An alien, malicious dragon exhales fire curving its neck as it moves fast in a wavy motion. The monstrous dragon seems out to burn anything and everything the nation has achieved through decades.
Published : 04 Apr 2013, 01:30 PM
In their desperate move to depict the difficult times through which the country is currently passing, students of the Institute of Fine Arts chose to portray their theme through a 50-foot dragon that represents the ‘black forces’ out to destroy the people’s aspiration to establish a modern, liberal and forward-looking nation.
And this very idea constitutes the theme of the upcoming Bengali New Year 1420.
A colourful rally (Mongol Shobha Jatra) to welcome the New Year will be organised on Apr 14 – the first day of Bengali month Boishakh, themed ‘Come truth, come good, come freedom’.
Manabendra Ghosh, Coordinator of this year’s rally, told bdnews24.com: “Maximum penalty for the war criminals has become the people’s demand. That demand will be brought forth through the allegory (the dragon).
“We want Bangladesh to move ahead with its arts, literature, culture and tradition. But the bad forces want these to die out. We want to keep alive these Bengali traditions for a long time.”
While the Eastern philosophy considers the dragon a harbinger of good fortune and a master of authority, this year’s theme would portray it as a symbol of bad influence.
The organisers, who are now busy making artefacts for Pahela Boishakh, want to express their solidarity to the cause of the Shahbgah movement, seeking capital punishment for war crimes by displaying this mythical creature.
The mammoth reptile, shown exhaling flames from its mouth, has been portrayed as one from outside wanting to gobble up Bangladesh, which was earned through a bloody war against Pakistan in 1971.
This beast will be placed on a 30-foot wooden frame installed on a hand-pulled cart during the rally.
Organisers say this year’s rally would convey a message to establish a country free from war criminals in the nation’s 42nd year of independence. There will also be some other artefacts such as symbolic rickshaws, crocodiles and horses to highlight the Bengali culture, tradition and history.
Asked about the allegorical meaning of the dragon, Ghosh said the dragon signifies those who had opposed the nation’s birth. “They are not of this land. As the saying goes – the wild looks best in the forest and the Razakars look best in Pakistan. Those who do not love this country can’t live here.”