A Muslim youth has been trying to keep the festival alive for 11 years.

After eight o’clock in the evening of Tihar, the movement of people on the streets of Bhairahawa increased. Not only from Rupandehi, but people from Kapilvastu, Nawalparasi and even from India across the border used to come to Bhairahawa to see the glow of Diwali. They had to wait for their turn to take pictures in the photo studio. Shops were open till night. Tihar was not just a festival celebrated at home, it was a festival that connected the entire city.

times have changed. The form of the market has changed. With modern decoration and technology taking place, the old original traditions also started to fade away. Bhairahawa, which was once filled with the excitement of Tihar, is now looking relatively deserted even on the day of Lakshmi Puja. The number of visitors coming from outside has decreased. The collective enthusiasm of the festival is also weakening in the market.

Raheesh Khan, a young businessman from Bhairahawa, has dreamed of bringing back this fading vibe.

Interestingly, a Muslim youth, who has been active in the sound and music business for the last 11 years, has been working alone for the last 11 years to preserve the cultural vibrancy of Tihar, the main festival of the Hindu community.

For Khan, the owner of Unique Sound, it’s not just an entertainment show, it’s a campaign about his city’s identity and social harmony.

“I believe that all religions should be equally loved, just as flowers of different species add beauty to a garden,” Khan says, “I have been doing this work for the last 11 years with the aim of bringing back the old charm of Bhairahawa.” ‘

In his childhood, going to the Diwali fairs with his friends was a special festival for him. The decoration of the market, the cultural program, the crowd of people and the joy of the festival attracted him. With time, as those scenes disappeared, a question started arising in his mind – why not return the glow of Diwali as before?

That question led him to the idea of organizing a cultural program on his own. He felt that being in the business of sound and music, it would be easy for him to manage the technicalities. But it was challenging to believe that the efforts of one person could bring the festival of the entire city back to life.

The first year of the program, he got a better response than expected. The second year was even more encouraging. Many praised his solo efforts. The response that “my brother did such a thing alone” gave him more encouragement.

After that, this program became like his annual campaign. As the years went by, the size and responsibility of the program also increased. This year, he is preparing for the eleventh edition.

The specialty of this effort of Raheesh is not limited to organizing programs during Tihar. A Muslim youth has embraced the festival of the Hindu community as a common festival of his city itself has become an example of social harmony.

For him, the religion may be different, but the city is the same. Everyone should be able to share the joy of the festival. Therefore, in the program he organizes, people of all religions and communities are called to participate respecting the festival of the Hindu community. “I have not linked it with religion. I have tried to preserve the identity of Bhairahawa and the old culture here,” he says. Another of his objectives is to provide a platform to local artists. Local talents get an opportunity to showcase their art through various cultural performances, including singing, dancing. Performances by national artists attract the audience more.

This year too, there will be performances by famous national artists. However, the organizers have continued the old style of giving surprises from the stage without revealing the names of the artists.

It is not easy to organize a continuous program for 11 years. Moreover, it is even more challenging to continue such a festival with your own investment without government grants or institutional financial support.

According to Khan, he has spent more than crores on this campaign so far. It is estimated that more than Rs 10 lakh will be invested for this year’s program alone. He says that a part of the income from the business is spent on the promotion of cultural activities and markets in Bhairahawa. “I have not asked for a single rupee from any government agency or anyone else,” he says. However, this journey is not just praise and encouragement. It takes nine to 10 days of preparation to organize an event. On one part of the road, stage construction, decoration, electricity management, sound system, artist management and security have to be coordinated. This requires coordination with various agencies. He claimed that the road has been kept open for the movement of trucks, ambulances and fire engines at the venue. He said that they are also aware that the program should not be disrupted during the day and the movement of the general public by conducting the program at night. However, problems related to police, administration and traffic management have weakened his enthusiasm in recent years.

He complained that although there was not much protest from the local traders and the residents of the city, some people from outside take pictures and send them to the traffic and administration, after which various kinds of pressure were created.

He says that in the last four to five days, due to the pressure of the police, administration and traffic, the program has been stopped and the decoration structures have been opened. “We work at night so that no one is inconvenienced. We also keep the entry of ambulances, fire trucks and trucks open. But after facing problems even after this, I am in a dilemma whether to do such a program or not,” Khan lamented. According to him, the support and facilitation of the administration is necessary to make the program systematic.

An environment should be created where cultural activities can continue in the city by adhering to the rules and safety standards.

This year’

s ‘Unique Diwali Festival-2083’ will be held on November 8 at Milan Chowk in Bhairahawa. The program will run from 6 pm to 12 midnight and will include singing, dance and cultural performances. In coordination with the District Administration Office, a stage has been set up on a part of the road and preparations have been made to conduct the program.

The road and surrounding areas are being decorated with twinkling lights and attractive decorations. The organizers expect more than 50,000 spectators to participate. Spectators from Rupandehi, neighboring districts and from across the border are also expected to come.

The program is being facilitated and coordinated by the Rupandehi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The organization’s president Sachin Rokka considers Rahis’s solo efforts commendable. He said that the organization has been helping to coordinate with the security agencies and other related agencies.

“Due to the current economic situation, security and various other reasons, it is difficult to get the required support institutionally. But we are trying to revive the Tihar celebrated in Bhairahawa in the past. Rahish Bhai has contributed a lot to this,” says Rokka.

According to him, industrialists, entrepreneurs, social organizations and local governments also have the responsibility to bring back the old vibrancy of Tihar. Rahis’s dream is not just to gather 50,000 people this year. He wants to see the same old Diwali again in Bhairahawa, where people can forget the boundaries of religion, community and region and enjoy the same festival. Let the shops in the market shine, the streets should be bustling and the festival should connect the entire city. As a Muslim youth tries to add light to the Hindu festival with his own investment and sweat, his campaign also sends an important message that culture is not the property of any one religion or community, it is the identity of a common society. Rahish’s ‘Diwali dream’ to revive the fading Tihar of Bhairahawa needs the support of the entire city along with personal enthusiasm.