Nouka Baich

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Nouka Baich
NicknamesNowka Bais
Characteristics
TypeOutdoor, aquatic
EquipmentBoat, paddle
VenueBody of water
Presence
Country or regionBangladesh

Nouka Baich (

boat race in the United Kingdom.[2]

Common elements

A Nouka Baich happening near a rural village in Madhumati River.

Boats used for Nouka Baich are long with each team can consist from 7 to up to 100 members known as majhis. Boats with motor engines are not allowed.[3] Boats are usually named with attractive and boastful names displaying quality and speed. During inter-riverine competitions, teams are named after their respective 'home rivers'. It is also a social event,[4] and it is common for the competitors to sing Sari gan folk songs as they compete during the race.[5] A popular song is Ronger Nao Ronger Boitha, Ronge Ronge Bao (Cheerfully tune the colourful oars of the colourful boat).[6]

History

A large Nouka Baich competition taking place with over hundreds of participants.

With

Bengali people
.

Common in rural areas, Nouka Baich is a very old tradition of the folk

Mughal Bengal were also known for organising races and the use of Sari gan started to become more popular.[8]

Nouka Baich was also common during the

Sylhet region after the rainy season when much of the land goes under water. The long canoes were referred to as khel naos (meaning playing boats) and the use of cymbals to accompany the singing was common.[9]

Boat variation

Nouka Baich taking place in Kaliganga River, South Bengal.

Different types of boats may be used in different parts of

Sylhet, Comilla and Brahmanbaria. Racing with Sampans is common in Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Feni and Noakhali.[8]

Outside Bangladesh

Burmese
regatta

The Rakhine Buddhists of Myanmar and some parts of Bangladesh also have a similar tradition called Pailong Poye.

In 2007, the

British Bangladeshi community in Oxford initiated the first 'Nowka Bais' event in the United Kingdom as part of Oxfordshire County's 1000th birthday by getting two 40 ft canoes made in Sylhet, Bangladesh and bringing them to England.[10] Nowka Bais in England has now become an annual cultural event attracting thousands such as the likes of the High Commissioner of Bangladesh.[11]

In 2012, the event was dedicated to the

Queen Elizabeth II issued a statement on the event and expressed her interest about the Bengali tradition to the founder of Nowka Bais UK and Oxford Bangladeshi Boat Club, Azizur Rahman.[12]

In 2015, the event founder selected

mela (festival) with performances, stall and funfair rides.[14] In 2018, The Nowka Bais short film documentary was released based on the events in Birmingham
.

See also

References

  1. ^ "St Joseph makes a splash at the 2019 Nowka Bais". Berkeley Group.
  2. ^ Bentley, David (29 July 2018). "Free festival with street food and dragon boat racing returns to Birmingham". Birmingham Mail.
  3. ^ "Nouka Baich: Heritage of Bangladesh". Dhaka Courier. 21 September 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  4. ^
    ISBN 978-984-91284-1-0
    . Bangladesh rural social and cultural life is adorned by a number of ... seasonal event like nouka baich. [Footnote:] Boat race, a centuries old festival of riverine Bangladesh, usually arrange in the rivers when the rivers are full in rainy season or after flood
  5. ^ "Sari Gan". Banglapedia.
  6. OL 30677644M
    . Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  7. ^ বাংলাদেশ পানি উন্নয়ন বোর্ড. Bangladesh Water Development Board. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  8. ^
    OL 30677644M
    . Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  9. Calcutta: Government of Assam
    . p. 111.
  10. ^ Nadia Ali: Nowka Bais 2017 (Radio broadcast). BBC Asian Network.
  11. ^ "All buoyed up for water aid". OxfordMail. 26 April 2007.
  12. ^ Morshed Akhter Badol (25 July 2017). "Bangladeshi boat race takes the UK by storm". Dhaka Tribune.
  13. ^ "Nowka Bais - Traditional Bangladeshi Boat Racing". Nowka Bais UK.
  14. ^ "Midland SC Pushing Out The Dragon Boat For Nowka Bais". Royal Yachting Association. 9 July 2015.
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