The traditional Karam Puja and social festival of the Oraon community was celebrated in Thakurgaon with prayers for peace, happiness, prosperity and a bountiful harvest.

The three-day festival began on September 17 and concluded this morning with the immersion of a branch of the sacred Karam tree in a river.

The main celebration was held at Oraon Para in Panchpir Danga village under Salandar Union of Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila at around 8:30 pm on Friday.

The festival featured religious rituals, traditional dances, songs and storytelling, creating a vibrant atmosphere with the beats of drums, madal, cymbals and other traditional musical instruments.

Men and women in colourful traditional attire took part in group dances and other cultural programmes, while children, teenagers and elderly people also joined the festivities.

Karam is a tree of deep religious and cultural significance to the Oraon community and is regarded as a symbol of sacredness, protection and well-being. The community has been observing the festival for generations, traditionally at the beginning of the Bengali month of Ashwin.

As part of the rituals, community members observe fasting from sunrise to sunset before collecting a branch of the Karam tree while singing and dancing. The branch is then placed on a ceremonial altar, where prayers and other rituals are performed.

According to Oraon beliefs, Karam Puja is observed to seek protection from calamities, floods and drought, as well as good harvests, happiness and prosperity for families and society.

The festival also has a strong social dimension. As part of the tradition, people visit households to collect rice, lentils and money to arrange meals and hospitality for relatives and invited guests.

People from different walks of life, including members of Hindu and Muslim communities, attended the festival and joined in the celebrations, reflecting communal harmony and peaceful coexistence.

Adviser to the Jatiya Adivasi Parishad Advocate Imran Hossain Chowdhury said the Oraon community had been celebrating the Karam festival every year in accordance with its age-old traditions and beliefs.

He said the Karam tree was regarded by the community as a symbol of protection and prosperity, adding that the festival was not only religiously significant but also a manifestation of harmony and peaceful coexistence among different communities.

He expressed hope that the festival could be organised on a larger scale in the future with government assistance and support.

District BNP Joint General Secretary and Municipal BNP President Shariful Islam Sharif attended the festival as the chief guest.

Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila BNP President Abdul Hamid, Thakurgaon Press Club General Secretary and Salandar Union Parishad Chairman Fazle Elahi Mukut Chowdhury, and people from different professions and sections of society were also present.

The festival brought a festive atmosphere to Panchpir Danga and surrounding areas as the Oraon community observed its traditional celebration through religious rituals, cultural performances and social gatherings.