Colorful Handmade Ornaments, In A Bangla Pohela Baishakh Fair. Editorial Image

The century’s old traditional Boishakhi Fair-cum-Abdul Jabbar Wrestling Competition, one of the oldest traditions of Chittagong at the historic Laldighi Maidan, held in the first month of the Bengali year. This is the 107th Boishakhi Mela, the historic wrestling competition and Bangla New Year fair is held every year with much enthusiasm, which is joined by thousands of people from different parts of the country, including greater Chittagong. The competition, joined by the country`s traditional wrestlers, who are popular in rural areas as `boli` or `kustigir`, and Boishakhi Mela, with an array of locally-made beautiful handicrafts and indigenous household goods, is held on an area of about one kilometer alongside Laldighi Maidan. Boli Khela was introduced in 1909 by Abdul Jabbar Saodagar. His desire was to cultivate a sport that would prepare the youth to fight against the British rule which is a self-defense without weapons. Broad appeal for the sport began at the end of the First World War but subsided at the end of the Second World War.