The New Nation - Internet Edition

Mohammad Shahidul Islam

Bangladeshi folklore gives an honest insight into the country's social and ethnic background as well as peoples' habits and beliefs. Our folklore also depicts much about the denizens of the past such as their ideologies, customs and views on home or social affairs. Diverse ethnic groups that have resided in the land throughout the preceding periods have largely influenced Bangladesh's folklore.

A wide-ranging diversity can therefore be clearly seen in the folklore of Bangladesh. Puthis-ancient manuscripts-are in fact collections of folk tales often highlighting religious customs existing in rural Bangladesh. Educated individuals, both as a form of recreation and as education, read these books to the rest of the villagers.

A well-known Bangla epic folklore is Manasa Mangal. This story was constituted to eulogize the glory of Manasa, a snake goddess. Nevertheless, it has become popular for the love story of Behula (the heroine) and Lakhindar (her husband). The story narrates how the father of Lakhindar offends the snake goddess. She then sends one of her most venomous snakes to bite Lakhindar on his wedding night. Lakhindar dies instantly and Behula takes her husband's lifeless body on a boat and sets off for the unknown. Confronting several impediments in the way, Behula finally makes it to Manasa's abode and appeases the goddess. Lakhindar is resuscitated and Behula, for her unconditional love and devotion, becomes the archetypical Bengali woman.

Culture in general consists of behaviours and artefacts, beliefs and values, and underlying assumptions, i.e. ways of perceiving, thinking and evaluating the world, self and others. Through the development of tourism, local culture is usually transformed into a product, as an element of the overall supply to tourists. Culture can be marketed to tourists through tangible and intangible elements, for example edifices of historic significance, crafts, and demonstrations of traditions and festivals.

Folk art can be a unique element of the Bangladeshi tourist product. The originality and the variety of different art forms can provide a special experience for the tourists and a powerful promotional tool for national marketing. Since the photos and films showing folk art objects and scenes of traditional events can play an important role in the visual representation of Bangladesh, tourists would develop their expectations accordingly before their trip.

The existing measures to preserve the folklore treasure trove are not enough to meet the needs. Appropriate changes need to be enacted soon. It is almost mandatory for the government to devote greater attention and resources to the aspects of preservation, conservation, documentation, development and legal protection of folklore. Government also needs to be determined to ensure the safety and security of the materials and documents to prevent unfair exploitation.

In addition, government has to support communities who are directly and indirectly involved with creation, maintenance, custodianship and development of folklores. On the other hand, we have to elevate the level of awareness about the legal system at the national level through transmission of information to the public by mass media, debates, discussions and studies with experts and all interested groups. To protect and conserve the folklores properly, there would be no alternative to seeking aids and assistance from UNESCO.

Folk arts and crafts, traditions and customs can be classified as local, regional or national attractions. There are several diverse functions of folklore. If folk tales are examined closely, we find that many are used to pass on traditions with morals and values from one generation to the next. Folklore fulfils the role of teaching the importance of traditions and roots.