Devotees look to Rash Mela starting Nov 19
Monday, 15 November 2010
Our Correspondent
KHULNA, Nov 14: The traditional Rash Mela will begin from November 19 at Alorkol of Dublarchar adjacent to the largest mangrove forest Sundarbans under Mongla Thana of Bagerhat district.
It is expected that a large number of visitors from home and abroad will attend the three-day fair that will end on November 21.
The Rash Mela that has been taking place during the full moon of the Bengali month of Kartik every year. The fair is considered as a big religious festival of the Hindu community. The oldest Buddha Bihar, Sree Mangal Bihar in the southern part of the country at Kuakata is another attraction for the tourists of both home and abroad.
Worshippers perform their holy bath in saline water of the Bay of Bengal during the hundred years old traditional Rash festival. The visitors and worshippers come to the Mela by launch, trawler and boat.
It is alleged that Rash Mela has now a turned into deer hunting festival for some during the period. A number of people come for deer hunting on the pretext of joining the occasion.
Poachers are also hunting deer with the help of law-enforcing agencies, although firearms are prohibited in the Mela.
The poachers also resort to other techniques like snare, trap, poisonous food etc. for hunting.
The officials claimed they had taken foolproof security measures for the devotees and visitors this year, allowing them eight entry routes to go to the festival site. The entry points are Burigoalini, Kadamtala, Kaikhali Station, Kayra and Nalian Station under the Sundarban west division and Chandpai station, Bogi-Boleshwar and Sarankhola station under the Sundarban east division.
Members of the Navy, Coastguard, Rapid Action Battalion, police, Bangladesh Rifles and forest division have already reached Alorkol and the surrounding areas to ensure security to the devotees and visitors. Besides, 40 teams of the forest division will be on patrol in different forest areas during the time.
KHULNA, Nov 14: The traditional Rash Mela will begin from November 19 at Alorkol of Dublarchar adjacent to the largest mangrove forest Sundarbans under Mongla Thana of Bagerhat district.
It is expected that a large number of visitors from home and abroad will attend the three-day fair that will end on November 21.
The Rash Mela that has been taking place during the full moon of the Bengali month of Kartik every year. The fair is considered as a big religious festival of the Hindu community. The oldest Buddha Bihar, Sree Mangal Bihar in the southern part of the country at Kuakata is another attraction for the tourists of both home and abroad.
Worshippers perform their holy bath in saline water of the Bay of Bengal during the hundred years old traditional Rash festival. The visitors and worshippers come to the Mela by launch, trawler and boat.
It is alleged that Rash Mela has now a turned into deer hunting festival for some during the period. A number of people come for deer hunting on the pretext of joining the occasion.
Poachers are also hunting deer with the help of law-enforcing agencies, although firearms are prohibited in the Mela.
The poachers also resort to other techniques like snare, trap, poisonous food etc. for hunting.
The officials claimed they had taken foolproof security measures for the devotees and visitors this year, allowing them eight entry routes to go to the festival site. The entry points are Burigoalini, Kadamtala, Kaikhali Station, Kayra and Nalian Station under the Sundarban west division and Chandpai station, Bogi-Boleshwar and Sarankhola station under the Sundarban east division.
Members of the Navy, Coastguard, Rapid Action Battalion, police, Bangladesh Rifles and forest division have already reached Alorkol and the surrounding areas to ensure security to the devotees and visitors. Besides, 40 teams of the forest division will be on patrol in different forest areas during the time.