IN PICTURES: ‘Nowka Bais’ Bangladeshi boat racing celebrations return to Birmingham

A festival celebrating Bangladeshi boat racing made a welcome return to Birmingham this weekend.

Nowka Bais is the traditional form of dragon boat style racing in rural villages of Bangladesh held after the monsoon rains and reflects many of the customs of the country.

Launched in Birmingham in 2015, the event has gone has become one of the country’s leading Bangladeshi cultural events, attracting thousands of people from all over the UK; and today it made its first post-COVID return to the city.

Held at Edgbaston Reservoir, organisers say a key objective of Nowka Bais is to improve the health and well-being of people living in inner city areas by participating in water sports.

The reservoir and adjacent Springfield park were awash with bright colours, cheers and chants, and beautiful tastes and aromas as teams and spectators came together to enjoy competitive boat races alongside a host of entertainment, Bangladeshi food, music, rides and cultural activities.

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Check out our gallery below for highlights from Nowka Bais:

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