A 125-year-old traditional boat race and village fair were held on the Kumar River in the Teljuri area of Boalmari upazila in Faridpur.
People from the area and surrounding upazilas eagerly wait for this festival every year. A crowd of more than 50,000 people gathered on both banks of the river to watch the boat race.
Azizul Aqil Shikdar, owner of RDD Group inaugurated the event on Thursday afternoon (26 September). Surrounding this traditional boat race, a three-day-long rural fair has been organised. Ten boats, big and small, from various areas participated in the race.
Upon visiting the scene, it was seen that more than 50,000 people were standing on both banks of the Kumar River near the Teljuri market area, enjoying the boat race. Many rented boats and trawlers to witness the festival. On the occasion of the boat race, sellers set up sweet shops, fish (Hilsa) shops, toy shops, and stalls selling various food items.
Shahida Begum, a housewife from Teljuri village, who came to watch the boat race, said, “Every year, on this day, I rush from my husband’s house to see the boat race on the Kumar River. Daughters come to their parents’ house with their husbands. Like every time, I came with my husband and children to watch the boat race. I bought a lot of things from the fair.”
Nur Nahar, a student who came to the fair, said, “I came with my friends to see the boat race. We’re roaming around the fair and enjoying it.”
Sweet vendor Jabbar Molla said, “I’ve been coming to sell sweets at this boat race fair for over 50 years. This time too, I set up a shop. I have a variety of sweets in the shop, including rasgolla, amriti, danadar, and jilapi. Even though the weather is bad, the sales are quite good.”
The president of the fair committee, former UP chairman Roisul Islam Palash Mia, presided over the event.
After the race, at 7 pm on Thursday evening, refrigerators and LED televisions were awarded to the owners of the three winning boats. In addition, all boats that participated in the competition were given consolation prizes.
Boalmari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Golam Rasul said that police were deployed to maintain law and order during the boat race and fair.
