This time the ship floats festival in Ramu in the bond of harmony

News Desk: On the last day of the two-day festival of Pravarana Purnima, one of the religious festivals of Buddhists, the ship-floating festival has been completed in the Bankkhali river on the east side of Ramu Fakira Bazar in Cox's Bazar. On Thursday (October 21) afternoon, a floating ship was organized under the slogan 'Let the communal darkness be removed by the light of lanterns on the ship of harmony'.

The exceptional Anand Yajna was inaugurated by the top leaders of the district. It can be seen on the ground that a total of eight kalpa ships were floated in the river from East Rajarkul, Hazarikul, Haitupi Rakhine Para, Haitupi Baruapara, Dwip-Srikul, Jadipara and Merangloa villages of Ramu. One ship at a time made of bamboo, cane, wood and colored paper on seven or eight boats. Attractive construction style easily catches everyone's eye. Each ship has more than one mic. Children, teenagers and youths danced on the ship to the beat of various musical instruments including drums, brass, mandira and got a different kind of joy. Going from one side of the ship to the other, Mike went to perform various activities including Buddhist kirtan and dance. Arpan Barua, general secretary of the Jahaj Bhasa Utsav Udjapan Parishad, said, "The way Bengalis forgot everything in 1971 and jumped for independence." The perpetrators are hurting that tradition. In that context, people of all faiths, including the Buddhist community, took an oath to break the black teeth of the instigators in the presence of people of all faiths at this shipwreck festival.

Ramu Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Pranoy Chakma said strict security measures were taken around the shipwreck festival. Although the festival originally belongs to the Buddhist community, the presence of people of all religions is noticeable here. Which turned into a gathering of people of all religions. Cox's Bazar-3 MP Saimum Sarwar Kamal was the chief guest at the function presided over by Dalim Barua, President of Central Prabarana Purnima and Kalpa Jahaj Bhasa Celebration Parishad. Also present were Bhadanta Shilpriya Mahather, Acting Principal, Ramu Central Boundary Mahavihara, Supta Bhushan Barua, Vice Chairman, Buddhist Religious Welfare Trust, Regan Chakma, Assistant Commissioner (Land), Ramu and Anwarul Hossain, Officer-in-Charge (OC), Ramu Police Station. Although the festival has been held in Ramu for half a century, it has not been celebrated for two years after the 2012 attack on a Buddhist village.

It is being celebrated again every year after two years. With the participation of Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim communities, the festival once again turned into a non-communal gathering.