“We went to a mela (fair), crossing the Korotoa River on the day and bought dolls, flutes and more”. Inset Selina Hossain.

Selina Hossain, one of the leading litterateurs of Bangladesh, has been writing for over four decades. Hossain was born on June 14, 1947 in Rajshahi. Her first book, a collection of short stories, came out in 1969 and she has written over 60 books to date.
Hossain grew up in Bogra and remembers Eid being ushered in a festive spirit. “Our village is beside the river of Korotoa. My father worked at a silk industry. Eid and Puja, we enjoyed both festivals. During that time, villagers were secular and enjoyed all religious festivals in full swing. The time was the late '50s. On Eid day my father used to go for hunting, particularly the Baiguri (a local bird). My mother roasted it and that was one of the mouth-watering items in my household. We went to a mela (fair), crossing the Korotoa River on the day and bought dolls, flutes and more.
“As children, Eid was more significant than any other day. Coming from a middle class family, it was always exciting for me to get new clothes on the occasion. I kept my new clothes under my pillow. On the day of Eid, I would wake up very early, then take a bath and go to the Eidgah Maidan with my friends. We waited there for our parents.
“On the day we would visit friends, neighbours and relatives and collect eidi from elders. The money was spent on buying chocolate and sweets.
“By midday, we would be busy eating; a waft of aroma would fill the air. Khichuri, pulao, beef bhuna, were the special items. Shemai and halwa have always been my favourite foods on Eid. My mother used to cook the shemai with thickened milk.”
Hossain feels that people of all ages are now going through a critical time. “I think people are not really getting into the spirit of Eid nowadays. Over population and inequity in wealth distribution have made the society unstable. People should be more aware about their duties as human beings. We should give up all kinds of evil deeds, superstitions and undemocratic attitudes.”