Pahela Baishakh Monday

Traditional Pahela Baishakh procession add flavour to the Bengali New Years Day celebrations

Dhaka, Apr 13 – Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bengali New Year 1432, will be celebrated on Monday with festivities, cultural programmes amid traditional enthusiasm.

The government has drawn up an elaborate programme to mark the advent of Bengali New year.

Dhaka University (DU) will celebrate this year’s Pahela Baishakh with its traditional rally titled ‘Barshoboron Ananda Shobhajatra’, instead of naming the same ‘Mangal Shobhajatra’.

The renaming of ‘Mangal Shobhajatra’ was announced at a press conference held at the Faculty of Fine Arts on Friday.

This year’s theme, ‘Noboborshe Oikotaan, Fascibader Obosaan’ (Harmony in New Year, End of Fascism), was finalised in a meeting chaired by Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Neaz Ahmed on March 24 at the Senate Bhaban.

Cultural organisation Chhayanaut will welcome the Bengali New Year with its 58th edition of the traditional Pahela Baishakh celebrations at Ramna Batamul in the capital.

This year’s theme for Chhayanaut’s celebration is “Amar Mukti Aloy Aloy” (My Liberation in Light) and the event will commence at dawn with a performance of Raag Bhairavi.

The two-hour-long cultural programme will feature a total of 24 performances, including nine group songs, 12 solo renditions and three recitations.

The entire event will be broadcast live on Chhayanaut’s official YouTube channel (youtube.com/@chhayanautbd), Facebook page (facebook.com/chhayanautbd) and on Bangladesh Television (BTV).

Extending greetings to all on occasions of Pahela Baishakh, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Sunday said they are members of one family upholding harmony as the country is set to celebrate Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla New Year, on Monday.

"Tomorrow (Monday), the first day of Baishakh, is one of the symbols of this harmony. Everyone will celebrate in their own way in line with their own customs and participate in this festival," he said while laying the foundation stone of "Sampriti Bhaban" at the Dhaka International Buddhist Monastery.

Dr Yunus said that despite differences in beliefs, religions and customs, the Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Christians and the various communities living across the mountains and plains of this country are all part of one family, united by a rich diversity of language, culture and tradition.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir extended warm greetings to the nation on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla New Year.

In his message, Tarique Rahman expressed the hope that the nation would move forward with renewed aspirations and goals in the New Year.

"On this first day of the New Year, I wish everyone peace and well-being. May the warmth of Baishakh wipe away falsehood, injustice, lawlessness and unrest from our society…I extend my heartfelt greetings and best wishes to all on the dawn of the Bengali year 1432," he said.

Mirza Fakhrul also conveyed his sincere greetings and best wishes to the people of the country, wishing happiness and peace for all.

“Pahela Baishakh is a vibrant and joyous celebration of our national life. It is a time when all animosity and conflict are set aside, and hearts are filled with vitality and abundance,” he said, adding that the festival is also a powerful symbol of unity and solidarity,” he said.

Different socio-cultural organisations and educational institutions have also taken elaborate programmes including cultural programmes, processions and Baishakhi fairs in the capital as elsewhere across the country.

However, business communities, especially in rural areas are ready to open their traditional 'Halkhata', new account books, while sweets will be distributed among customers to mark the day.

The day is a public holiday.

Different national dailies will publish colourful supplements while Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar will air special programmes, highlighting the significance of Pahela Baishakh.

Extensive security measures have been taken across Dhaka and the rest of the country over Pahela Baishakh to make sure that the celebrations are safer, smoother and more joyful than in previous years, said Director General (DG) of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Shahidur Rahman on Sunday.

Besides, special measures, including mobile courts, will be deployed to prevent incidents of sexual harassment, eve-teasing, or any form of misconduct against women at celebration venues and key locations.

The RAB DG said intelligence surveillance has also been intensified to ensure that no domestic or international extremist groups, banned organisations, or anti-state elements can cause any disruptions during the Pahela Baishakh events. - UNB