Changkran Poi by Moinul Alam                                 

The traditional solar calendar subsistent in the sub-continent and neighboring countries like Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Kampuchea, Sri Lanka and others, is also followed to observe Changkran Poi. Changkran Poi—the couple of words perhaps has derived from the Sanskrit words ‘Sangkranti Parva’, meaning the festival of Bishuba Sangkranti or Vernal Equinox, which falls around March 21 of a year. This festival held in the conjunction of the old and the new year plays a very significant role in the lives of the followers of Hinduism, Buddhism, and other pantheistic beliefs including those practiced by many aboriginal communities of people.

The Sabek Bilchhori Fair is growing day year by year in respect of both in number of participants and ever larger space it is occupying. People from all the neighboring communities including Mros, Marmas, other aboriginal groups, Bengali Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims, join in the fair with equal enthusiasm. Though the fair is mainly religious, but it has assumed a universal character, a great annual event that draws all the jovial people around the area, irrespective of cast, color or creed.

Of course the flowing time has brought many changes in the face of the fair. Once a fair held in the remote corner of Chittagong Hill Tracts, hidden amid the barriers of hills and forests, are now well-known even by the town folks. Pilgrims once came in the keyang and the fair simply on foot. They walked miles after miles carrying their heavy thurongs (cane-weaved baskets hanging on their backs) and on the way, crossed hills after hills and deep forests before the reaching the fair ground.

Photo-artist Mainul Alam also have taken the privilege of this easier communication, and visited the temple and the fair a number of times. He has taken innumerable snapshots during the visits. He tried his best to see and record the people, rituals and festivities as best as he can. Scores of such sights and many more others can be witnessed in his photographs. Yet it seems some of the age-old rituals and practices might avert his eyes. He always has taken a keen interest on the lives of the aboriginals, especially of the Mros, as a heartening subject of his photography. This endeavor of him has produced a vast collection of images of the lifestyle and localities of the Mros, and of the great festival of Changkran Poi and Sabek Bilchhori Fair. Some day in the near or far future, the total scenario of the fair and the festival may become changed. They may take new looks or may be lost forever, as many fairs and festivals have already lost in our country with the progress of time. In such a case, Mr. Alam’s photographs will play a great part in having a complete conception of the fair and festival, as he himself witnessed through the lenses. These rare photographs can truly be considered as a magnificent collection of records of our colorful and multi facial indigenous culture and heritage.