Poush Parbon flickers as a reminiscent of the vibrant festival once it was

Poush toder daak diyechhe, aay re chole, aay aay aay/ Daala je taar bhoreche aaj paaka phosole, mori haai haai haai (Poush has called you, come, come soon/the basket of it is full of ripened crops, what bliss it is!). No one else other than the bard of seasons and Nature could glorify the first month of winter more. It is a perfect picture of vast paddy field that ends in distant horizon. The metaphors of sunrays as gold that spreads on the Earth imagined here as the loose end of a shari instantly transport one to a captivating and enchanting world some villages still retain. When Rabindranath composed this song way back in 1923, the tranquillity of village life pulsated with the abundance of crop fields as far as eyes could see. Today the picture has changed a lot with the introduction of high yielding varieties of paddy and Aman variety is not cultivated in many areas of Bangladesh and West Bengal.

But the nostalgic Poush has not disappeared from the collective memory. In old Dhaka, its inhabitants observe Shakrain as a kite-flying festival. Of late, colourful fireworks light up the evening sky on the bank of the Buriganga. Sky lanterns are also flown to create a magical panoramic sight in the sky. But this kite-flying festival is not a favourite with the rest of the rural Bangla. They have traditionally observed Poush Sankranti in their own way. The followers of Sanatan religion in particular make it a really festive day. On this day, they worship the mother Earth and it is called 'Bastu puja'. Bastu means earth or soil that forms the basement on which human beings live.

There is an elaborate preparation for this. Although the enthusiasm and festivities surrounding the occasion has dimmed, it has not disappeared altogether. In the past, a huge bonfire was lit in an open space the night before to mark the place of Bastu Puja. It was the job of the teenage or adult boys who gathered together to create the bonfire on plain land adjacent to each homestead. They used to chant some locally invented rhymes while the paddy stalks used to burn. It is still done in a limited way. On removal of the smouldered ashes, a small rectangular (usually one foot by one and a half feet) platform of clay was made. On this platform three branches of jhika or Indian ash tree of two to three feet high are stuck side by side with equal distance in between. On the base of each thin branch three clay balls are placed. But what really gives the ritual its real attraction is the fashioning of a life-size crocodile out of clay. It is shown to be climbing from a pool nearby.

A priest arrives there to chant mantra and offer prayer to the mother Earth. The various condiments and material such as incense and lamp are there to give a unique atmosphere to this worship in the open. This ritual is completed usually in the first half of the day but not later than 2 pm. Then another part of this festival is to feed cake to cattle. Actually the cattle are not fed cakes, but round cake marks with rice powder mixed in water are imprinted all over the body of bulls and cows. Before doing so, the reluctant animals are thoroughly cleaned from a bath they are subjected to. In the afternoon, cow race or horse race or both were held in some designated areas. Little is heard these days about such competitions arranged on this occasion.

If observance in the first half of the day was religious in nature, the second half is open to all. An array of traditional cakes are prepared and offered to anyone happen to pass by. These days such generous offering may not be there but at least relatives and neighbours are entertained with the sumptuous dishes. This is the time when the best quality molasses is available. It has its distinct flavour and cakes made with it have an excellent flavour and smell.

Known as Poush Parbon, this festival is no longer confined to any particular religious community. In certain areas, fish fairs are arranged where son-in-laws are invited to purchase as large a fish as possible. Thus the festivities take a new dimension to the cake-all entertainment. A fish fair also highlights the Bangalees' love for fish. Both cakes and fish are their favourite dishes. Festivals such as this are reminiscent of a rich culture and tradition the Bangalees developed throughout the centuries.