Bera Festival
Bera Festival
The ancient raft custom existed before the 13th century, but it was only with the arrival of Turkish rulers during that time that the celebration shifted its focus on Khaja Khizir. At that point nawabs, or viceroys, of regional cities like Murshidabad and Dhaka became followers of the saint and decreed that the raft festival honor him.
The centerpiece of the festival, the raft, is made out of local banana trunks that are lashed together to make a square platform. On top of the platform are placed 20-foot boats. The float is then decorated with flags, flowers, and other trappings, and finally is pushed into the water to be received by Khaja Khizir.
Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, National Tourism Organization
233 Airport Rd.
Tejgaon
Dhaka 1215 Bangladesh
www.bangladeshtourism.gov.bd