Baha Parab, also known as Bahabanga or the flower festival, was celebrated in Santal-dominated areas of Gobindaganj in Gaibandha on Tuesday, with a call to the government to promote the cultural heritage and tradition of the Santals.
Men, women and children of the Santal community dressed in traditional attire rendered songs and performed dances and welcomed the spring to mark the festival.
Marking the festival, Abalamban Foundation, a voluntary organisation which works for the welfare and rights of the Santal community, chalked out elaborate programmes.
The programmes included bringing out rally, rendering songs, performing dance and holding cultural events.
A discussion was also organised on the premises of Adventist Pre-Primary School under Kamdia union of the upazila in cooperation with European Union, Free Press Unlimited and Article 19.
Gobindaganj upazila nirbahi officer Syeda Yasmin Sultana attended the function as chief guest.
Journalist Amitav Das Himun, executive director of Abalamban Foundation Prabir Chakrabarty, chief editor of IP News Anthony Rema, Santal leaders Bitish Saren, Sabina Tudu, Surovi Mardy, among others, attended the programme.
The speakers demanded the government to take necessary steps to promote the culture of the Santals and protect their language, heritage and tradition.