Photo : BSS

Azad Ruhul Amin

BAGERHAT, Nov 5, 2025 (BSS) - The three-day traditional 'Ras Purnima, Puja and Punyasnan' festival of Hindus at Dublar Char, Alorkol in the deep Sundarbans, a remote coastal region of Bangladesh, concluded this morning. 

In the early morning, men and women sit in rows along the seashore for about five kilometers and pray to the deity with flowers, fruits, dabs, bananas and puja items. 

The sky and air of the coast become filled with an emotional atmosphere of bowing with folded hands, placing hands at the feet of the guru and receiving blessings, and the tears of devotees.  For the lakhs of devotees present, it was a unique moment of heavenly feeling. It is believed that bathing in the sea can atone for sins and gain virtue. 

In addition to the belief that bathing in the sea can atone for sins and gain virtue, devotees and tourists from around 15 countries including Japan and Canada participated in this grand festival.

Bangla Academy Deputy Director Dr. Saymon Zakaria officially inaugurated the Ras Mela on Tuesday morning. In the afternoon, thousands of men and women, including a delegation from the Matua community, participated in a huge rally. After the rally on the seashore, worship and worship continued from afternoon to night at the permanent temple. Dancing and singing to the tune of dhak, dhol, tabla and sanai created a wonderful festive atmosphere across the seashore. 

Dublar Char, illuminated by solar lamps and the light of the full moon, seems to be a piece of heaven on earth. Devotees believe that “if you can spend a night here, this life is blessed.”

 Hundreds of pilgrims reached Dublar Char in trawlers and launches from Monday morning under the security of forest guards and coast guards. This morning too, the pilgrims were brought back to Chandpai and Dhangmari stations under the same security arrangements. 

Sunny Tours and Travels Director Md. Sohrab Hossain told BSS that they have been bringing tourists to the tourist center for 25 years. This time too, 50 pilgrims from Dhaka arrived by launch. 

The three-day festival was so smooth that it had never been seen before. Everything was neat, clean and tidy. Such an arrangement by the forest department is really commendable and we are also very happy to see this beautiful management. 

East Sundarbans Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Md.  Rezaul Karim Chowdhury told BSS, “The Ras Mela, puja-archana and holy bath were conducted with the participation of local and foreign devotees in a very orderly and religiously solemn atmosphere. No untoward incident took place.”

He further said that besides maintaining law and order around the Ras festival, the Forest Department and Coast Guard were also keeping a close watch on pirates and forest robbers. 

This traditional Ras Mela of the Sundarbans is held every year on the full moon of the last day of ‘Kartik’ or the first half of ‘Agrahayan’ in Bangla calender. Devotees believe that spiritual purification and perfection can be achieved through Ras Puja and holy bath.