Shilpakala Academy Celebrates Pahela Baishakh with Music & Drones

In a grand celebration of Bangla New Year 1432, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy dazzled Dhaka with a vibrant mix of ethnic diversity, live performances, and an extraordinary drone show at Manik Mia Avenue on Monday.

Organized under the patronage of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, with technical collaboration from the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka, and in partnership with the Bangladesh National Parliament and Dhaka North City Corporation, the event sought to foster greater public participation in the Pahela Baishakh festivities.

The celebrations began with a lively procession featuring 28 different ethnic groups, each in their traditional attire. For the first time, the Borshoboron Anondo Shobhajatra, organized by Dhaka University’s Fine Arts Faculty, proudly showcased the cultures of Bangladesh’s indigenous communities, such as the Bengali, Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Tanchangya, Lusai, Pangkhua, Bom, Mro, Rakhine, and many more. Over 200 musicians accompanied the procession, offering a unique musical backdrop to the event, which also symbolized solidarity with Palestine and advocated for global peace.

The festivities continued in the afternoon at Manik Mia Avenue with an energizing New Year concert. The event, attended by Cultural Affairs Ministry Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, and other prominent figures, featured performances that captured the essence of Bangladesh's cultural heritage.

The concert opened with a captivating performance by Basic Guitar Learning School from Bandarban, followed by a chorus rendition of ‘Esho He Baishakh’. Noteworthy acts included solo performances by Mithun Chakraborty and Islamuddin Palakar, a traditional Pala Gaan, and an electrifying set by the all-female Garo band, F Minor.

As the day progressed, the spirit of the festival was further brought to life with performances from Atiya Anisha, Rakib, Sagar Dewan, Arj Ali Ustad, and others. Popular songs like ‘Majhe Majhe Tumi Ele’, ‘Manush Keno Erokom’, and ‘Golpo Na’ added to the celebratory atmosphere, with Parsa also performing powerful protest songs from the July Uprising.

The grand finale of the evening was the spectacular drone show, which began at 7 pm. Jointly organized by the governments of Bangladesh and China, this breathtaking 14-minute display involved 2,600 drones, each illustrating 12 unique motifs. The drones conveyed themes of freedom, the heroic sacrifice of Shaheed Abu Sayeed during the July Uprising, women’s empowerment, native culture, and the enduring friendship between China and Bangladesh. The show also expressed solidarity with the Palestinian liberation movement.

A team of six Chinese experts, who had been working on the display since February, were behind the flawless execution of the drone performance, with 13 drone specialists piloting the show.

The evening concluded with a high-energy performance from rock band Ashes, wrapping up the festivities on a high note.

The celebrations will continue with a Baishakhi Cultural Programme on Tuesday, April 15, at 4:30 pm, at the National Theatre Hall of BSA.

The blend of ethnic diversity, music, and cutting-edge technology on Pahela Baishakh left Dhaka enchanted, setting a new standard for the celebration of the Bangla New Year.