Dr. Md. Shairul Mashreque :
We wholeheartedly welcome Bengali New Year. Pahela Baishakh has been earmarked as the advent of happy new year. It is an indigenous culture observed with due solemnity by Bangalees irrespective of ‘their religion, cast and creed’. The significant event is being celebrated with festivity and entertainment by Bangalees and also by aboriginals. The tribes celebrating it call it Baishabi. Bengali calendar set the schedule of observing new year and this is followed in various regions- Asam, West Bengal, Tripura, Kerala etc. To cite Wikipedia :
The Bengali calendar is tied to the Indian solar calendar, based on the Surya Siddhanta. As with many other variants of the Indian solar calendar, the Bengali calendar commences in mid-April of the Gregorian year. The first day of the Bengali year therefore coincides with the mid-April new year in Mithila, Assam, Burma, Cambodia, Kerala, Manipur, Nepal, Odisha, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu and Thailand.The development of the Bengali calendar is often attributed to king of Gaur or Gauda, Shoshanko as the starting date falls squarely within his reign. King Shoshanko of Gaur is credited with starting the Bengali era..Mughal emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar introduced a revised Bengali calendar to make tax collection easier in Bengal. The Mughals collected tax according to the Islamic calendar and Akbar ordered an improvement of the calendar systems, because the lunar Islamic calendar did not agree with the harvests and the farmers faced severe difficulties in paying taxes out of season. Some sources credit the idea to the Finance Minister of Akbar, Todar Mal. The distinctive characteristic of this revised Bengali year was that, rather than being a solar or lunar calendar, it was based on a union of the solar and lunar year. This was essentially a great promotion, as the solar and lunar years were formulated in very diverse systems. Primarily this calendar was named as ‘Fasli San’ and then ‘Bôngabdô’. The Bengali Year was launched on 10/11 March 1584, but was dated from 5 November 1556 or 963 Hijri. This was the day that Akbar defeated Himu in the clash of Panipath 2 to ascend the throne.
I can well remember during this festive occasion there appeared to be the observance of Halkhata amidst entertainment of regular customers with sweets and Nimki. This is symbolic of opening of new account. It is believed to bestow blessings to the shopkeepers practicing business ethics. Now a days Halkhata is almost non-entity and the traders seldom follow ethical code of conduct in business. Also taking up food item like Panta Ilish fish drawing widespread popularity was not there in olden time. We were not used to enjoying hilsa fish with Panta bhat. This has ridiculously crept in our culture. True this is not a season of Hilsha. Hilsha appears in the market in plenty in August-September.
We observe Pahela Baishakh only not thinking to follow Bengali calendar. English dates, month, year have been internalised in our mind. Get the habit of using Bengali calendar. We should remember the sacrifice made by our Language Martyrs. Ekushey reminds us of the values of indigenous culture and the practice of reading and writing and composition of poems, psalms, novels and short stories, constructing statues and drawing photos of course with progressive orientations. Also cultural practice is the distribution of sweets and cooking of paes, firni, khir and pitha, and other special food to mark the occasion.
There is no religious bar to the celebration. I think celebration of festivals in line with racial or sub-racial culture should not be termed as anti-religious. Linguistic culture and culture based on religious values are two different things. Acceptance of any local rituals oozing from the popular psyche should not come into conflict with religion. In Bengal we observe rituals connected with agriculture and our life style. These are merrymaking ceremonies within local traditions. These have also spiritual meanings and symbolic significance.
But celebration with wild jubilation at the cost of the security especially of women is not desirable. Untoward incidence like raping women should not be allowed to happen. Also alarming is the explosion of bomb as it happened in the recent past in Ramna Batmul. Celebrated cultural organization like Chayanot arranged the function. We want tight security with CC camera in open space function and function in the auditorium.
“The wearing of masks and blowing of horns like Vuvuzela will also be banned during the daylong festivities, which include the ‘Mangal Shobhajatra’, the signature Bangla New Year rally, on the Dhaka University campus.The decision has drawn flak, but the Olama League praised it”.”The Bengali New Year begins at dawn, and the day is marked with singing, processions, and fairs. Traditionally, businesses start this day with a new ledger, clearing out the old. People of Bangladesh enjoy a national holiday on Pahela Baishakh. All over the country people can enjoy fairs and festivals. Singers perform traditional songs welcoming the new year. People enjoy classical jatra plays. Like other festivals of the region, the day is marked by visiting relatives, friends and neighbours.
People prepare special dishes for their guests.The festivities from the deep heartland of Bengal have now evolved to become vast events in the cities, especially the capital Dhaka.In Dhaka and other large cities, the festivals begin with people gathering under a big tree. People also find any bank of a lake or river to witness the sunrise. Artists present songs to welcome the new year, particularly with Rabindranath Tagore’s well-known song ‘Esho, he Boishakh’. People from all spheres of life wear classic Bengali dress. Women wear saris with their hair bedecked in flowers. Likewise, men prefer to wear panjabis. Of the major holidays celebrated in Bangladesh and West Bengal, only Pôila Boishakh comes without any preexisting expectations. Unlike Eid ul-Fitr and Durga Puja, where dressing up in lavish clothes has become a norm, or Christmas where exchanging gifts has become an essential part, Pôila Boishakh is about celebrating the simpler, rural heartland roots. Boishakh is celebrated with grandeur and colours in Dhaka and other parts of Bangladesh.
The celebrations are started at the break of dawn with a rendition of Rabindranath Tagore’s song ‘Esho he Baishakh’ by Chhayanat under the banyan tree at Ramna (the Ramna Batamul). An integral part of the festivities in the capital is the Mongol Shobhajatra, a traditional colourful procession organised by the students of the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka(Charukala). The procession has a different theme relevant to the country’s culture and politics every year. Different cultural organizations and bands also perform on this occasion and fairs celebrating Bengali culture are organised throughout the country. Other traditional events held to celebrate Poila Boishakh include bull racing in Munshiganj, wrestling in Chittagong, boat racing, cockfights, and pigeon racing.”
We wholeheartedly welcome Bengali New Year. Pahela Baishakh has been earmarked as the advent of happy new year. It is an indigenous culture observed with due solemnity by Bangalees irrespective of ‘their religion, cast and creed’. The significant event is being celebrated with festivity and entertainment by Bangalees and also by aboriginals. The tribes celebrating it call it Baishabi. Bengali calendar set the schedule of observing new year and this is followed in various regions- Asam, West Bengal, Tripura, Kerala etc. To cite Wikipedia :
The Bengali calendar is tied to the Indian solar calendar, based on the Surya Siddhanta. As with many other variants of the Indian solar calendar, the Bengali calendar commences in mid-April of the Gregorian year. The first day of the Bengali year therefore coincides with the mid-April new year in Mithila, Assam, Burma, Cambodia, Kerala, Manipur, Nepal, Odisha, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu and Thailand.The development of the Bengali calendar is often attributed to king of Gaur or Gauda, Shoshanko as the starting date falls squarely within his reign. King Shoshanko of Gaur is credited with starting the Bengali era..Mughal emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar introduced a revised Bengali calendar to make tax collection easier in Bengal. The Mughals collected tax according to the Islamic calendar and Akbar ordered an improvement of the calendar systems, because the lunar Islamic calendar did not agree with the harvests and the farmers faced severe difficulties in paying taxes out of season. Some sources credit the idea to the Finance Minister of Akbar, Todar Mal. The distinctive characteristic of this revised Bengali year was that, rather than being a solar or lunar calendar, it was based on a union of the solar and lunar year. This was essentially a great promotion, as the solar and lunar years were formulated in very diverse systems. Primarily this calendar was named as ‘Fasli San’ and then ‘Bôngabdô’. The Bengali Year was launched on 10/11 March 1584, but was dated from 5 November 1556 or 963 Hijri. This was the day that Akbar defeated Himu in the clash of Panipath 2 to ascend the throne.
I can well remember during this festive occasion there appeared to be the observance of Halkhata amidst entertainment of regular customers with sweets and Nimki. This is symbolic of opening of new account. It is believed to bestow blessings to the shopkeepers practicing business ethics. Now a days Halkhata is almost non-entity and the traders seldom follow ethical code of conduct in business. Also taking up food item like Panta Ilish fish drawing widespread popularity was not there in olden time. We were not used to enjoying hilsa fish with Panta bhat. This has ridiculously crept in our culture. True this is not a season of Hilsha. Hilsha appears in the market in plenty in August-September.
We observe Pahela Baishakh only not thinking to follow Bengali calendar. English dates, month, year have been internalised in our mind. Get the habit of using Bengali calendar. We should remember the sacrifice made by our Language Martyrs. Ekushey reminds us of the values of indigenous culture and the practice of reading and writing and composition of poems, psalms, novels and short stories, constructing statues and drawing photos of course with progressive orientations. Also cultural practice is the distribution of sweets and cooking of paes, firni, khir and pitha, and other special food to mark the occasion.
There is no religious bar to the celebration. I think celebration of festivals in line with racial or sub-racial culture should not be termed as anti-religious. Linguistic culture and culture based on religious values are two different things. Acceptance of any local rituals oozing from the popular psyche should not come into conflict with religion. In Bengal we observe rituals connected with agriculture and our life style. These are merrymaking ceremonies within local traditions. These have also spiritual meanings and symbolic significance.
But celebration with wild jubilation at the cost of the security especially of women is not desirable. Untoward incidence like raping women should not be allowed to happen. Also alarming is the explosion of bomb as it happened in the recent past in Ramna Batmul. Celebrated cultural organization like Chayanot arranged the function. We want tight security with CC camera in open space function and function in the auditorium.
“The wearing of masks and blowing of horns like Vuvuzela will also be banned during the daylong festivities, which include the ‘Mangal Shobhajatra’, the signature Bangla New Year rally, on the Dhaka University campus.The decision has drawn flak, but the Olama League praised it”.”The Bengali New Year begins at dawn, and the day is marked with singing, processions, and fairs. Traditionally, businesses start this day with a new ledger, clearing out the old. People of Bangladesh enjoy a national holiday on Pahela Baishakh. All over the country people can enjoy fairs and festivals. Singers perform traditional songs welcoming the new year. People enjoy classical jatra plays. Like other festivals of the region, the day is marked by visiting relatives, friends and neighbours.
People prepare special dishes for their guests.The festivities from the deep heartland of Bengal have now evolved to become vast events in the cities, especially the capital Dhaka.In Dhaka and other large cities, the festivals begin with people gathering under a big tree. People also find any bank of a lake or river to witness the sunrise. Artists present songs to welcome the new year, particularly with Rabindranath Tagore’s well-known song ‘Esho, he Boishakh’. People from all spheres of life wear classic Bengali dress. Women wear saris with their hair bedecked in flowers. Likewise, men prefer to wear panjabis. Of the major holidays celebrated in Bangladesh and West Bengal, only Pôila Boishakh comes without any preexisting expectations. Unlike Eid ul-Fitr and Durga Puja, where dressing up in lavish clothes has become a norm, or Christmas where exchanging gifts has become an essential part, Pôila Boishakh is about celebrating the simpler, rural heartland roots. Boishakh is celebrated with grandeur and colours in Dhaka and other parts of Bangladesh.
The celebrations are started at the break of dawn with a rendition of Rabindranath Tagore’s song ‘Esho he Baishakh’ by Chhayanat under the banyan tree at Ramna (the Ramna Batamul). An integral part of the festivities in the capital is the Mongol Shobhajatra, a traditional colourful procession organised by the students of the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka(Charukala). The procession has a different theme relevant to the country’s culture and politics every year. Different cultural organizations and bands also perform on this occasion and fairs celebrating Bengali culture are organised throughout the country. Other traditional events held to celebrate Poila Boishakh include bull racing in Munshiganj, wrestling in Chittagong, boat racing, cockfights, and pigeon racing.”
(The writer is Professor, Department of Administration, Chittagong University.)
