The nation celebrates “Pahela Baishakh”, the first day of Bengali New Year 1425, today (Saturday) amid enthusiasm and traditional gaiety.
To welcome the Bengali New Year, different socio-cultural organisations and government institutions have chalked out elaborate programmes in the capital and elsewhere in the country.
Though introduced in 1585AD, the Tarikh-e-Elahi, also referred as Fasli San (crop year), was dated from Emperor Akbar’s accession to the throne in 1556. The New Year subsequently became known as Bangabda or Bangla year in our part of the world.
Some 432 years later Pahela Baishakh (1st day of Bangla New Year) became part of our culture and celebration.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police have taken tight security measures in order to ensure peaceful celebration of Pahela Baishakh. Thousands of people will throng the streets and different popular places in the capital and elsewhere across the country as they will welcome the year with colourful processions, songs and fairs, beginning at dawn. Besides, businesses start the day with a new ledger popularly known as “Hal-khata” closing the previous one.
Men in traditional pajama and punjabi and women in white and red saris will join the celebrations. They will also relish Bengali delicacy of panta bhat (rice soaked in water).
The day will break with the chirping of birds as usual, but the singing of ‘Esho hey Baishakh esho esho’ everywhere in Bangladesh will give the day a festive dimension.
Celebration Venues in Dhaka such as Ramna Park, Suhrawardy Udyan, Dhaka University and Rabindra Sarabar and other districts will be swarmed with people welcoming the New Year. In the capital, the day’s programme will begin at dawn with Chhayanaut rendering songs at Ramna Batamul. People in thousands will gather at the venues amid heightened security. Cultural organisation Chhayanaut will hold the music soiree there, as done since 1965, and still remains the focal point of the celebrations.
Fine arts faculty of Dhaka University organises its ‘Mangal Shobhajatra’ following the Chhayanaut programme. People from all walks of life and ages carrying flutes, festoons and models traditional objects reflecting Bengali culture and heritage joined the procession seeking well-being of the nation.
