It is 8:30am on December 24, Thursday at Damkurahat of Paba upazila. As amny as 16 people men and women belonged to the ethnic minority community Santal on a shallow-engine driven three-wheeler, locally known as tempoo. They were all Christian. All of them are day-labourers and going to Rajshahi city in search of work though the Christmas festival kicks off at the daybreak. Some more Santal people were seen to board on tempoos to visit the city for work.
Moti Mardi of Nimghutu village was standing on board the tempo. When asked why he was visiting the city even just one-day before Christmas, he answered they remained unemployed most of the times due to Corona situation. Recently, he managed work at a construction site. Tomorrow is Christmas, still, he is going to the town in search of work. He further said, last year the situation was better. They took preparation for the Christmas festival at least one week ahead of the day. This year, everyone is suffering from the financial crisis and there is no joy and jubilation of Christmas among the Santal people of the district this year.
The tempoo starts to roll with the Santal workers, males and females, standing on board. Another Santal worker Avinath Mardi said, there is no regular work. Even, no wage of work is paid in due time. That is why there was no festivity of Christmas this year. Corona has snatched away all their festivities.
10 women of Santal community were engaged in repairing road at Ishwaripur area of Godagari under LGED on Thursday morning. Every one earns Taka 4,500 as wages per month. For the last three-month, they did not get any wages or salary. As a result, they failed to purchase new dresses for their children.
Katrina Tudu (35), a widowed said, her husband died 10-year ago and she has been rearing her three children by working as construction worker. But, she lamented, she did not get salary of last three-month that is why she failed to purchase new dresses for the children during the Christmas eve. All those Christian Santal labourers including Jotrian Soren, Shati Biswas, Dipali Tudu and Sandha Rani informed, no one care for their causes. They do not have money to purchase gifts, clothing and improved food during the Christmas.
The Daingpara Catholic Church in Godagari is a mud-built house with corrugated tins on the roof. The Church was being decorated with coloured paper cuttings on Thurday morning. A stage was also set by hanging sheets of cloths.
Paul Biswas, Caretaker at the Chuch informed nearly 60 Santal families used to live in the village. Every year Taka 100 is realised perhead from villagers to arrange functions of the Christmas. But, this year, financial condition of all villagers is not good.
That is why the perhead toll has been fixed at Taka 50 this year. From the collected money, they would cut the cake and take meal with Broiler chicken, Dal and Rice.
Simon Marandi, Brother of Nobai Bot Tola Church at Godagari informed, after the end of pray on the Christmas day morning, they visit every houses of the village and seek welfare of the families by dancing and singing of sermon. This part of prayer is very enjoyable to every one. But, due to Corona pandemic, this part of the prayer has been discarded from the prayer list. Only the prayer will be held at the Church by maintaining health rules.