SIRAJGANJ, Feb 3, 2025 (BSS) - A nearly 300 year-old traditional Doi Mela (curd fair) is being held in Sirajganj and Tarash marking the Saraswati Puja like every year.

Yogurt sellers set up stalls of seasonal and delicious yogurt at this fair. 

This yogurt is being sold in various stalls at Sirajganj and Tarash Bazar from morning to afternoon on Sunday.

Buyers flocked to buy yogurt of various names and flavors including Khirsa Doi, Shahi Doi, Tok doi, Sripuri doi and others at the fair.
 
Yogurt lovers hoped that this fair, which has been arranged for ages in continuation of tradition, will expand further in the coming days.

It is known that the yogurt fair begins every year on Sri Panchami Tithi, the day of Saraswati Puja in the winter month of Magh. 

On the other hand, the then landlord of Tarash in the Chalanbil-dominated district, Param Vaisnab Banwari Lal Roy Bahadur, introduced the first yogurt fair.

It is a popular belief in the area that landlord Raja Roy Bahadur himself loved yogurt and sweets.

Therefore, the landlord used to serve yogurt made by Ghoshs, a caste of Hindus who make sweets, in this area to entertain guests coming to his house. 

And from then on, the landlord started introducing a day-long yogurt fair on the occasion of Saraswati Puja in the grounds of the Rashik Roy temple in front of his house.

Ranjit Ghosh of Roni Mishtanna Bhandar, a distributor of delicious yogurt, said, "I brought 15 maunds of yogurt today." He is optimistic that it will be finished by noon due to the demand for yogurt. However, the price of yogurt has also increased due to the increase in the price of milk, fuel, labor costs, and the price of yogurt pots.

Sushanta and Ranjit Ghosh of Rajapur in Belkuchi upazila said, "Rajapur and Enayetpur's yogurt has a good reputation in the district. That's why there is a high demand for our yogurt. Since the fair is a day-long event, no Ghosh's yogurt remains unsold. Rather, we are trying our best to meet the needs of the buyers."

Sanjay Saha, who came to buy yogurt on Mujib Road in the city, said, "The yogurt fair starts on Sri Panchami Tithi, the day of Saraswati Puja. Like every year, the yogurt fair is being held this year too. On the occasion of this fair, I buy yogurt for my relatives. On this day, I organize yogurt chira muri with my family and relatives."

Surjit Saha, who came to buy yogurt at the fair, said, "Every year, I buy yogurt from this fair in the morning. Many guests have come to my house on the occasion of Saraswati Puja. I am buying yogurt to entertain them."

Deepak Kar, who came to buy yogurt, said, "Many relatives, including my sister and son-in-law, have come on the occasion of Saraswati Puja." The yogurt here is very delicious. Every year I buy 10 to 12 kg of yogurt.

 However, this time the price is a little higher, but the demand is also very high.

Junayet Ahmed Sabuj said, I have come to buy yogurt on Mujib Road in the city. Every year we buy this yogurt. The yogurts here are very tasty. That is why buyers flock here to buy yogurt. This yogurt fair has been held for ages in continuation of tradition.

President of Sirajganj District Puja Udjavan Parishad Santosh Kumar Kanu said the traditional yogurt fair of about three hundred years is being held like every year. This yogurt fair is held on the occasion of Saraswati Puja on the day of Shri Panchami in the month of Magh in the winter season. This yogurt fair is being celebrated with great enthusiasm in Sirajganj and Tarash.