Photo: BSS

By Muhammad Aminul Haque

SUNAMGANJ, March 17, 2026 (BSS) – ‘Maha Baruni and Ganga Snan’, a religious festival of Hindu community, began at the border-adjacent Jadukata River in Tahirpur. 

A three-day Baruni fair also began on the riverbank. Tens of thousands of devotees are expected to travel by road to attend the festival.

Organizers told BSS that this year, the main time for ‘Maha Baruni and the Ganga Snan’ has been fixed for Madhukrishna Trayodashi, from 5:30:59 am to 8:07:55 am on Tuesday during Shatabhisha nakshatra.

Local sources said that every year, this traditional religious festival of the northeastern region draws a large numbers of devotees from across the country to Tahirpur.

It is known that for centuries, at the same time, the area has hosted major religious gatherings for two communities. 

Alongside the bathing pilgrimage of Hindus, the Muslim community traditionally holds the annual Urs and fair of Hazrat Shah Arefin (R). 

This dual-religion tradition has been part of the region’s heritage. However, this year, out of respect for religious solemnity, the Urs and fair of Hazrat Shah Arefin (R) are not being held.

Authorities explained that this decision was made due to Shab-e-Qadr and approaching Eid-ul-Fitr.

Consequently, only the Maha Baruni bath and Baruni fair at the pilgrimage site are being held.

Hindu devotees say that taking a bath in the Jadukata River on Madhukrishna Trayodashi of Chaitra month is believed to wash away all sins. Each year, hundreds of thousands of people from across the country come to Jadukata or the pilgrimage site to bathe in hopes of spiritual merit. Many consider this river bath equivalent to bathing in the Ganga.

Tradition holds that around the mid-1400s, a yogi and Siddha of the then Laur Kingdom, Advaitacharya, performed ascetic practices to facilitate a Ganga bath for the Mother, bringing together waters from all pilgrimage rivers of the world into the flowing waters of Jadukata to fulfill this divine wish. 

The spiritual result of his practice is known as Baruni Yoga. Hindus believe that on Madhukrishna Trayodashi of Chaitra, the flows of seven sacred rivers, including Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati, converge at Jadukata (the pilgrimage site). Therefore, it is considered the greatest of all pilgrimage sites. Bathing here is believed to bring more spiritual merit than bathing in the Ganga itself.

Regarding the pilgrimage, concerns have been raised about the poor condition of various road sections. 

Kanan Bandhu Roy, general secretary of the management committee of the Advaita Akhrabari Temple, said that several stretches of the pilgrimage road are difficult to walk. Although the LGED had promised to make the roads passable before the festival, as of Sunday afternoon, the road from Dhanpur Bazaar in Bishwambharpur Upazila to Purangaon remained in a very fragile state, causing anxiety among the devotees, he said.

Considering the difficulties, the district administration has suggested using alternative waterways. 

Additionally, fares have been fixed for travel from Fatehpur Tak 170 per person by CNG, Taka 150 by rickshaw, Taka 200 by motorcycle, and Taka 100 per person by boat from Fatehpur to Binnakuli.

Tahirpur police station officer-in-charge Aminul Islam told BSS that to ensure a peaceful Maha Baruni bath and fair, a three-tier security arrangement has been put in place with police, BGB, and Ansar personnel. Plainclothes intelligence officers will also be deployed, a mobile court will operate under a magistrate, and RAB patrols will be in effect.

Tahirpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mehedi Hasan Manik said that to ensure overall safety, four levels of security have been established at the Rajargao Advaita Akhrabari Temple, both banks of the Jadukata River, the fairground on the sandbank, and the ISKCON temple area. Authorities are on alert to prevent theft, snatching, and other crimes, he said.

Deputy Commissioner Dr. Mohammad Ilias Mia said that comprehensive arrangements have been made by the administration for this festival.