// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the Shakrain kite say? I'm experiencing a little "pull".
| Shakrain Festival | |
|---|---|
 Fire work during the festival | |
| Also called | Poush Sankranti |
| Type | Traditional |
| Date | January 14 or 15 |
Shakrain Festival (Bengali: সাকরাইন; also known as Kite Festival and Ghuri Utsob) is an annual Bengali celebration in Dhaka, Bangladesh, observed with the flying of kites.[1] The celebration is uniquely celebrated by the Bengali Dhakaiya community based on Old Dhaka. It occurs at the end of Poush, the ninth month of the Bengali calendar (January 14 or 15 on a leap year, according to the Gregorian calendar). The festival coincides with the holiday of Poush Sankranti.[1] This day is known as Poush Sankranti (Bengali: পৌষ সংক্রান্তি; End of Poush).[2]
Shakrain Festival is one of the oldest annual festivals of Bangladesh. It is a famous and a significant event in Bangladeshi culture. It is the symbol of unity and friendship in Bangladesh.
Etymology
[edit]Shakrain is derived from Bengali Shonkranti (সংক্রান্তি) which itself is derived from Sanskrit Saṅkrānti (संक्रान्ति),[3] meaning "to move", "movement", "the passing of",[4] or "astrological passage".[5]: 70 The term refers to the movement of the sun from one position to another in the zodiac.[6] However, Poush Sankranti or Makar Sankranti marks the transition of the sun from the zodiac of Sagittarius (dhanu) to Capricorn (makara).[7][8] This transition coincides with the sun's movement from south to north.[9]
Events
[edit]Shakrain is celebrated mostly around the southern part of Dhaka city.[1][10] As part of the celebration, colourful kites are flown high from the rooftops around the area in the afternoon.[1][11] It often takes the form of kite fighting, in which participants try to snag each other's kites or cut other kites down.[11]
Customs
[edit]When night falls, fireworks light up the sky of old Dhaka[citation needed]. Flame-eaters also gather on the roofs to entertain people with their skills of manipulating fire.[1] Music awakens the whole town, while people keep dancing from their hearts[citation needed]. Every household competes to see who can cook the largest variety of pithas, and after midnight, there are games similar to dice games that are played, but with fruits.[citation needed] A variety of sweets and traditional foods, especially kacchi biryani, a signature dish of Old Dhaka, are also served on this festive day.[citation needed]
Gallery
[edit]
Firework during the festival
Firework during the festival
See also
[edit]- Culture of Dhaka
- Dhakaiyas
- Magh Bihu, a festival in Assam which occurs around the same time
- Uttarayana
- Makar Sankranti
- International Kite Festival in Gujarat – Uttarayan
- Lohri
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 "Shakrain festival". The Daily Star. 19 January 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
- ↑ "Tales of Shakrain". Dhaka Tribune. 2019-01-12. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
- ↑ Monier-Williams, Monier (1899). "Saṃkrānti". A Sanskrit-English Dictionary: Etymologically and Philologically Arranged with Special Reference to Cognate Indo-European Languages. Oxford: Clarendon Press. OCLC 685239912.
- ↑ Epstein, N., and Arvigo, R. (2021). Spiritual Bathing: Healing Rituals and Traditions from Around the World (eBook). (n.p.): Echo Point Books & Media, LLC. 192 pp.
- ↑ Bartlett, S. (2015). Spellcraft for a Magical Year: Rituals and Enchantments for Prosperity, Power, and Fortune. United States: Quarto Publishing Group USA. 224 pp. ISBN 978-162-7-88297-2
- ↑ "Sankranti 2021: Complete list of dates, tithi, and importance". India Today. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ↑ Singh, K. V. (2015-11-25). Hindu Rites and Rituals: Origins and Meanings. Penguin UK. p. 33. ISBN 978-93-85890-04-8. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
- ↑ James G. Lochtefeld (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A–M. Rosen Publishing Group. p. 411. ISBN 978-0-8239-2287-1. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
- ↑ Melton, J. Gordon (2011). Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations. ABC-CLIO. p. 547. ISBN 978-1-59884-205-0. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
- ↑ "The Kite Festival". Daily Sun. 20 January 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - 1 2 "Kite Festival during Makar Sankranti". Demotix. 15 January 2012. Archived from the original on May 8, 2013.
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