With the offering of flowers to Ganga Devi on the Kaptai Lake Baishabi festival have officially begun on Saturday in Rangamati.

Baishabi is the combination of Bizu festival of the Chakmas, Sangrai of the Marmas and Boisuk of the Tripuras.

From early Saturday morning, indigenous women gathered flowers from their gardens and came one by one to the Kaptai Lake. Seeking blessings from the Creator, they floated the flowers on the water in honor of Ganga Devi, marking the beginning of the festival.

This morning at Rajbari Ghat in Rangamati, Baisabi celebration committee formally launched the three-day-long festivities with local youths floating flowers in the lake.

Meanwhile, at Garjantali, the Tripura Welfare Foundation also commenced the Tripura community’s Boisuk festival with a flower offering ceremony to Ganga Devi.

Every year, people from all communities in the hill tracts come together in joyous celebration for these three days centered around Baisabi festival.

Tomorrow, the main Bizu festival will be observed by hill communities.

Traditional Paanjaan dishes will be prepared and served to guests as part of the formal celebration of the main Bizu.

The festival will conclude with weeklong Sangrai water festival starting on April 16.