Ajay Kumar at 09:54, 15 August 2023

2023-08-15T09:54:11Z

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{{Orphan|date=August 2023}}

{{Culture of Bengal}}
'''Bera Bhasan (বেরাভাসান)''' Festival, also known as the '''Khoja Khizri''' festival, is a festival that dates back to the [[Nawabs of Bengal]] and is hosted in [[Murshidabad district]], in the district of [[West Bengal]]. During the time of the [[Mughal Empire]], it was first a celebration held in honor of God Khoja Khizir, who was considered to be the god of water. This festival received support from the Nawabs. In the past, [[Bengali Hindus]] Sadagaras participated in a variety of trades, therefore their festivals and rituals from that time period were incorporated into it.<ref>{{cite news |title=আজ বেরা পরব |url=https://www.anandabazar.com/west-bengal/bera-utsav-to-be-celebrated-today-1.859344}}</ref>

== Description==

This festival is held on the final Thursday of the month of [[Bhadra (Hindu calendar)]] each year, and it is celebrated in the [[Bhagirathi River|Bhagirathi]] -[[Ganges|Ganga]] by floating rafts and boats that have been decked with multicolored lamps.<ref>{{cite web |title=বেরাভাসান |url=https://bn.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8}}</ref> JH Walsh writes in "A History of Murshidabad District" that this celebration was once held by [[Murshid Quli Khan]]. But he had no understanding that [[Murshid Quli Khan]] was leading to this event. It began in [[Dhaka]] in 1690, when [[Mukarram Khan]] was the Subedar of Bengal and [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] King [[Jahangir]] was in power. After [[Murshid Quli Khan]] moved his capital from [[Dhaka]] to [[Murshidabad district|Murshidabad]] in 1704, it began here at [[Hazarduari Palace|Hazarduari Ghat]].<ref name="Walsh, J.H. Tull">{{cite web |title=A History of Murshidabad District (Bengal) with Biographies of Some of its Noted Families |url=https://www.indianculture.gov.in/rarebooks/history-murshidabad-district-bengal-biographies-some-its-noted-families}}</ref>
In front of the [[Hazarduari Palace]], the ropes that connected the cannon to the gunnery hall were severed so that the rafts could be torn apart. The boats travel at a slow pace, and their music is timed to the rhythm of the water. Bamboo and banana tree trunks are used in their construction. One of the most important manufacturing centers for these kind of boats is located in Jafarganj, which is located in [[Murshidabad]].<ref name ="GHOSH,BINOY">{{cite web |title=PASCHIMBANGER SANSKRITI|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.17381}}</ref>

==Celebrations during Nawabi Period ==

During the [[Nawabs of Bengal|Nawabi period]], banana trees were floated on water, and bamboo-bakhari-chicha-mats were used to build items like minarets, arches, domes, niches, forts, etc.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mukherjee |first=Rila |date=2008 |title=Putting the Rafts out to Sea: Talking of Bera Bhashan in Bengal |url=https://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/TfC/article/view/925 |journal=Transforming Cultures eJournal |language=en |volume=3 |issue=2 |doi=10.5130/tfc.v3i2.925 |issn=1833-8542}}</ref> Mica sheets were often used to make lights that showed Quranic verses, churches, trees, and other things. On boats, silver-covered fake lights were hanging from the ceiling. The [[Ganges]] used to shine from [[Lalbag subdivision|Lalbagh]] in [[Murshidabad]] to Mahinagar. Different dance songs were set up. The [[Nawabs of Bengal|Nawabs]] and their people loved the fireworks show.<ref name="Walsh, J.H. Tull"/><ref name ="GHOSH,BINOY"/>

== See also ==

* [[List of festivals in West Bengal]]

== References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Culture of West Bengal]]
[[Category:Festivals]]
[[Category:Bengali festivals]]
[[Category:Murshidabad]]

Bera Bhasan Festival - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 09:54, 15 August 2023