Tanchangya/Festival/Bisu Mela
Bisu Mela (Bisu Festival) is one the biggest cultural festival for Tanchangya people. In fact, it is observed mostly who follow the lunar year in the Asian continent. It falls in the month of April,the end of (old) following year and till the first day of New Year. For Tanchangya people Bisu Mela is a festival for enjoying and relaxation for the people. It is Bisu Mela in Tanchangya language. Particularly, every villages the people enjoy with grandeur festival.
Three Days of Bisu
[edit | edit source]Traditionally Bisu mela is enjoyed for three days. But in fact, people observed more than three days. They give in technical sense into three names for the three days.
Phul Bisu
[edit | edit source]It is the first day of Bisu festival which begins from the last second day of the previous year. During this day people go down to the rivers and flow down the flowers and light candles. They believe that by means of offering flowers and candles to the Mother Ganga (river) they can live with healthy and wealthy in their family by driving away all the misfortunes. Indeed, this believe is handed down from Hinduism.
Mul Bisu
[edit | edit source]It is the second day of Bisu festival in the last day of the following year. In this days people cook a variety types of vegetables and even they said that one hundred and-eight kinds. After cooking they invite to the guests and serve them. There is also a belief that by eating the varieties of vegetables curry that they can cure many diseases. They make many kinds of traditional foods known as "Pason Chon" to serve to the guests whoever visit to their houses.
Guchye-puya Bisu
[edit | edit source]It is the third day of Bisu festival in the first day of the New Year (Bhoisak of Bengali year). This is the last day of the festival. People used to go to Temples and they observed Buddha Puja etc. There is an idea behind it after the festivals are over they used to drinking wine in the evening and the people cannot lift up their head which is like lying down for the literal meaning. Therefore, they called it as Guchye-puya-Bisu.
Pason Chon
[edit | edit source]In this days people cook a variety types of vegetables even one hundred and-eight kinds. After cooking they invite to the guests and serve them. There is also a belief that by eating the varieties of vegetables curry (Pason Chon) they can cure many diseases.
Dress
[edit | edit source]People wear with their nice traditional dress and visit to the monastery. They take five precepts and do many good deeds by cleaning the monastery, pagoda and the surrounding of the village path. Some people observe the eight precepts and they spent their time by listening Dhamma discourse, and meditation.
Bisu mela is a traditional and sacred festival for Tanchangya people. It comes only once in a year. After enjoying the festival people long to come the Bisu mela once again.