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Rash Mela at Dublar Char, Sundarbans

On an island of the Sundarbans near the Bay of Bengal, Rash Purnima brings three days of puja, a fair and a sea bath.

Last checked: 2 Nov 2026 · 2 sources

Where is Dublar Char

Dublar Char is an island in Bagerhat district on the southern edge of the Sundarbans near the Bay of Bengal. It covers about 66.5 square km. (Source: Wikipedia, Dublar Char)

When the Rash Mela is held

The fair is held every year in the month of Kartik, around Rash Purnima, and lasts three days. (Source: Wikipedia, Dublar Char)

Dhaka Tribune's 2025 report says the festival falls on the full moon at the end of Kartik or the start of Agrahayan. In 2025 it ended on the morning of Wednesday 5 November. (Source: Dhaka Tribune, 3-day Ras Mela ends at Dublar Char (5 November 2025))

How it began

The festival is often said to be 200 years old, but historical accounts suggest it began in 1923. Wikipedia says it was started by Haribhajan (1829-1923), a forest-dwelling devotee of Harichand Thakur. (Source: Wikipedia, Dublar Char)

What happens at the mela

Devotees take a holy dip in the sea, float fruits on the water at sunrise, and some play instruments and sing bhajans and kirtans. (Source: Wikipedia, Dublar Char)

In 2025 Dhaka Tribune reported lakhs of devotees, with devotees and tourists from about 15 countries including Japan and Canada. Devotees sat in rows along roughly five km of seashore to pray. (Source: Dhaka Tribune, 3-day Ras Mela ends at Dublar Char (5 November 2025))

That year pilgrims began arriving by trawler and launch from the morning of Monday 3 November under forest and coast guard security. A Bangla Academy deputy director opened the festival on the morning of 4 November. The East Sundarbans forest officer said no untoward incident took place. (Source: Dhaka Tribune, 3-day Ras Mela ends at Dublar Char (5 November 2025))

💡 Skip plastic to protect the Sundarbans, and confirm your boat or launch booking well ahead.

💡 Entry rules and permits can change from year to year. Check with the Forest Department or organisers before you go.

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