Shakrain

{{Short description|Kite festival}} {{Infobox Holiday |holiday_name = Shakrain Festival |type = Festival |longtype = Traditional |significance = |image = Shakrain Festival পৌষ সংক্রান্তি.jpg |caption = Fire work during the festival |official_name = |nickname = Poush Sankranti |date = January 14 or 15 |celebrations = |relatedto = }} '''''Shakrain Festival''''' ({{langx|bn|সাকরাইন}}; also known as '''''Kite Festival''''' and '''''Ghuri Utsob''''') is an annual Bengali celebration in Dhaka, Bangladesh, observed with the flying of kites.<ref name=dstar> {{cite news |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=170574 |title=Shakrain festival |work=The Daily Star |date=19 January 2011 |accessdate=16 January 2012 }}</ref> The celebration is uniquely celebrated by the Bengali Dhakaiya community based on Old Dhaka. It occurs at the end of Poush, the ninth month of the Bengali calendar (January 14 or 15 on a leap year, according to the Gregorian calendar). The festival coincides with the holiday of Poush Sankranti<ref name="dstar" /> This day is known as ''Poush Sankranti'' ({{langx|bn|পৌষ সংক্রান্তি}}; ''End of Poush'').<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-01-12 |title=Tales of Shakrain |url=https://archive.dhakatribune.com/feature/2019/01/12/tales-of-shakrain |access-date=2022-03-16 |work=Dhaka Tribune}}</ref>

''Shakrain Festival'' is one of the oldest annual festivals of Bangladesh. It is a famous and a significant event in Bangladeshi culture. It is the symbol of unity and friendship in Bangladesh.

==Events== ''Shakrain'' is celebrated mostly around the southern part of Dhaka city.<ref name="dstar" /><ref name=Sun>{{cite news |url=http://www.daily-sun.com/details_yes_20-01-2012_The-Kite-Festival_22_4_14_1_21.html |title=The Kite Festival |work=Daily Sun |date=20 January 2012 |archive-date=21 January 2013 |access-date=23 February 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121060443/http://www.daily-sun.com/details_yes_20-01-2012_The-Kite-Festival_22_4_14_1_21.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> As part of the celebration, colourful kites are flown high from the rooftops around the area in the afternoon.<ref name=dstar/><ref name=demotix> {{cite web |url=http://www.demotix.com/news/1003819/kite-festival-during-makar-sankranti |title=Kite Festival during Makar Sankranti |work=Demotix |date=15 January 2012 |archive-date=May 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508122056/http://www.demotix.com/news/1003819/kite-festival-during-makar-sankranti }}</ref> It often takes the form of kite fighting, in which participants try to snag each other's kites or cut other kites down.<ref name=demotix/>

== Customs == When night falls, fireworks light up the sky of old Dhaka. Flame-eaters also gather on the roofs to entertain people with their skills of manipulating fire.<ref name="dstar" /> Music awakens the whole town, while people keep dancing from their hearts. Bringing thousands of people together to compete and have fun, it is an occasion and a day every youngster waits eagerly for. Every household competes to see who can cook the largest variety of pitas, and after midnight, there are games similar to dice games that are played, but with fruits. A variety of sweets and traditional foods, especially kacchi biryani, a signature dish of Old Dhaka, are also served on this festive day.

==Gallery== <gallery mode="packed"> File:Shakrain Festival 2020.jpg|Firework during the festival File:Shakrain Festival, 2015 ll সাকরাইন উৎসব, ২০১৫.jpg|Firework during the festival File:Kite festival at Shakrain.JPG File:Untitled Panoramauuup2.jpg File:SHAKRAIN-2015-PAN-002 FL.jpg File:Shakrain Kite Flyer.JPG File:Fireworks at Shakrain Festival.jpg File:Fireworks at Shakrain.jpg </gallery>

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Old Dhaka Category:Festivals of Bangladeshi culture Category:Kite festivals Category:Cultural festivals in Bangladesh Category:Spring festivals Category:Festivals in Dhaka Category:Sports festivals in Asia