Integrating alien festivals into local system

The New Year on the Gregorian calendar is welcomed with the clock striking midnight sharp. It is because, unlike the counting of a day at dawn when the sun rises in this part of the world, the West considers the beginning of the day right after zero hour. This is the reason behind elaborate preparation for celebration of 31st December so that people can be witness to the very moment of transition to the New Year. A momentous event no doubt in the life of an individual, communities and nations, it has to be observed as colourfully as possible.
Primarily a Christian tradition, the event, however, takes different forms depending on the local cultures, some of which have Pagan associations. In Bangladesh, the 31st December celebration has its late entry but did not take long to transform into a carnival of sort. It is because of the unruly behaviour of a section of youths with no respect for the country's own tradition and customs.
This has prompted the police to impose some restrictions on public gatherings, fireworks and flying or sky lanterns (fanus). The flying lanterns in particular have the potential to cause fire and even bring to a halt the movement of the metro train. Actually, this happened when a few of the flying lanterns landed straight on the electric cables of the metro rail last year. Earlier, some untoward incidents involving sex abuse of girls and women at the hands of revellers at different venues of public gatherings including the open space before the Dhaka University's Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) were reported. Insane and unruly behaviour by drunken youths driving cars dangerously in Gulshan and Banani area also made news.
In New York, the Times Square's celebration also sees revellers gathering in their thousands but such ugly incidents hardly ever take place. Then what is permissible in open societies in the West cannot be the norm here because there both parties may have consensual affairs but here it is sexual assaults from one side. The Bangalees have their traditional celebration of Pahela Baishak which has always remained serene and devoid of any excesses. The Chhayanaut has lent to it a touch of refined culture and the Faculty of Fine Arts, the University of Dhaka has added colour to the celebration.
There is nothing wrong to add a festival ---no matter even if it is imported from other cultures --- to the list of annual celebrations. But it must conform to the local culture, custom and tradition. The fireworks are not out of steps so long as those do not continue for hours to disturb neighbours. It should be a brief affair and must be culminated within the shorted possible time. Before this, songs, music and even dance shows can be arranged for entertainment of the gathering public at different venues. But the question is, who will guarantee peaceful and sober celebration of such events?
The Bengal classical music festival held in the army stadium demonstrated how even youths listened to the highest form of music with rapt attention sacrificing their sleep for nights together. Band music shows have been enjoyed much the same way. But whenever there is a festival in an open space and without ticket, it is altogether a different proposition. Yet with adequate security, small public gatherings can be allowed on the New Year's Eve. Gradually people will learn how to integrate an alien festival into the nation's own system of celebrations.
After all, today's youths have not many avenues to release their pent-up emotions and passions. Songs, music, dance, drama and cinema are the media for minds to overcome stress and anxiety. Much of the social aberration, including drug addiction, has its origin in the absence of healthy and refined entertainment.
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