A day of four friends in the waters of Chalanbeel: From Trisikhali shrine to the sound of pot breaking
When four friends go out together, there is no need for a specific date, time or calculation. The desire to go somewhere is enough. That day, my four friends and I left the house without any plan, just to float in the wind and the rushing water of Chalanbeel. The rumbling sound of the trawler's engine, the wide blue sky above our heads and the endless water in front of our eyes - all of them combined to wipe away all our fatigue in an instant.
Only experienced people can feel how deep the joy of sitting on the boat's deck and dangling their feet very close to the water is. When the trawler was moving forward at a high speed, cutting through the water, I put my feet in Chalanbeel and felt the coolness of the water. As I was splashing the water with my feet, the splash of the water, the white foam fountains around and the light cool breeze made it seem as if those lost days of childhood had returned with wings. The heart of Chalanbeel was creating a lively melody with the boundless laughter and chatter of friendship.
Suddenly, cutting across the heart of Chalanbeel, a strange magical scene appeared in the distance. In the middle of the vast water, a piece of locality seemed to be waking up - the historical Trishikali Shrine! Water was overflowing all around, and this shrine, located right in the middle of it, stood as a cool shelter in the entire Chalanbeel. We turned the trawler and went straight to the ghat of Trishikali Shrine.
As soon as we got up from the ghat, we were completely surprised. Although it was located in the middle of Chalanbeel, an extraordinary active atmosphere had developed around this shrine. All kinds of shops, small fairs and the buzz of people had gathered around the shrine. Seeing the bright colorful atmosphere around, all four of our friends felt better in an instant.
A wonderful array of handicrafts was visible in the stalls around the shrine. A variety of artificial flowers, beautifully arranged - gorgeous red anthuriums, bright yellow and pink roses - gave the whole atmosphere a festive look. As I walked a little further, I saw how carefully the local potters had arranged various items made of clay. Small and large aesthetic pots, pitchers, terracotta cups and saucers, wonderful showpieces and Islamic wall hangings with beautiful calligraphy to hang on the wall. Seeing this perfect handiwork of the artisans of rural Bengal and their simple smiles, my chest was filled with an unknown satisfaction. In addition, carved wooden items for household work - rolling pins, pidis, wooden spoons, spatulas (khanti), trays, etc. were arranged with such beautiful finishing that my respect for the tradition of our folk crafts increased.
Next to it, women's cosmetics and children's toy shops were gathering. The colorful sparkles coming out of the various glass bangles in the sunlight made the fair grounds even more colorful.
But the biggest surprise among all this was the favorite hangout place built around the shrine premises - 'Golam Fast Food and Coffee House'. We never thought that we would be able to sit in the middle of Chalanbeel, in a place like a shrine, and sip a steaming cup of hot coffee. We four friends sat in the coffee house, holding coffee cups in our hands, and enjoyed chatting while looking at the surrounding water and nature. Sitting in a pilgrimage site surrounded by water, this tea and coffee chat with friends was one of the best moments of our trip.
After enjoying the serenity of the Trishikali shrine and the bustling atmosphere of the fair, we boarded the trawler again to see the other side of Chalanbeel. After going quite a distance, we got down at another char or ghat on Chalanbeel. As soon as we got down there, we could hear the jubilation, noise, and joyful shouts of hundreds of people coming from afar. Unable to control our curiosity, we four friends quickly moved forward, noticing the sound.
When I got closer, what I saw was how many people were gathered there. Later, I learned that they had also come to Chalanbeel for a boat trip like us. However, their fleet was huge, small and big, about 5 huge boats and trawlers, and they had set out in a huge group to roam around. The presence of 5 large boats tied in a row at the beel ghat and hundreds of people next to them turned the entire ghat area into a festival ground.
The most enjoyable thing was that they did not limit themselves to just eating and drinking or wandering around there; they organized the much-loved and traditional 'pot breaking' competition of rural Bengal, with countless people standing in a circle on the green grass. A pot made of clay was placed in the middle. And the contestants had red cloth or a towel tied tightly over their eyes, and a straight bamboo stick in their hands.
When a blindfolded contestant lost his way and hit an empty spot with a stick instead of a pot, the spectators standing around were laughing with their hands on their stomachs. From the elders to the little children, they were clapping and encouraging each other. One by one, the contestants were coming, blindfolded with red cloth and raising their sticks, carefully moving towards the clay pot - the whole atmosphere was tense. When a contestant reached the pot without losing his aim, the excitement of the spectators reached a boiling point.
The feeling of enjoying this folk game of ours, which was getting lost in the crowd of modernity, with a group of strangers standing on the banks of such an open beel was truly extraordinary. We four friends also mingled with the crowd and clapped and shouted encouragement in tune with the common people. This simple joy and innocent smiles of the people of the land left a deep impression on our hearts.
This entire trip taught us that joy does not require much artificiality. Floating in the open air with friends, hanging out at the Trishikhali Mazar fair and coffee shops amidst the rushing water of Chalanbeel, and watching a group of strangers engage in the traditional game of breaking pots - every moment was absolutely pure and alive. As the sun slowly set in the western sky of Chalanbeel, and the reddish-golden light spread across the water, our four friends felt that this light of memory would remain burning in the corner of our hearts as a piece of absolute peace for the rest of our lives.
(All posts are written in Bengali and translated into English using Google Translate.)
| Camera Used | Samsung SM-G973F |
|---|---|
| F-Stop | F2.4 |
| ISO speed | ISO |
| Focal length | 26mm |
| Flash | No |
| Editing app | Lightroom |
| Photography | (Chalanbeel) |
| Photographer |  @mshbd |
| Location | Natore, Bangladesh |
| Latitude | Longitude | Map Link |
|---|---|---|
| 24.47840 | 89.21139 | [//]:# (!worldmappin 24.47840 lat 89.21139 long d3scr)) |