Why is traditional Mela abolished from

Bangladesh? How can we regain this

traditional retail system?
About Traditional mela
Mela is a Sanskrit word meaning "gathering" or "to meet" or a "fair". It is used in the Indian
subcontinent for all sizes of gatherings and can be religious, commercial, cultural or sport-
related. In rural traditions melas or village fairs were of great importance.
A village fair is an annual affair of the villagers. It is a small exhibition of fancy goods. It is
usually held once in a year on an open place either in a riverbank or under a big tree. It lasts for
two to seven days or more. There are hundreds of stalls for selling various articles. Such as toys,
dolls, balloons, ribbons, wooden-utensils, earthen pots, household goods, baskets etc. There is a
large number of sweetmeat stalls and they tame the buyers. Especially the children like more this
than any other things. The chief objects of attention are Circus party, Puppet show, and Jatra all
around. It is also a meeting ground for the old and the young, the rich and the poor. It is
considered an important part of our culture.

Traditional mela In Bangladesh

A village fair is an annual affair in the rural areas of Bangladesh. It is a large gathering place for
men, women, and children. The village people gather here to sell and buy local products. It is a
great attraction for children. It is a traditional occasion of village life. It is a great source of
recreation. They welcome a fair. It is not only profit but also pride that makes them come to the
village fair.

A village fair usually sits in the central part of the village or on the bank of a river or at the market
place or in the yard of a temple. It is generally held on the occasion of a religious festival or on the
death anniversary of a holy man. It is also held in the beginning day of Baishakh. It lasts for a day
or for days together.

A village fair is a kind of exhibition. It is generally held in the central part of the village or on the
bank of a river or under the spreading big banyan tree. The people of different professions bring
their own handmade articles for sale and display. The shop-keepers sit in rows. Clothes, toys,
cheap ornaments, cosmetics, cheap fancy goods, utensils, bamboo made articles, sweetmeats and
many other attractive things are sold in the village fair. The most attractive items are circus parties,
Jatra parties, puppet shows, magic shows, etc. There are also earthenware’s and stationery goods
in a village fair. Everybody buys things after his own choice.

People of different classes visit a village fair and can enjoy different attractions there. The main
attractions are Jatra, Circus, Doll-dance, magic show, etc. A merry-go-round attracts the children
most. Even the grown-up people cannot but take this funny opportunity of having pleasure.

A village fair comes to the use of the villagers in many ways. It acts like a market for cottage \
industries and encourages the artisans, craftsmen, potters, weavers, and cultivators. It also gives
enjoyment to the simple villagers. Various kinds of sweetmeats and seasonal fruits are also
available here.

A village fair has some demerits. It has no proper sanitation. A village fair has some demerits too.
Sometimes gamblers play gambling. It harms the youth. Pick pocketers also take the opportunity
in the midst of the crowd. Gambling parties are often seen in a village fair. These cause economic
loss to the simple villagers. From this, the innocent boys get the first training to go astray. Its
ultimate result is very fatal for society. In spite of having some demerits, it has some educative and
traditional values.

A village fair is much hooked for the occasion of the village people. It brings a valuable and
essential change in the life of the villagers. It bears the testimony of the tradition. It broadens their
thinking and inspires them. It plays an important role in our economic development. We learn
where things are made and what economic progress there has been in the locality and we meet and
mix with a variety of people, all this is a good lesson for us. The Govt. should encourage the fair
as they promote rural arts and crafts

Reason of traditional mela abolishment

As our lives move away from our rural agrarian roots, more and more traditions that were
quintessential to the Bengali experience are slowly lost.

Some of these are left in the past where they belong, but some deserve the right to be
nurtured, protected, and preserved for ourselves, and the generations that will only hear
about a rural Bengal. A village fair or "grammo mela" is, I believe, one such piece of
intangible heritage.

The main reason of abolishing village fair is technologically development, availability of

product, No new variation in traditional mela.Peoples are lost their interest day by day and
move on Social media ,online market, etc
 Way of regain this traditional retail system
If we regain our traditional Culture, we must change the system that’s why peoples are feel
attract again for those traditional fair. Now the question is how we can change the system?
Actually, we should Upgrade the system and identify the people’s needs. we can give different
attractive offer or great and unique collection of products which not usually available those
places. Not only this there must be some recreational activities which can attract all ages people.

Conclusion
Village fair is our tradition Culture. From Ancient period this culture comes by different
generations. But today this culture Almost abolished. Traditional fair is of great use to an
agricultural country like Bangladesh. Women find a large scale for the annual market for their
handmade things though it is not free from defects. Gambling is an unhealthy feature of a fair.
Sometimes a fair is wanting in proper sanitation. Yet the people of villages organize a village fair
for a recreation. Thus, it fosters in the village people with the spirit of co-operation and
friendliness.