The almost 300-year-old traditional ‘Katagar fair’ is held in Katagarh of Rupapat union of Boalmari upazila of Faridpur. This fair is held every year on March 26 (Bengali 12 Chaitra) on about a thousand acres of land centered around the shrine of local Sufi saint Sagir Shah Dewan.
No one knows the exact history of the beginning of the fair. But according to elders of the area, the spiritual leader of the Fakir-Sanyas movement was Dewan Shager Shah (R.H.). It is believed that he built his residence in Katagarh in the early 18th century. This spiritual saint died in the early 18th century. On the day of his death, devotees gather and organize Urs. Over time, this traditional fair gathered around Urs.
Residents said that every year the fair starts for three days from the 12th of Chaitra month, but the festival lasts for a week. Furniture and various sweets are sold at the fair. Lasted for a month. Thousands of devotees, fakirs and monks from different parts of the country come around the fair.
It can be seen on the surface, a fair is held over an area of about a thousand acres next to the shrine. Puppet dance, circus, variety show, yatrapala, magic, nagardoola along with furniture, sweets, cosmetics and temporary toy shops have been set up in the fair.
SM Mohabbat, a resident of the local Kalimazhi village, told Jago News, ‘This fair has been going on for about 300 years. Even before my birth, I have been hearing from the mouths of the elders that this fair has been held since before the birth of my father and grandfather.’
Alok Mondal, a local resident and Banmalipur Janata High School office assistant, told Jago News, ‘There is excitement in the area about a month before the start of the fair. It is customary to invite relatives during the fair. The jobbers and professionals of the area wait all year round to come to the village home for the fair. Hundreds of people from surrounding villages who stay in different parts of the country for work, rushed to their homes on the occasion of the fair.
Kazi Aminul Islam, assistant teacher of Shekhar Kazi Sirajul Islam High School, said that the main tradition of the Katagarh fair is the saj-batasa and kadma made of sugar. Those who come to the fair return home after buying ornaments and kadmas in clay pots. After buying it, the spiritual saint sprinkled it on the shrine of Dewan Shah (RA). In this way, about a few hundred maunds of saj-batasa and kadma are sprinkled.
Chairman of Rupapat Union Parishad, Mizanur Rahman Molla said, like every year, lakhs of people have gathered in the fair. We hope that the fair will end in a fair and peaceful environment.
Shekhar Union Chairman Kamal Ahmed said, Katagarh fair is a part of the history and tradition of this area. Around the fair, around half a hundred villages of some of the surrounding unions are in the mood of the festival.
President of the Katagarh Mela Committee, veteran Moshiul Azam Babu Mia told Jago News that this fair is at least 300 years old. The committee will make every effort to maintain the peace and order of the fair. This time also lakhs of people will gather in this fair.
In this regard, the officer-in-charge (OC) of Boalmari police station Shahidul Islam told Jago News that the police have taken adequate measures to maintain law and order. Strict instructions have been given to the fair committee to stop anti-social activities and obscenity. Strict action will be taken in case of violation.
NKB Nayan/SR/MS
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