Introduction:

Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony. People from any religion feel free to celebrate their religious festivals with a befitting manner and due honor and fervency. |
There are as many festivals in Bangladesh as there are days in the year. Fairs and festivals play an important role in the social life of ordinary Bangladeshis. The biggest Muslim religious festivals are the Eid-Ul-Fitr (end of the fasting month of Ramadhan). Eid-ul-Azha, Muharram and Miladunnabi (birth day of the Prophet), Widely celebrated festivals for other religious communities are the Durga Puja for the Hindus, Christmas for Christians etc.

Religious Festivals of Bangladesh:
There are different religious festivals observe in Bangladesh. They are:

Eid ul-Fitr
As the most important religious festival for the majority of Muslims, the celebration of Eid ul-Fitr has become a part of the culture of Bangladesh. The festival takes place on the day following the Ramadan or the month of fasting. The government of Bangladesh declares the holiday for three days on Eid-ul Fitr. All outgoing public transport from the major cities have become highly crowded and in many cases the fares tend to rise in spite of government restrictions.

On Eid day, the Eid prayer are held all over the country, in open areas like fields or inside mosques. After the Eid prayers, people return home, visit each other's home and eat sweet dishes called shirni. Throughout the day gentlemen embrace each other. It is also customary for junior members of the society to touch the feet of the seniors, and seniors returning blessings (sometimes with a small sum of money as a gift). In the rural areas, the Eid festival is observed with great fanfare. In some areas Eid fairs are arranged. Different types of games including boat racing, kabaddi, and other traditional Bangladeshi games, as well as modern games like cricket and football are played on this occasion. In urban areas, people play music, visit each other's houses and eat special food. Watching movies and television programs has also become an integral part of the Eid celebration in urban areas. All local TV channels air special program for several days for this occasion.

Eid ul-Adha
The most important religion festival. The celebration of Eid ul-Adha is similar to Eid ul-Fitr in many ways. It is held marking the Hajj in Mecca on the 10th Zilhaj, the lunar month of the Islamic Calendar. In the Eid day, animals are sacrificed in reminiscence of Prophet Ibrahim's (AM) preparedness for the supreme sacrifice of his beloved son to Allah. Numerous temporary marketplaces of different sizes called haat operate in the big cities for sale of Qurbani animals (usually cows and goats).

In the morning on the Eid day, immediately after the prayer, affluent people slaughter their animal of choice. Less affluent people also take part in the festivity by visiting houses of the affluent who are taking part in qurbani. After the qurbani, a large portion of the meat is given to the poor people. Although the religious doctrine allows the sacrifice anytime over a period of three days starting from the Eid day, most people prefer to perform the ritual on the first day of Eid. However, the public holiday spans over three to four days. Many people from the big cities go to their ancestral houses and homes in the villages to share the joy of the festival with friends and relatives.

Eid- E- Miladunnabi |
The observation of Milad-un-Nabi is an important Muslim religious festivity. The term itself means the birthday of the Prophet(Sm) of Islam. But this is also the day of his death. So, we celebrate this day with mixed feeling. Like every year, this day is celebrated in Bangladesh in a befitting way. This day is a public holiday. Various religious, socio-cultural organizations and political parties held various programmes, including Milad Mahfil, discussion meetings and Qurankhwani to mark the day. Islamic Foundation also holds programmes on the occasion. Bangladesh Beter and Bangladesh Television and satellite TV channels also air special programmes.

Durga Puja
Festivities of the biggest Hindu event in Bangladesh, the Durga Puja begins with the Mahalaya, invoking of Goddess Durga. The Mahashashthi puja, following Bodhon rituals. In the Bangladesh, Durga Puja usually held for four days, the days are Mahasaptami, Mahashtami, Mahanabami and Bijaya Dashami. The Puja committees in the capital and other parts of the country depend on doles and protection of law enforcing agencies. They usually organize Puja mondaps and display communal harmony in the name of Puja once a year like other festivals but in reality, besides begging, there is no security and political and economic power to earn for them. To commemorate the festival, messages from the figureheads of the country and other political personalities come forth to give finesse. Well-placed Hindus, like Babus of bygone days, of different walks of life in the metropolis, dressed in their best, attend state function, the 'Bijoya Dashami' reception at Bangabhaban, the president’s palace. The end of Durga Puja occurs by sink Goddess Durga into the water. The Durga Puja has lost its religious fervor and festivity in Bangladesh. It becomes a political bargaining factor for a class of beneficiaries. The celebration of Puja festival committees under the so-called Hindu leaders in Bangladesh is tutored and cared for by the elected Governments and army regimes.

Christmas
In the sixteenth century Christianity brought to the historic region of Bengal (now divided between Bangladesh and India) by Portuguese traders and missionaries. Aside from Bengali Christians, a significant number of the population in Bangladesh is Christians. They exchanged gifts and cards to express their Christmas greetings to one another, before Christmas. Like other countries Bangladesh people also like to decorate their house with candles, Christmas trees and colored papers.

People go to the church to attain the special prayer session on Christmas Eve. In Bangladesh, Christmas, called "Bara Din (Big Day)" is celebrated by Bengali Christians. When Christmas day arrives, people go to church before they commence the celebration. The day is known as a national holiday and it is formally celebrated by the President of Bangladesh. Bengali Christians greet friends and family by saying ‘Shubho Boro Din’, which means Greetings of the Great Day, and offer traditional sweets and pithas (traditional Bengali cakes).

Buddha Purnima
The main festival of Buddhists in Bangladesh as well as all over the world is Gautama Buddha’s birthday which is known in this country as Buddha Purnima as well as Baisakhi Purnima. The birth of Gautama Buddha, his adoption of asceticism, and attainment of nirvana (supreme enlightenment) – all occurred on the full-moon day in the Bengali month of Baisakh.

So this is the most important and solemn day of the Buddhist, and they observe the day with great pomp and grandeur.

Conclusion:
Bangladesh is a country where every religion’s people (Muslim, Hindu, Christian, and Buddhism) live together like brothers and sisters. They have lots of religious festivals. Among them some of the major festivals are discussed above. Every year these religious festivals observed with respect and dignity. These festivals not only observed in City but also in villages too. During those festival days, every religious people seem to be happy and friendly. There are to conflicts among them. This can be a great example of brotherhood.

Recommendations: * Religious festivals should not use for some political issues. * During the festivals days, security of each and every human being has to be strict. * Government should increase the holiday for some more days. So that people who live far away from their families can spend some more days with them. * Government should create a festive atmosphere like entrance free for every Amusing park, Zoo etc. So that not only rich people can enjoy the day but also poop people can also enjoy.