Wasn’t it Pahela Phalgun?
But the news was nowhere to be found in the New Age except for a Metro page small item that gift sales peak for Valentine’s Day and Pahela Phalgun.
Pahela Phalgun is the first day of spring. A very important day for us, the Bengalis. Even though earlier Pahela Phalgun wasn’t celebrated with much fanfare, things have changed drastically in the last few years. Now this is a major event — a lot of cultural programmes are organised, boutique houses design special Phalgun outfits, men and women especially the university students wear bashonti coloured clothes, boimela becomes all the more festive and crowded, and almost ‘all’ the newspapers print a photograph along with a report (mainly on the front or back page) announcing the advent of sprint.
Well in the New Age this was absent; however I have learnt in advance (From the front-page djuice greetings card and your Trends cover story) that February 14 is the Valentine’s Day. I don’t have anything against Valentine’s Day; I myself celebrate it. But it was really sad see that our favourite daily doesn’t consider our own ethnic event worthy of news.
Sumaiya Khandker
Economics Department, Dhaka University
Valentine’s Day message
To listen to heart and soul is to love. To listen to each new day is to open to the divine. No day has ever been the same, ever, throughout the history of the universe. Stand in awe. Wonder at the beauty and the majesty that each day brings.
February is a popular month for love-related festivals. Many ancient celebrations were no doubt inspired by the snowdrifts, inexplicable crankiness, and multiple layers of clothing that often stand between lovers in mid-winter. Saint Valentine’s Day or Valentine’s Day — falling as ever on February 14 — is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other, often by sending cards, flowers and gifts.
There are varying opinions as to the origin of Valentine’s Day. Some experts state that it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries. Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer’s daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it ‘From Your Valentine.’ Other versions of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honour St. Valentine.
Whatever that may be, February 14 gradually became the date for exchanging messages of love, hope, truth, affection or the rhythm of soul and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers.
Although Valentine’s Day is being widely celebrated in Bangladesh since 1994, love is part of Bengali culture from the beginning. Much of old Bengali literature was inspired by this notion, which is one of the main driving forces of Bengali life. Love crosses all barriers like religion, race and country. Apart from the love birds, parents show their love to children and vice versa, friends exchange gifts on this day. It is becoming a widely enjoyable and healthy celebration in Bangladesh.
Love can bring hope when seemingly all hope has walked out the door. To be hopeless is to spiral downward in despair and lose personal resolve. Love can resurrect hope, faith, and life within everyone to love again.
Ripan Kumar Biswas
New York, USA
Taliban pose a great threat to both Pakistan and Afghanistan
This is in reference to the write-up ‘Rethinking Afghanistan’ by Tanvir Ahmad Khan (February 1).
While criticising Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Tanvir Ahmad Khan seems to have forgotten that the Taliban was created by Pakistan in order to control post-Soviet Afghanistan and counter so-called Indian influence. Both have backfired and now Pakistan is caught in a never-ending bloodletting of its own making.
The Taliban and their acolytes have established a virtual parallel state in Pakistan and they are carrying out regular bombings, including the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and even kidnapping school children. Pakistan army seem to be totally incapable of stemming the violence perpetrated by the Taliban. Regular attacks on girls’ schools and video stores selling Bollywood films show that the Taliban have already established a virtual state ruled by terror and Pakistani authorities have little means to challenge them.
Elections can only help if the political leaders can show resolve to fight the Taliban. But Pakistani politicians have shown little courage to do so. As bloodbath in Kenya has shown, elections cannot resolve the crisis if a nation is divided between various hostile ethnic and tribal factions. Election in Kenya has only widened the tribal divisions, leading to inter-regional bloodletting with no end in sight. Similarly, Pakistan is an unfortunate country with great tribal and ethnic divisions and religious extremism has added to the existing divisions. It is not surprising that the Taliban and their followers are using the NWFP, with its Pastun majority, to attack the Pakistan army which is overwhelmingly Punjab-based. If they can drive out the Pakistan army from NWFP, they will have a base to expand the war to other parts.
Mahmood Elahid
Ottawa, Canada
Dress code
Bangladesh is yet to follow any official dress code. The reason is obvious –– cultural and religious diversity, economic ability, urban-rural gap etc. However, we have an urban class growing nowadays which is more keen to follow the style coming from the western society. There is distinct choice for different age groups, both men and women. The scenario in rural society is also changing. There is marked change in women’s choice of dress. Sari is occupying important place to a certain age group –– 25 and above. The electronic media has played a positive role in this, plus the quality and design of sari have improved tremendously over time. The young group of girls, including working women, prefer easy dress like salwar and kamiz and pants, shirt etc. The shorts, though most suitable for our climate and some types of work, is not getting full entry, may be for social, cultural and religious barriers.
Another change one sees among the women, i.e., increasing use of hijab among many young girls going to schools, colleges and universities. The reason may be a combination of religious feeling and style for some. This practice is quite evident among the higher age groups. We think that Bangladesh being a liberal and non-communal country, free choices of dress according to changing socio-economic status is likely to continue, and should be allowed to continue.
A reader
On e-mai
