1.2 Name of the element, as used by the community or group concerned
Shakrain
1.3 Short, maximally informative title (including indication of domain(s))
sy, marked by colorful kites covering the winter skies. As night falls, the sky hostsss a vivid show of fireworks complemented by the music playing in every single rooftop across old Dhaka.
1.4 Community(ies)/group(s) that recognize the element as part of their cultural heritage
Communities of old Dhaka city, Bangladesh.
1.5 Physical location(s) of the element/how often it is practiced
Old Dhaka (mainly Shankhari Bazaar, Laxmi Bazar, Surtapur, and Grand Area )
1.6 Short description (max. 200words)
Shakrain festival also known as Paush Shankranti. Shakrain is all about sharing the joy of flying kites in the Poush air, and enjoying the delightful tastes of winter pithas with near and dear ones. The festival began in the morning with colourful kites from the rooftops in the older part of town. The history of Shakrain signifies much more than kite flying. Shakrain takes place on the last day of Poush. According to the solar calendar, on the last day of the Bengali month – 'Poush', the sun moves towards its southward (Dakshinayana) journey at the Tropic of Capricorn and starts moving towards the Tropic of Cancer. This festival found its roots from the Mughal background and became popular in the subcontinent where the solar system highly influenced the agricultural productivity of that time.
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)
The young adults and children
2.2 Other tradition bearers (individuals/groups and their roles)
Food is an important part of the Festival, as is the art of making Kites, and its accessories.
2.6 How are women and people of other genders associated with this ICH element
They make different kinds of pithas such as dudh puli, shemai, chitoi and what not. One of the biggest roles of the women is providing rice starch to make the threads to fly the kites. They usually take part in kite flying ceremony, but very few. Many young women work with different Shakrain based groups to arrange the entire program, but not on a big scale.
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
n/a
2.9 Modes of transmission
From generation to generation
2.10 Organizations concerned (non-governmental organizations and others)
Local community
3. State of the element (viability)
3.1 Threats to the enactment (if any)
The festival has adopted new features like music, DJ, and fire breathing. Kite- flying happens, but not on the same scale as before. People are more focused on DJ and dancing to the music rather than flying kites.
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)
n/a
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
n/a
4.2 Restrictions, if any, on use of data collected
n/a
5. Resource Person
5.1 Persons/groups, including community representatives
Dhaka kendro
5.2 Date(s) and place(s) of data gathering
Date : 2020-05-14 Place(s) : Dhaka kendro (sutrapur)
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
By telling the history to the new generation. Everything in this world has gone through change or modification. Modification is tolerable to a certain extent, as long as the essence doesn’t get lost. That's why it is important to know our own history and culture.
7. References to literature, discography, audiovisual materials or archives
7.1 References to/in literature
Dhakar binodon, Kingbodontir Dhaka
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