Baishakhi Mela Chattogram

বৈশাখী মেলা চট্টগ্রাম

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Cultural & TraditionalChattogram
DatesDates TBA · Usually AprilCheck locally before booking
Duration1 dayListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLiving tradition, ritual symbolsThe signature feature is Jabbar's Boli
Language["bn"]Currency: BDT
CategoryCultural & TraditionalFestival type
The story

Baishakhi Mela Chattogram in Chattogram

Chattogram's signature Baishakhi fair spreads for kilometers around Laldighi Maidan, built around Jabbar's Boli Khela, a no-punches wrestling competition running since 1909. More than 2,500 stalls have been reported selling toys, bangles, masks and street food, making it a denser, more informal market than Dhaka's curated Bangla Academy fair. It traditionally falls on 12 Baishakh, about two weeks after Pahela Boishakh itself, rather than on new year's day.

Chattogram's best-known Baishakhi fair grows up around Laldighi Maidan for Jabbar's Boli Khela, a wrestling competition started in 1909 by local merchant Abdul Jabbar Sawdagar and still held there each year.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The signature feature is Jabbar's Boli Khela, a century-plus-old wrestling tradition (started 1909) held at Laldighi Maidan with a distinctive local rule: wrestlers must bring an opponent down cleanly on the sandy ground with no strikes and no scoring system, just a takedown

02

The mystery stays covered

The fair that surrounds it is reported to reach more than 2,500 stalls spread over several kilometers, considerably larger and more sprawling than a typical city Baishakhi mela, run by traveling artisans, potters and blacksmiths rather than curated craft-category stalls

03

The city starts moving

Because the wrestling match itself draws a large dedicated local crowd, the fair has a distinct focal event, unlike a mela that is purely browsing and shopping

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Jabbar's Boli Khela follows a no-strike takedown rule with no points system

Water and renewal

Living ritual

a format unchanged since Abdul Jabbar Sawdagar founded the competition in 1909

The sacred route

Living ritual

the surrounding fair has grown up around the wrestling match as its anchor event rather than existing independently of it

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually April

Getting around

Use the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.

What to wear

Light, breathable clothing for Chattogram's April-into-May heat and humidity, and shoes suited to a long day of walking on pavement and open ground rather than sandals that slip in a crowd.

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

Stay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

["bn"] · BDT

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map22.33 N, 91.83 EOpen in Google Maps

Chattogram, Chattogram, Bangladesh

Nearest airportCGP — Shah Amanat
TransportUse the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.
Stay areaStay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Chattogram via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Chattogram, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for April.Compare faresFestival gearLight, breathable clothing for Chattogram's April-into-May heat and humidity, and shoes suited to a long day of walking on pavement and open ground rather than sandals that slip in a crowd.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Bangladesh and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Baishakhi Mela Chattogram?

Baishakhi Mela Chattogram is listed for Past edition: 11 April 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Baishakhi Mela Chattogram take place?

The festival is listed in Chattogram, Bangladesh. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

One day is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Needs editorial review. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Chattogram, Chattogram, Bangladesh

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLAwaiting confirmation
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually April
Source statusNeeds editorial review
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