With the arrival of Agrahayan, Birampur Upazila in Dinajpur has come alive with the Nobanno festival, a centuries-old celebration of new rice harvest in Bangladesh. From early morning on November 17 (1st Agrahayan), villages and towns alike were filled with the sweet aroma of freshly harvested rice and the lively spirit of the festival.
In Jhagorupara village of Khanpur Union, the festival was observed with great enthusiasm. Sixteen cows were sacrificed, and their meat was distributed among villagers as part of the traditional rituals. Families worked together to harvest rice from the fields, dry it in courtyards, and prepare the first yield for the festival. Homes and streets were decorated with festive colors, reflecting the vibrancy of rural life.
Culinary traditions played a central role in the celebrations. Villagers prepared an array of traditional dishes, including pithas, pulis, kheer, payesh, chitei, and patishapta, which were shared among family members and neighbors, symbolizing communal joy and gratitude for the harvest.
The festival’s spirit extended beyond rural areas to urban settlements. In Chorkai village of Ward-1, Birampur Municipality, city residents also took part in the celebrations, bringing family members to experience and reconnect with their rural heritage amid the bustle of town life.
Preparations are ongoing in other parts of the Upazila, including Jotbani Union, Ekar, and Mongolpur, where Nobanno celebrations are scheduled in the coming days. Villagers are enthusiastically preparing for rice harvesting and festive activities.
According to Birampur Upazila Agriculture Officer Kamal Krishna Roy, Nobanno is an inseparable part of Bangladesh’s agricultural economy and culture. “Generations have celebrated the joy of harvesting new rice. This year, favorable weather has led to a satisfactory rice yield. We are providing farmers with modern technology, improved seeds, and proper guidance from harvesting to processing, ensuring they benefit fully. Nobanno reflects the success of our agriculture,” he said.
