first recorded date of Mahanabami in Bangladesh being celebrated on October 11 was in the year 1975.

About Mahanabami in Bangladesh Holiday

The festival of Mahanabami is one of the most important dates in the Bangladesh calendar, occurring annually in the Spring and celebrated with enthusiasm and joy throughout the country. Known as the 'Kingship Day', it honors the epic Mahabharata, which is a principal component of Hinduism in Bangladesh. On this special day, people set aside their work and come together to enjoy feasting and other festive activities, as well as to pay homage to the values, heritage and culture of the country.

Mahanabami marks the start of a long weekend, as it takes place on a Friday. It provides the perfect opportunity to be with family and friends and to make memories that will last for many years to come. People exchange gifts, decorate their houses with lights, and visit temples to offer prayers. On this special occasion, special meals and sweets are also prepared to pay homage to the gods and goddesses. Colors, sounds and smells of joyous celebrations fill the air as nothing marks the start of a festive holiday season in Bangladesh like the festivities of Mahanabami.

And not just that, the cultural significance of this festival makes Mahanabami truly a special holiday. It is a time for all Bangladeshis to come together, celebrate their past, fulfill religious customs, and honour the values of their country. What better way to celebrate such a significant day than to join hands in harmony and love!

Mahanabami – Exploring the Colorful Holiday of Bangladesh

Mahanabami, also known as Shoilo proshti in Bangladesh, is a highly colorful and vibrant festival celebrated by Bangladeshis all over the world. The festivities start on the 10th of Shravan, the 9th month according to the Hindu calendar, and goes on for five days. Nowadays, the government of Bangladesh has declared the festival an official national holiday. This wonderful festival brings with it immense joy and many beautiful traditions that have been passed down for generations. From the traditional meals cooked on this day to its historical significance in the country, let’s get to know this five-day festival closer and explore its regional variations and modern day observances.

History and Origin

Mahanabami is the most important festival in the Hindu tradition in Bangladesh. It has its roots in Mythology, where it is believed to commemorate King Viswamitra’s grandson, Mahabhishak’s birthday. The Hindu scriptures Narada Pancharatra (dated from 200-900 BCE), describes precisely how Mahanabami is meant to be celebrated.

Mahanabami is celebrated by lighting traditional clay oil lamps. This signifies the advent of Makar Sankranti, the day celebrated across the subcontinent, which has now been declared the national harvest festival. Auspicious activities like bathing in the Ganges and offering food to the Brahmin priests are commonly performed by the devotees.

The earliest references to Mahanabami come from the ancient Sanskrit literature. It appears in the Ramayana, a Hindu scripture dated approximately 1000 BC. In this epic, Mahanabami is mentioned in relation to two important events – Ravana’s abduction of Sita and Rama’s coronation. The festival is also mentioned in the Mahabharata, the great Hindu epic written around 500 BC.

Mahanabami’s origin in the context of the country of Bangladesh originates in the Pala Empire in the 8th Century AD. Buddhist Palads, who lived in Bangladesh, believed that it was a day dedicated to Buddha. During the Muslim rule of the Bengal Sultanate and Mughals, the festival of Mahanabami became secular in practice, being celebrated by Hindus and Muslims alike.

With the advent of British rule in the 18th century, Mahanabami was again revived and made into a public holiday. This has continued to be observed to date, but with the changing times, new traditions have been added to the age-old celebrations of Mahanabami in Bangladesh.

Significance and Meaning

Apart from being an auspicious festival, Mahanabami is also symbolic as it marks the kickoff of the start of the monsoon season. This means that it marks the time when the rainy season starts in Bangladesh, which is much needed for farmers and fishermen. Hence, returning thanks and celebrating the bounty of Nature is a very important part of the celebrations.

Additionally, Mahanabami is a highly spiritual festival that signifies the victory of good over evil. It is believed that when Ravana was defeated by Lord Rama, people celebrated the day noisily, filling the skies with fireworks and bursting crackers. People also light Diya, or small lamps, that are placed at the entrance of the home, to thank the Gods and Goddess.

Traditions and Celebrations

Mahanabami is a festival that is celebrated to the fullest and the various traditions and customs that are associated with it make it exciting to observe. On Mahanabami day, people take a bath in the morning and dress in their finest. A traditional and sumptuous meal is cooked for the day. It is made up of rice, dal, vegetables, fish, and a special sweet dish called Payesh.

The traditional practice of immersion of Mahabhishak’s idol is also an important aspect of Mahanabami celebrations. Another traditional activity is the preparation of Kola, a sweet, round dish which is mostly prepared from wheat flour, sugar, and coconut. The traditional song, Durga-Ma-Durga is sung, and the deities are worshipped with great devotion. Fireworks are also seen in the night and traditional dances are performed.

Geographical Spread

Mahanabami is a widely celebrated festival in Bangladesh and is observed most prominently in the North and West Bengal areas. The festivities in Chittagong, located in the south, are different from the rest of the country. Due to its proximity to the Bay of Bengal, the Mahanabami celebrations involve floating custom-made boats which are decorated with flowers, candles, and other decorative items, on the Dhurdien River. In the northwest, the celebration of Mahanabami is more elaborate and involves lots of singing and dancing.

These regional variations have added a unique charm to the festival and made it more enjoyable. As Mahanabami is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm all over Bangladesh, it has become a much-loved festival in the country.

Modern Day Observations

In modern times, Mahanabami has become a very popular holiday. Many people also visit the temples of Sri Rama, Lakshmana, mother Sita, Lord Vishnu, and Goddess Durga to offer prayer and seek blessings. The streets are usually filled with people and there is much merriment and joy.

In recent years, Mahanabami has been observed in grand style in almost every city of Bangladesh. Traditional food is cooked, songs are sung and prayers are offered. Large pandals, decorated with lights and colorful decorations are erected. People offer special prayers to the deities to seek their blessings and joy.

Interesting Facts or Trivia

1. Mahanabami is celebrated on the 10th day of Shravan and every year falls on a different date.
2. Mahanabami is celebrated as a five-day long festival in Bangladesh.
3. On Mahanabami, people float clay lamps on the water to mark the advent of the monsoons.
4. Special prayers are offered on Mahanabami for the health and long life of people.
5. The traditional festive food made for the festival includes dishes like fish curry, vegetable curry, payesh, and pitha.
6. A special sweet made of wheat flour, sugar, and coconut, called Kola, is prepared on this day.
7. Mahanabami is celebrated to commemorate the defeat of Ravana, the demon king from the Hindu epic Ramayana, by Lord Rama.
8. During Mahanabami, traditional dances such as Raas and Kumari dances are performed with great enthusiasm.
9. This festival is also known as Shoilo Proshti.
10. Mahanabami is celebrated in all the provinces of Bangladesh and many other countries as well.

Holiday Wishes

1. Wishing you a wonderful and joyous Mahanabami!
2. Wishing you peace, joy, and health this Mahanabami!
3. Wishing you and your family a blessed Mahanabami!
4. May this Mahanabami bring you lots of blessings and happiness!
5. Wishing you a very happy Mahanabami full of love and joy!

Holiday Messages

1. Wishing you a Mahanabami filled with love and joy and a lifetime of togetherness.
2. Today, may the divine blessings of Lord Rama bring peace, good health, and joy into your home. Have a blessed Mahanabami!
3. As we celebrate Mahanabami, I wish you a life filled with prosperity and knowledge.
4. On the auspicious day of Mahanabami, I wish you many happy moments that make it a day to remember.
5. Here’s wishing you a blissful Mahanabami that brings with it success and prosperity in every aspect of life.

Holiday Quotes

1. “Let this Mahanabami bring you joy and peace today and always.” – Unknown
2. “May you be filled with the divine benediction of the gods and goddesses on the occasion of Mahanabami.” – Unknown
3. “Might you be filled with the spirit of the gods and goddesses and treated to joyous and blessed moments.” – Unknown
4. “On the special and auspicious occasion of Mahanabami, I wish you well being, peace, and joy.” – Unknown
5. “As the sun rises on the auspicious occasion of Mahanabami, may your home be filled with love, peace, and prosperity.” – Unknown

Other Popular Holiday Info

Apart from the 5 days of Mahanabami, another important aspect of the festival is the Bishunpur, or Night of Shiva, which takes place on the fourth day of the festival. On this day a grand procession is taken out, with the painting of Lord Shiva, Rama-Lakshmana and Goddess Durga on a palanquin. Believers from all over gather to witness the grand spectacle and cheer as the procession circles the city.

The festival of Mahanabami also has a close association with food. Traditional dishes like pitha, payesh, kola, and dal are cooked for the festival. In the south-western part of Bangladesh, specially prepared desserts and sweets called Khaldar are made from buffaloes’ milk. These are then offered to the gods and goddesses on the fifth and final day of the festival.

Mahanabami is a wonderful way for people to come together, create special memories, and celebrate the blessings of Nature. This festival is a rich amalgamation of old world religious practices and contemporary celebrations, which adds to its beauty. To all the people celebrating Mahanabami this year, here’s wishing you health, joy, and prosperity!