Rising Bengal Dhaka Bureau: The traditional Mangal procession of the Fine Arts Institute of Dhaka University, Bangladesh, turned 32 this year The colourful procession of bamboo-paper sculptures, masks and musical instruments started early in the morning of Pohela Boishakh every year The procession started in 1989 from Dhaka University of Fine Arts, although it was not so colourful then.

The procession had a political motive Many artists and writers were trying to play their part in the anti-authoritarian movement Particularly painters planned the Mangal procession as part of that effort Although the festival of fine arts in Dhaka evoked a good response, it was not the beginning of such a procession.

Initially, the name of the event was not Mangal Yatra The first time it was named Anand Yatra, but the name was not given due to the fear that it might be misinterpreted in the circumstances Later, it became known and popular as Mangal Yatra.

One of the highlights of the annual procession is the bamboo and paper sculptures that are based on a theme Any feature of these masks or other motifs will be noticed by many people watching the procession.

These accessories of the Mangal procession were taken from our folk toy dolls of Sonargaon, tapa dolls of Mymensingh, nakshi pakha, and the Jatra horse This relatively new festival, which celebrated its first Baisakh in 2016, was recognized as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.