Before, I go any further about the topic which I am about to share here. First, let me tell you what this "e" stands for and why it is importance here. Not to get drain, it is for an "epic" besides electronic.
As we all know that most of the countries are under lockdown conditions now due to sudden outbreak of the deadly corona virus or covid-19 pandemic which was first reported in Wuhan city of China in 2019. Later, spreaded in many countries including India which has raisen problems of migration both internally and externally, which is the main root of spreading the disease. Thus, many countries have declared total lockdown to shun from any sort of spread of the disease.
There are many Chakma brethren who are stranded outside home and are willing to rush to their dotted one and celebrate the festival. They want to get high and spend the days with their love one. Some are not happy to celebrate within the four walls as they are far distance away from home. But, I assure you that they also feel the same way as you do now but they want your safely more.
The Chakmas are the inhabitants of northeastern region of India, CHT region of Bangladesh and Arakan region of Burma (now Myanmar). They are also found in countries like Canada, France, USA and Australia. Wherever, we are but, we celebrate the Bizu together!
Therefore, without getting panic and disheartened in this darkest hour, let us all join hands together wherever we are celebrating the day while fighting the pandemic but remain safe and alive.
Meanwhile, let us all celebrate by sharing our message, views/opinions, pictures/videos or creating facebook frames as done by Sabugi this year. The list is not stopping. This will be not less than an epic!
This hour of crisis will remain as an scar in the human history which cost many thousands of lives, some due to ignorant and others due to negligency. Let us not get prey in this trap and overcome the disease as a whole.
A brief description about the Bizu:
"BIZU" is the most famous and colorful festival for the Chakmas. BIZU is a three days long colorful festival. For the Chakma, the first day's celebration starts with Phool Bizu. Bizu falls from 12th April to 14th April every year.
Phool Bizu: On this day, they get up early, clean their houses and decorate them with flowers. They also drop flowers in rivers, canals, and springs to seek blessings of God for peace and prosperity. In the evening, they go to Buddhist temples and light candles.
Mul Bizu: The Second day's celebration starts with is Mul Bizu. On this day, they prepare a special food item popularly known as “PAJON TON”. It is cooked with several different kinds of items collected from the forest.They also offer different kinds of traditional foods like pitha, light meal consists of sugar, curd, rice, jaggery and soft drinks. The last day of the festival is known as Gojche Pojche Din or Bizu.
Gojche Pojche Bizu: On this day, people go house to house and also go to Buddhist Temple nearby to pray for happiness in the next year. During the festival, different cultural programs, including Chakma folk dance, the folk song is performed to highlight the indigenous people's distinctive cultural heritage. Patturu-turu!!!