Festivities vs misguided celebration

Last week, while sitting by the Brahmaputra River in Mymensingh, I noticed a shocking scene. A group of young men tied a boy by his hands and feet and threw him into the river. His torn shirt and face were smeared with raw eggs, cake and flour. It was obvious that it was the boy's birthday-but why is such a cruel practice still so popular in modern times?

For several years, a disturbing trend has emerged among students. On a boy's birthday, his peers often tie him to a tree or bamboo and cover him with eggs, flour and other humiliating substances. While girls may sometimes escape the worst of it, they too often face smearing with colours, flour or raw eggs.

Some call this a "terrorist-style" celebration, while others argue it is done for fun. However, a video of the incident recently went viral on social media, prompting concerned citizens and parents to speak out. Many parents refuse to accept it as harmless fun, seeing it instead as a sign of social and moral degradation.

Have we ever stopped to ask whether this is truly funny? Such celebrations reflect a disturbing lack of culture and common sense. They frequently result in injuries and visits to the doctor, turning what should be a day of joy into one of humiliation and harassment.

The younger generation must end this practice immediately.

Ahamed Junaeid Tonmoy

Student, Ananda Mohan College

Mymensingh

inbox.junaeid@gmail.com