Garo Catholics celebrated the harvest festival in the Diocese of Mymensingh along with the solemnity of Christ the King in November 2019.
Although the Garo are Christian now, they have kept some of their tribal customs and traditions.
“In the past, when we were animists, we loved the sun god. Now we give thanks to Jesus Christ,” said Fr Fidelis Nengminja, pastor in Biroidakuni, speaking to AsiaNews.
Bangladesh is home to about 120,000 Garos, 99 per cent of them Christian, 80 per cent Catholic. The Diocese of Mymensingh has 17 parishes with many members from tribal communities.
The Garo’s main trait is their matriarchal structure with women as head of the family, children taking the mother’s name, and only females inheriting family assets.
The priest, who is also a Garo, explains that the ethnic group "has abandoned the ancient religion, but not the culture. This is why we enlivened the celebrations by wearing traditional clothes.”
“In the Holy Mass, we preached the coming of Jesus Christ for our salvation,” Father Nengminja said. “He is the King of our Kingdom. We must follow his teachings.”
In all the churches, yesterday’s Mass was celebrated in Achik, the Garo native. As a show of gratitude, the parishioners brought rice, vegetables and fruit.
In the villages people slaughter pigs and cook them for a communal meal. They drink homemade Chu.
In the cities merchants also pay tribute. At this time, marriages and various tributes also take place.
Jewel Areng, a Catholic Member of Parliament who hails from this parish, was the guest of honour at the Biroidakuni event.
"We must take care of our culture because if we do not value our language, traditional garments and customs, one day they will be gone,” he said.
Although the Garo are Christian now, they have kept some of their tribal customs and traditions.
“In the past, when we were animists, we loved the sun god. Now we give thanks to Jesus Christ,” said Fr Fidelis Nengminja, pastor in Biroidakuni, speaking to AsiaNews.
Bangladesh is home to about 120,000 Garos, 99 per cent of them Christian, 80 per cent Catholic. The Diocese of Mymensingh has 17 parishes with many members from tribal communities.
The Garo’s main trait is their matriarchal structure with women as head of the family, children taking the mother’s name, and only females inheriting family assets.
The priest, who is also a Garo, explains that the ethnic group "has abandoned the ancient religion, but not the culture. This is why we enlivened the celebrations by wearing traditional clothes.”
“In the Holy Mass, we preached the coming of Jesus Christ for our salvation,” Father Nengminja said. “He is the King of our Kingdom. We must follow his teachings.”
In all the churches, yesterday’s Mass was celebrated in Achik, the Garo native. As a show of gratitude, the parishioners brought rice, vegetables and fruit.
In the villages people slaughter pigs and cook them for a communal meal. They drink homemade Chu.
In the cities merchants also pay tribute. At this time, marriages and various tributes also take place.
Jewel Areng, a Catholic Member of Parliament who hails from this parish, was the guest of honour at the Biroidakuni event.
"We must take care of our culture because if we do not value our language, traditional garments and customs, one day they will be gone,” he said.
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