1.2 Name of the element, as used by the community or group concerned
'Nobanno'- New Harvest Celebration
1.3 Short, maximally informative title (including indication of domain(s))
Agriculture-centric folk festival Nabanna, a celebration of new harvest, falls in ICH Domain 3 which includes festive events.
1.4 Community(ies)/group(s) that recognize the element as part of their cultural heritage
Bengali farming community.
1.5 Physical location(s) of the element/how often it is practiced
Across Bangladesh, within all farming communities.
1.6 Short description (max. 200words)
The festival is celebrated with mela which are called Nabanna Mela. It is one of the numerous festivals that gave the name "baro mase tero parban" (thirteen festivals in twelve months) to the land of Bengal. Although the nabanna parban is somewhat different from other ones since it is not connected to a religion such as Ratha Yatra. The villagers and locals from both the major religious groups join the festival with equal participation. There are also several fertility rituals which make the festival truly a harvest ritual. The festival gets a lot of support from the creative army of Bengali culture. Several poets, musicians, baul and painters flock to such mass gatherings.
Tribal communities in Bangladesh also celebrate the harvest. The Santals observe the Soharay festival in the months of Paus-Magh after the winter crop is harvested. The celebration marked by drinking, singing and dancing lasts for 7 days and 7 nights. The Usui tribes observe the Mailukma festival to welcome Laksmi, the goddess of crops. The Mru tribes observe the Chamoinat festival during which they sacrifice hens and entertain guests with new rice. The Garo tribes observe the Wangalla festival during which they feast, drink, sing and dance.
The courtyard of the house used to be painted with rice paste. Every family of the village used to observe this happy occasion by offering rice cakes to guests and visiting the houses of relatives. The whole village used to come alive with the sound of the pounding of rice and the blowing of conch shells. Everywhere there were groups singing Kirtan, Pala gan or Jari gan.
1.7 Domain of the element (select one or more/suggest alternative domain)
2. Characteristics of the element
2.1 Practitioners(s)/performer(s): roles, age, gender, social status, and/or professional category etc)
Farmer community.
2.2 Other tradition bearers (individuals/groups and their roles)
Detailed information will be added in this regard.
Space - backyard, open space (sometimes your own backyard, sometimes someone else's backyard)
There is no separate dress for dressing. However, on the day of Navanna, both men and women wear new clothes.
2.5 Associated intangible elements (if any)
Dance
Oral tradition of performing songs
Delivery style
Tune
Different rituals
Eating habits
2.6 How are women and people of other genders associated with this ICH element
Women are directly related to farming. Basically, they are the organizers in this festival.
2.7 Division of labour during the practice of aforementioned ICH element
N/A
2.8 Customary practices governing access to the element or to aspects of it
Women are directly related to farming. Basically, they are the organizers in this festival
2.9 Modes of transmission
Traditionally this festival is practiced. The farming family celebrates the peace of growing new paddy at home through the Nabanna festival. The farmers did not start celebrating this festival in a hurry.
2.10 Organizations concerned (non-governmental organizations and others)
N/A
3. State of the element (viability)
3.1 Threats to the enactment (if any)
Modern Cultural aggression is the main threat of this program. However, the mood of the festival has come down a lot.
3.2 Threats to the transmission (if any)
N/A
3.3 Threat to associated tangible elements and resources (if any)
N/A
3.4 Viability of associated intangible elements (if any)
Although the mood of the festival has diminished, everyone in the farming family, big or small, is involved in organizing this festival.
3.5 Safeguarding measures in place (if any)
N/A
4. Data gathering/documentation, Consent and preparation of inventory entries
4.1 Consent of community/group/individuals concerned for data collection with a view to inventorying
Detailed information will be added in this regard
4.2 Restrictions, if any, on use of data collected
N/A
5. Resource Person
5.1 Persons/groups, including community representatives
Detailed information will be added in this regard.
5.2 Date(s) and place(s) of data gathering
Date : 2020-05-18 Place(s) : 18 May 2020
6. Safeguarding techniques
6.1 Existing safeguarding techniques in the community for the safeguarding of the ICH element
N/A
6.2 Suggestions for safeguarding of the ICH element from the community
N/A
7. References to literature, discography, audiovisual materials or archives
7.1 References to/in literature
Navanna is an ancient festival. Many researches and writings have already been published about it.
Dr. Varun Kumar Chakraborty 'Bengali Folk Culture Cell' (2004);
Matin Roy 'Festival of Bangladesh'
3.Dr. Ashraf Siddiqui 'Folklore and Folklore of Bangladesh
'
These books describe the festivals and rituals of Nabanna. But no attempt has been made to find out the evolution of this festival and the exact reasons behind it, which has created a new inquisitive idea in the minds of current researchers. It is from that thought that research on the subject has been determined.
7.2 Audiovisual materials or archives
N/A
7.3 Discography or archives
N/A
8. Modalities for updating the information contained in the inventory entry
8.1 Persons/groups, including community representatives, who compiled the inventory entry
Sumaiya Nasrin Oyeshee, Nipa Paul, Riza Ali Dristy and Sakar Mustafa (group work).
8.2 Consent of community/group/individuals concerned for data collection with a view to inventorying
Written from experience. All the scribes are the children of farmers.
8.3 Date of community consent to include the entry on an inventory
2020-05-19
8.4 Present condition of the cultural element
Becoming less
9. Community suggestions
(a)Brief description of suggestions for safeguarding of the element by community members/experts/holders, if any
Detailed information will be added in this regard.
(b)Brief description of restrictions on use of data collected, if any