Pohela Boisakh: Happy Bangla New Year 1429
Date: 14th April, 2022
ThursdayHello my beautiful friends. I along with my all Bengali friends wish you all ❝ শুভ বাংলা নববর্ষ ১৪২৯ ❞ which means Happy Bangla New Year 1429. Yes, my friends, today is the first day of bangla new year and this day is highly celebrated all across the country with happiness and more celebration. The celebration is not bounded in my country only. West Bengal, India where I was born, also celebrate it with proper functions. I'm lucky to have this celebrations all across the two countries I love. Being Bengali, I feel proud. This is the biggest part of our culture and tradition. This day the world witness the massive procession brought out by us and we show the beautiful traditions to the world. This is not just the beginning of new year but it is also the beginning of new hopes and desires. So my dear friends, allow the Devil to take you all to the greatest Bangla culture and make a visit to observe the tradition.
Brief History: Have you heard the name of the Mughal emperor Akbar? Well, he was one of the powerful and kindhearted emperor of Indian subcontinent. He ruled the country with care and always praised the subcontinental cultures. He started the process of counting Bangla year and from then, we are now celebrating the 1429th year of bangla calendar. It is based on solar calendar. It was actually created to help the farmers so that they could have the exact time for harvesting. Who knew that the simple count calendar would become the biggest cultural festival of us?
Pohela Boishakh: There are 12 months in this calendar which starts with the month of 'Boishakh'. The first day is called Pohela Boisakh. The festival starts with the rise of sun as I told you before that it is solar system based calendar. It starts with the rise of sun. People dressing in their Bangalee attires, welcome the day with honour, desire and grand wishes. You want to know more? Come with me.
Celebration: The celebration starts with the beginning of the day. Fine Arts Institute & Shilpakala Academy manage the whole process. The day before it, the students of Fine Arts make designs on the road where the next day rallies will be held. This is one of the most beautiful thing to witness.
The cultural function starts under a great banyan tree known as 'Ramna Batamul' which is organised by Chhayanaut. Renowned artists from the country gather there and along with the people, they sing the welcoming song of Pohela Boisakh. This is just the beginning as the artists continue the festival adding other folk songs which are highly praised by the audiences. After that different types of classical dances are performed by the artists and students as well.
Procession: Colourful processions are out next. Trust me, it is worth watching. People of all ages wearing the traditional dresses join it. Men wear punjabi, dhuti while women wear sharee. Different types of masks, related to our cultures, phrase & idioms, old stories, relatable current issues are wore by the public. The teenagers use garlands and paint their faces too. This is called ❝ Mangal Shovajatra ❞ means the rally of blessings. Tourists from different countries join us too to enjoy the day. I cannot explain the day in words.
Foods: Talking about pohela boishakh, I must say that we have traditional foods on this day. Definitely it has different significance too. The Bengali people love Fish-Rice too much. So the day specifically idolize this one. Rice soaked in water known as Panta Vhaat, Hilsha fish fry with onion and chilly and dry fish are eaten graciously. And of course, we have it in plates made of clay. Sweet shop owners face heavy lines of customers and they happily manage it. The festive vibes spread all over the country.
Other Programmes: Every educational institutions along with other cultural organisations celebrate the day by arranging different programmes. Print media publish special articles on this day. Radio and Television airs special programmes. Shop keepers decorate their shops and open fresh account books. They welcome their customers with sweets and the relationship between them grows more.
The day of Pohela Boisakh, first day of Bangla New Year marks a day of cultural and traditional unity where people of every religion take part and celebrate it. The whole nation prays for the mankind and thus the beautiful message is spread all over the world. Now, it’s time to say goodbye but before that I want to say thank you again and wish you ❝ শুভ বাংলা নববর্ষ ❞ means Happy Bangla New Year.
All the pictures in this article belong to me, taken screenshots from my fb. It was from 2017.
I want to thank two beautiful souls @Talecharm & @BCH_LOVER for continuing their love for me. Honoured.
Thanks for being with me.
©Lucifer01
Pohela Boishakh is a very traditional day. On this day, eating hilsa fish with panta rice is popular. Fairs are held in villages. An atmosphere of joy is created.