Lal Kach Puja is a rare and visually-striking folk ritual practiced in parts of rural Bangladesh just before Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year). Its roots lie in agrarian religious systems and the rite is a sign of protection, purification and embracing prosperity. In villages, red glass objects are brought out in ceremonies, processions and offerings, believed to keep evil and bad luck away. The tour is led by Istiyak Ahamed Srabon, a professional tour guide in Dhaka for many years. Why Join Our Lal Kach Photo Workshop? Cultural immersion: dive deep into the vibrant traditions and everyday life of rural Bangladesh. Exclusive access: unique encounters with local communities, artisans, and pilgrims. Cultural immersion: dive deep into the vibrant traditions and everyday life of rural Bangladesh and its unique folk heritage.
Start with the food supply chain and non stop human movement in Dhaka. Karwan Bazar is a picture of sweat and hustle of labour and trade. The adjacent railway tracks and informal settlements are life on the margin. Kamalapur Railway Station captures stories of waiting, departure and everyday urban life.
14 April 2027 – Pohela Boishakh 1434
Today Bangladesh welcomes the Bengali New Year.
We begin early to photograph the New Year celebrations and the transformation of Dhaka’s streets into a huge cultural gathering.
The exact locations and access arrangements for major events such as Mangal Shobhajatra will depend on the official programme announced for 2027.
Visit Sreemangal, the Tea Capital of Bangladesh. Photograph undulating tea gardens, tea pluckers at work, daily life in worker camps, and indigenous village life impacted by plantation culture.
Lal Kach Puja is a ritual performed before the Bengali New Year to protect and cleanse. The villagers offer symbolic red glass objects to protect them from evil and for prosperity. The ceremony develops through peaceful prayers, processions and meetings of the community closely related to agrarian spiritual systems.
Capturing the raw human stories, vibrant cultural festivals, and breathtaking heritage landscapes of Bangladesh through immersive documentary photography expeditions.