THE nation celebrates ‘Pahela Baishakh’ — the Bengali New Year-1423 today with colorful festivities and eye catching socio-cultural events. The day breaks with welcoming soirées at the city’s Ramna Botomul as it has emerged as a tradition in the past several decade as the hotspot of the New Year’s celebration. Meanwhile, songs and soirées at other places in city parks, colleges, university campuses and open-air grounds turn the occasion to a ceaseless celebration. Similar festivities welcome the Bengali New Year in the districts and at local level. We welcome the occasion and join the nation wishing the people everything that would bring them good and keep them away from every other evil. The New Year is always expected to come to fulfill people’s new hopes and aspirations leaving behind pains and agonies of the outgoing year. Pahela Baishakh originally became a landmark point in Bengali calendar for collection of revenue from farmers in the Moghul empire and then opening of new business year by local traders. But the occasion has now assumed a more socio-political color contributing to reshaping the Bengali culture with emphasis on its secular values. It is a public holiday and most people will stay out-door to enjoy festivities in open air. ‘Hilsa-Panta’ highlights the occasion to a growing section of people in the city although its origin can’t be traced far into the past. The occasion brings brisk business to street-side vendors while band groups, theater parties and vocalists render services to crowds in streets and public places. Needless to say we are concerned about public security which has become the highly critical issue at a time when religious extremists and anti-religious secularists are at loggers head making public safety the worst victim. The occasion often renders women highly vulnerable to public harassment. We are however confident that the precautionary measures put in place by police and the capital and outside will be able to help the celebration to go without major setback. The ‘Mongol Sovayatra’ that starts the march in the morning from the Institute of Fine Arts of the Dhaka University with display of signs and slogans of old relics, ghosts and animals; which are highly ambient of pagan culture, invariably highlight the cultural transition in the predominantly Muslim society. Organizers claim it is part of secular culture of Bangladesh. It is true at times it appears in directly conflict with Islamic values, but no doubts it reflects the cultural diversity that this country is trying to live with. We share liberal democratic outlook within our religious faith and socio-cultural values. But notwithstanding these issues we join to celebrate the occasion with a renewed commitment to our past heritage. We wish everybody a happy Bengali New Year today on this occasion.
