The first day of the Bengali New Year, or Pahela Baishakh, is observed nationwide in observance of the rich cultural customs and traditions of the Bangalee people.
The Bangalees celebrate this vibrant celebration to say goodbye to the previous year and welcome the new one.
Similar to past years, the Bangla calendar’s first day was celebrated this morning in the capital’s Ramna Batamul, the customary location.
Later, a traditional “Mangal Shobhajatra” (procession) was held in the morning, organized by Dhaka University’s Fine Arts Faculty.
This year, the Fine Arts Faculty is commemorating Pahela Bhaishakh with the motto “Amra To Timirbinashi” and a commitment to eradicate darkness from society.
About nine fifteen in the morning, a large crowd of individuals wearing vibrant clothing participated in the colorful Mangal Shobhajatra, which was carried out from the Fine Arts Faculty grounds.
The procession was started by DU Vice-Chancellor Professor ASM Maksud Kamal, and was joined by DU teachers, students, cultural figures, and a wide range of people. Prime Minister’s Education and Cultural Affairs Adviser Dr. Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner Habibur Rahman, Social Welfare Minister Dr. Dipu Moni, and Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam also participated.
The parade featured a variety of colorful masks, bird replicas, butterflies, traditional dolls, animal-shaped carnival floats, and other Bangladeshi cultural elements that emphasized the country’s rich mythology.
Starting from the Fine Arts Faculty premises, the march circled the Teacher-Student Center (TSC) intersection, Shahbagh intersection, Dhaka Club premises, and finally arrived at the Fine Arts about 9:45 am.
Live broadcasts of Ramna Batamul and Mangal Shobhajatra are available on private television stations, Bangladesh Television, and Bangladesh Betar.
People have been congregating on the Dhaka University campus since the morning in order to participate in the procession.
People from all walks of life celebrated the holiday by dressing in traditional Bengali attire. Men wore white pyjamas and panjabi or kurta, while young women accessorized themselves with flowers, bangles, and “tips” and wore white sarees with red borders.
Strict security protocols were implemented throughout the celebration in Ramna Park, the Dhaka University campus, and the adjacent surroundings.
Since Mangal Shobhajatra has gained international renown, it was also introduced at the divisional, district, and upazila levels to spread the traditional programme to the local level.
The Fine Arts Faculty took the initiative to observe Mangal Shobhajatra for the first time in 1989. In 2016, it was added to the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity maintained by UNESCO.
Business communities, especially in the rural areas, opened their traditional ‘Halkhata’, new account books. On the day, traders also offered sweets to customers.
Different cultural and social organizations also arranged various programme including cultural ceremony, exhibitions and quiz, essay and art competitions marking the festival.
City dwellers began their day with the customary ‘panta bhat’ (soaked rice), green chili, onion, and fried fish breakfast at home. They also visited other entertainment venues including as Ramna Park, Suhrawardy Uddyan, and Rabindra Sarobor at Dhanmondi.
All museums and archeological sites are available to the public on this day, and admission to the museums is free for children, students, adults with impairments, and those with autism.
Improved traditional dishes were given to hospital patients, orphanages, and jail inmates on this special occasion.
Bangladesh missions abroad are also celebrating Pahela Baishakh through various programmes to welcome the Bengali New Year.
The law enforcement agencies have taken extensive security measures across the country so that people could celebrate the day. The day was a public holiday.
A number of private TV and radio broadcasters, including Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television, are showcasing the importance of Pahela Baishakh with special programming.
According to some historians, the Bengali calendar originated with King Shashanka in the seventh century. Akbar, the Mughal Emperor, changed it later on in order to collect taxes.
Bengali citizens were required to pay land taxes during the Mughal era in accordance with the Islamic Hijri calendar. The new year of this lunar calendar did not align with the solar agricultural cycles.
Fasholi shan, or the harvest calendar, was the result of Akbar’s request to the royal astronomer Fathullah Shirazi to combine the solar Hindu calendar and the lunar Islamic calendar that were already in use.
