Greetings everyone! This Mohammad Sumon! from #Bangladesh

^{Hello everyone! I hope you all are doing well by the grace of the Almighty.}

Today, I am very excited to share my entry for the Contest. A special thanks to my friend@josepha, for hosting such an engaging competition.

^{Spreading positivity and creativity through my words.}

My Community, My Story

Festivals are not just noise and commotion for me; festivals are an invisible connection between our roots, our traditions, and the love between people. Although our society hosts various events throughout the year, the sacrifice animal market that is built around the holy Eid-ul-Azha is a very familiar and emotional scene of our folk culture.

A fusion of folk culture and love at Kalshi livestock market

To be honest, this year I was not able to offer a sacrifice due to a lack of financial means. Although my heart is a little heavy, I think that even if I do not have the means, I cannot deprive myself of the joy of going to this traditional market of our culture and the feeling of witnessing the excitement of the people! So on May 25, I went to the famous Kalshi animal market in our area. In today's post, I will try to highlight my experience of that day and the form of this tradition of our society in my eyes.

In my opinion, the sacrifice animal market is not just a place to buy and sell; it is a strange combination of rural life and the city. Farmers or ranchers who have been raising animals in the village with utmost love throughout the year come to this time and exchange views with the city people with smiles.

Even if I am not lucky enough to offer my own sacrifice, going to the market to see the gathering of thousands of animals, observing the faces of the farmers, and witnessing the joy of the people is also a unique experience for me. The market that I visited on May 25 is called Kalshi Cow-Chagaler Hat (next to Pallabi Notun Canal, Kalshi More, Dhaka). Its detailed location is given below:

Banners and bamboo structures set up for the local cattle market	The vibrant entrance to a bustling seasonal cattle market

• Place Name: Kalshi Cattle Market

• Address: Kalshi 16 Bigha Sand Field, Kalshi Junction, Pallabi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Vibrant cattle market scene showcasing our local heritage	Capturing the traditional spirit and lively atmosphere of the cattle market

I personally believe that this livestock market touches on three main pillars of our society:

• The great lesson of sacrifice: Sacrifice teaches us to sacrifice. I think that even if we cannot sacrifice ourselves, the atmosphere of the market conveys a message of self-purification and compassion to people.

• Farmers' dreams and livelihood: In my view, this market is the lifeblood of the rural economy. The hope that farmers from far and wide have of getting the right price for their animals at this market after a year of hard work is truly touching.

• Social harmony: A genuine expression of social love is seen in the way young and old in the neighborhood go to the market together, bargain, and enjoy the beauty of the animals.

Well-equipped 'receipt room' and receipt collection area	Police control room and veterinary center booth

While visiting the market, I noticed that there is no shortage of beauty and arrangements here:

• Cattle Care: I found the most touching behavior of the farmers. With utmost compassion, they are giving the animals rice husk and water in a bowl. In addition, the City Corporation (DNCC) employees are trying to keep the environment clean by spraying disinfectant.

• Security and Management: To facilitate shopping, the police control room, Al-Arafah and Eastern Bank's "counterfeit note detection booth," and a large "Hasil Ghar" with a 5% fee are noticeable.

• Simple food on the roadside (Food & Refreshment): In my opinion, the taste of cold lemon sorbet or hot muri next to the market is different. It brings instant peace to a tired body.

• Simple clothes and bargains: Everyone is walking around comfortably wearing simple cotton clothes, lungis, or T-shirts. The sound of buyers and sellers haggling over delicious deals permeates the air of the market.

Fake note detection booth operated under the supervision of the bank	Digital Payment collection Booth

When I went to the market and saw the sleek and huge black-and-white spotted bulls, my eyes were filled with tears.

But if I were asked what my favorite part of this festival was,

I would say, The farmers love for the animals, the genuine joy on the faces of the buyers, and the lively atmosphere in front of the Hasil Ghar. Although I could not afford to buy the animals myself, talking to the farmers who came from far and wide and feeling their emotions was the biggest achievement of the day for me.

A glance at the bustling traditional local cattle market	Large crowd of visitors and buyers at the cattle market

I think this market instantly erases the gap between the rich and the common people of our society. Everyone stands on the same mud and sand and talks. Some are buying animals, and some like me are enjoying watching them—but in the place of love, we are all one.

In my opinion, should a visitor or tourist come here?

I would say 100% emphatically, yes! Because:

1. In my view, this is the best place to get to know the true form of Bengali culture and rural economy.

2. The labor of farmers and the social interaction of people are seen so closely nowhere else.

3. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience shopping, banking services, and the joy of local people under one roof.

A very regal and graceful Sahiwal bull brought to the market	Cattle resting peacefully under a bamboo shade

Taking care of cattle inside a temporary market shed	A farmer is tending to livestock under a canopy

Infrastructure: In my observation, the initiative of laying bamboo and blue-green tarpaulin sheds and sand on the ground in the 16-bigha field of Kalshi is quite commendable.

Security and Booths: The haat seemed quite safe to me with the presence of a police control room, bank booth, and medical center.

Cleanliness: The fogging and spraying services of the city corporation have helped keep the environment mosquito-free and livable.

Hasil Ghar: The clear arrangement of the 5% fee set for buyers and sellers of animals has made buying and selling easier

I have shared the short video of 3 minutes 08 seconds that I have recorded below. I believe that by watching this video, you will be able to experience the well-organized sheds, the cleanliness, and the genuine interaction of people at Kalshi Hat with your own eyes:

Magnificent livestock on display under the market shed	A healthy brown bull displayed at the cattle market

Cattle resting peacefully under the red shaded canopy	Healthy bulls displayed under temporary shelters at the livestock fair

IPFS Video