The Bangalee nation especially the youths with their animated vigor and colorful mind will celebrate Pahela Falgun, a festival welcoming the advent of spring, tomorrow to leave a message to all that love, affection, respect and commitment should be cornerstones of removing all ills and building the nation, reports BSS.
This year the festival comes when the entire world is facing the coronavirus pandemic.
Any formal programs marking the day will not be held at Bakultala on the premises of Fine Arts Faculty on Dhaka University (DU) campus, the center point of the festival, in view of the pandemic but the people will celebrate the day informally wearing colorful dresses and floral ornaments and offering flowers to dear and near ones.
Jatiya Basanta Utsab Udjapan Parishad will arrange ‘the Jatiya Basanta Utsab 1427’ at Mukta Mancha of Suhrawardy Udyan maintaining health guidelines, which has been regularly held at the Bakultala on DU campus since 1991.
The programs will be held in two phases – the first phase from 7:00 am to 10 am and the second phase from 3:30n pm to 7 pm, said a press release.
State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid will address the function as chief guest while Cultural Affairs Secretary Badrul Arefin will join as a special guest. Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky will chair it.
Besides, Shilpakala Academy will also arrange ‘Basanta Utsab-2021’at the Nandan Mancha of the academy.
Bangalees mark the spring festival on the first day of the Bengali month of Falgun. It is also called Basanta Utsab. It usually falls on February 13.
Since 2020 it is being coincided with Valentine’s Day on February 14 which has also become a major day in celebration of the festival-loving Bangalees especially the youths.
In 2019, Bangla Academy revised Bangla Calendar to match it with the Gregorian calendar aimed at observing the significant days in line with the historic background.
As per the new calendar, the first six months of the Bangla year have 31 days, and the last six months of the year have a length of 30 days, except for the month Falgun. In that way, Pahela Falgun coincided with Valentine’s Day this year. On the day, the capital Dhaka and other major cities of the country usually become ablaze with mirth and merriment as curious youngsters wear yellow and red dresses, flower-made ornaments, and attend traditional musical functions.
But this year, the festival will be celebrated on a small scale avoiding gatherings.
