"Mardi Gras" comes from the French for “Fat Tuesday” — traditionally the last opportunity to eat rich food before the Christian fasting period of Lent begins.
It is linked to ancient pagan celebrations of spring and fertility that were absorbed and modified to fit Christian theology.
There are Mardi Gras festivals all around the world, with probably the most famous being in Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil, and in New Orleans, in the United States.
But in Sydney it has changed its nature again, becoming a global celebration of LGBTIQ+ culture, and an iconic movement for social justice.
It started in a period of social upheaval in Australia.
On June the 24th, 1978, a street protest in Sydney - intended as a peaceful march to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall riots for gay rights in New York City - ended in brutality.
Listen to the feature in Bangla in the audio player above.
