With Bengali New Year 1431 just around the corner, students and faculty members of Dhaka University’s Fine Arts Faculty (Charukola) are immersed in last-minute preparations for the much-anticipated Mangal Shobhajatra parade, slated to take place on Sunday morning.
For weeks now, volunteers have been toiling day and night within the faculty premises, meticulously crafting large and small motifs, masks, and decorative items to adorn the parade participants.
The significance of the Mangal Shobhajatra was acknowledged by Unesco on November 30, 2016, recognizing it as an intangible cultural heritage due to its cultural uniqueness.
During a recent visit to the Fine Arts Faculty, volunteers were observed adding final touches to elaborate motifs of Asian white elephants and traditional Tepa Putul (hand-pressed clay dolls) on the ground floor. Meanwhile, others were engrossed in the intricate task of crafting paper masks and enhancing the structures with vibrant paint, all in a bid to elevate the procession’s charm and allure.
The premises witnessed a steady stream of visitors from various age groups, including two foreigners captivated by a striking piece of graffiti, capturing the essence of the preparations in photographs.
In addition to DU students and faculty, participants in the Mangal Shobhajatra will encompass members of diverse cultural organizations and individuals from all walks of life.
The Mangal Shobhajatra tradition traces its roots back to 1985 in Jessore, initiated by former DU fine arts students such as Mahbub Jamal Shamim and Hironmoy Chadra, through the cultural organization Charupith. Since then, the procession has evolved into a grand annual event, officially named “Mangal Shobhajatra” in 1996, symbolizing solidarity and protest against contemporary social and national issues.
This cherished tradition has not only flourished in Bangladesh but has also spread its vibrant essence to districts across the country and even to places like Bangaon and Santiniketan in West Bengal, India, where Mangal Shobhajatra processions are now observed with fervor and zeal.
