Essay on a Baishakhi Mela That I Visited

Last year I visited a Baishakhi mela with my family on the occasion of the Bengali new year, Pahela Baishakh. The mela was held in a large open field near the river. There were hundreds of small shops arranged in rows. The whole field was decorated with colourful flags and lights. There were shops of toys, sweets, clothes, bangles, ribbons, earthenware and handmade goods. The children were most attracted by the shops of the toymakers. My little sister bought a wooden doll, and I bought a whistle and a pair of bangles for my mother. There was a merry-go-round, and the children were enjoying it very much. Some people were watching the magic show, and some were singing folk songs. We ate jilapi, puri and ice cream. The sweet smell of batasha filled the air. The mela was full of joy, colour and laughter. Old friends and relatives met one another after a long time. I enjoyed every moment of the fair. In the evening, we returned home with many gifts and sweet memories. I will never forget the fun of that Baishakhi mela.

A Baishakhi mela is one of the most colourful fairs in Bangladesh. It is held on the first day of the Bengali new year, Pahela Baishakh. Last year I got the opportunity to visit a Baishakhi mela with my family. It was a memorable day of my life. The mela was held in a large open field on the bank of a river near our village. When we reached the spot, the field was already full of people.

The fair was decorated with red flags and colourful lights. Hundreds of small shops were arranged in a large circle. There were shops of toys, sweets, clothes, cosmetics, bangles, ribbons, earthen pots and many other goods. The shops of the toymakers attracted the children most. Clay dolls, wooden toys, plastic flutes and whistles were hanging everywhere. My little sister bought a beautiful clay doll, and I bought a flute. The sweet shops were selling jilapi, kadma, batasha and other traditional sweets. There were also shops of hand fans, nakshi katha and bamboo goods.

The mela was not only a place of shopping but also a place of entertainment. There was a merry-go-round on one side, and the children were enjoying it with great joy. Some people were watching the magic show, and others were listening to folk songs, jatra and jarigan. The open-air theatre was full of spectators. My father bought us puri, jilapi and sugarcane juice. Everything tasted very sweet because we were eating them in the open air and in the midst of joy.

The Baishakhi mela is also a place of meeting. Friends, relatives and neighbours, who do not meet for the whole year, come to the mela and pass time together. The villagers forget their sorrows and enjoy the fair with a happy mind. I also met my friend Raju, who had come with his uncle. We walked together from shop to shop and enjoyed the whole day.

In the evening, the mela was more beautiful with lamps and coloured lights. However, there were some bad sides too, such as gambling and the use of unfair means in some shops. Still, a Baishakhi mela keeps our old tradition alive and brings happiness to everyone. I returned home with many gifts and sweet memories. This visit taught me the importance of our Bengali culture and traditions. I hope that I can visit a Baishakhi mela again next year.