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How are you all? I hope you are all well by the grace of God. Let's get started.

With the evolution of time, the traditional palanquin is now just history. A palanquin is a traditional ancient vehicle for carrying people. This vehicle carries 1 or 2 passengers and 2, 4 or 8 carriers carry it from one place to another on their shoulders. The word palanquin is derived from Sanskrit 'Palyanka' or 'Paryanka'. The name of this vehicle in Pali is 'Palanco'. It is known as Palki in Hindi and Bengali. The famous traveler Ibn Battuta and the fourteenth-century traveler John Magnoli are known to have used palanquins during their travels. During the reign of Emperor Akbar and later, the palanquin was one of the transport vehicles of the generals. Before the invention of modern vehicles, the elite traveled by palanquin. The tradition of using palanquins for bride and groom in weddings and other auspicious occasions has been going on for a long time in the Trivant region of the district.Ambia Begum, a 70-year-old woman from Sirajdikhan in the district, said that at the age of 20, she left her father's house and came to her husband's house on a palanquin. Now I am old, I remember that day. Whenever there was a wedding in the village, the groom used to bring the bride in a palanquin to sing and sing. Now palanquins are no longer seen.

Bak bakum pyara, tiara on the head, the wife will dress tomorrow, will ride the golden palanquin.' The rhyme is reminiscent of the traditional palanquin culture of the village of Bengal. In Ramganj upazila, palanquin, the traditional ancient vehicle for carrying the bride and bridegroom, is no longer seen as it used to be. Can't even hear it. The bride goes hunna, hunna on a clever swing. 40/45 years ago palanquin was the only thing used in the country for weddings.The story of how many laughs and jokes around the palanquin can be heard even today from grandparents or mothers is absolutely thrilling. This palanquin, witness to many events, is lost today. Apart from this palanquin was used for various purposes including transportation. A palanquin was used with one or two passengers in this vehicle. It was carried from place to place by 4 or 8 bearers on their shoulders. Palkans are of various shapes and designs. The smallest and most common palanquin (duli) is carried by two. Most bod palanquins are carried by four to eight palanquin bearers. The palanquin bearers are called Beharas or Kahars. People from Hadi, Mal, Dule, Bagdi, Baudi etc. communities carry palanquins. While carrying the palanquin they sing a special tune. The rhythm of the song changes according to the pace of their movement.

Those palkis were decorated with wooden birds, puppets and foliage designs. Rabindra Nath Tagore used palanquins to visit his zamindari Kachari during his stay at Shilaidha. Since the introduction of rickshaws in urban areas in the 1930s, the use of palanquins has gradually increased. The continued expansion of communication systems, the movement of motor and other vehicles on roads and rivers, and the popularization of pedal rickshaws led to the end of the use of palanquins.With the evolution of time, the ancient traditions of Bengal are all disappearing.Gomares, a palanquin driver in Pura Bazar of Tongibari Upazila of Munshiganj, said that our ancestors used palanquins to carry the bride and groom during weddings. We were once people of Calcutta, in order to maintain the continuity of the family, we also moved to Bangladesh to make a living by driving a palanquin. We are not invited to weddings like before. We have to work hard to run the family. We get invited to one or two weddings a month. How does the family live with what I get?

See you soon.