Who are opposing Shakrain?

The traditional Shakrain festival will be observed in Old Dhaka on Wednesday (14 January), though with noticeably fewer organised activities this year amid opposition from some local groups and campaigns circulating on social media.

Every year, Shakrain draws large crowds from across the capital as people gather on rooftops to fly kites and celebrate the last day of the Bengali month of Poush. 

This year, however, the festivities appear muted in several neighbourhoods following protests and objections raised on religious and social grounds.

Such protests have reportedly become more frequent after the 2024 July Uprising and the fall of the Awami League government.

In recent days, social media posts have shown groups marching from mosques in Narinda, Gandaria and Sutrapur, chanting slogans against organising Shakrain. 

The Adarsha Samaj Binirman Committee reportedly distributed leaflets among residents discouraging participation in the festival, citing noise pollution and activities they claimed were contrary to religious practices.

Similar opposition has been seen in previous years. The Dhaka Metropolitan Committee for the Prevention of Un-Islamic and Anti-Social Activities has earlier organised protests calling for an end to what it described as "obscenity, indecency and anti-social activities" during Shakrain.

Organisers of the protests have alleged that the festivities conflict with religious sentiments.

This year, banners calling for the festival not to be held were seen hanging in mosques in the Narinda area.

Residents say the opposition has directly affected local celebrations. 

Farhan Sadique Dhrubo, a resident of Sutrapur, said, "We grew up enjoying this kite-flying festival since childhood. But we've been discouraged from organising the activities on rooftops."

In Dhupkhola, Narinda and Gandaria, Shakrain-related activities are noticeably fewer this year, while celebrations continue more vibrantly in areas such as Shankharibazar.

A resident of Gandaria said her father and uncles have been organising kite festivals for the past eight years. 

"I organised one myself last year. But this year, after the mosque committee vetoed it, we won't be organising any events," she said.

Md Saeed, muezzin and cleric of Dhanu Bepari Halud Mosque in Narinda, defended the opposition. "It is normal for children to fly kites. But this is the culture of non-believers," he said. 

"Today, under the pretext of kite-flying, musical instruments, dancing and other indecent acts are carried out, things no civilised person should do. The ulema will continue to protest against these," he said.

Shakrain, traditionally, centres on kite-flying and the preparation of pitha. 

Although there is no precise historical record of when the festival began, researchers believe it dates back to the British era, possibly during the time of Khan Bahadur Ahsanullah.

Azizur Chowdhury, a resident of Gandaria, recalled decades of celebration. "For 30 years, we have organised kite-flying on our rooftop. Friends from different parts of Dhaka used to come to our home to fly kites.

"Those are very joyful memories," he said.

Experts see the calls against Shakrain as part of a broader pattern of resistance to local cultural traditions. 

Writer and researcher Tarun Sarkar said such opposition is not new. 

"Attacks on Bengali culture have existed since the British era. Time and again, a particular group has opposed and attacked various folk and traditional Bengali festivals. This cannot be blamed on religion itself," he said.

Anthropologist and political analyst Jobaida Nasrin said Shakrain plays an important social role. 

"Shakrain brings people together, fostering communication and mutual harmony. Such festivals create spaces for social interaction," she said. 

However, she added that some groups have increasingly obstructed these interactions in recent times. 

"Political motives are at work. As a result, people's festivals and social connections are being disrupted."

At the same time, Shakrain has faced criticism from other quarters due to changes in how it is celebrated. 

The addition of modern lighting, DJ parties and fireworks has raised concerns among environmental and animal welfare advocates.

Tania Akter, a member of the Old Dhaka Animal Welfare Committee, said fireworks lead to bird deaths, while loud noise affects cats and dogs.

Asked about security concerns, Mohammad Aminul Kabir Tarfder, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Lalbagh Zone, told The Business Standard that risks exist every year. "This year is no exception.

"We have issued several guidelines. Apart from kite-flying, we have imposed restrictions on loud music, DJ parties and fireworks. Beyond these, there are no major security concerns," he said.