1 Boishakh
Pohela Boishakh is a Public festival of the Bengalis; it is celebrated among all Bengalis- irrespective of religious and regional differences. In
Bangladesh, it is a national holiday celebrated around 14th April. The traditional greeting for Bengali New Year is "Shubhô Nôbobôrsho". Pohela
Boishakh is also the beginning of all business activities.
I am lucky enough that I am a Dhaka city dweller. Observance of Pohela
Boishakh has become popular in Dhaka. People from all walks of life dressup in traditional Bengali attire in Pohela Boishakh. Men wear dhuti / payejama / lungi and kurta /Panjabi. Young women wear white saris with red borders, and adorn themselves with tip (bindis), churi (bangles) and fūl
(flowers). I bought earlier Panjabi with white and red combination for wearing in Pohela Boishakh.
The Pohela Boishakh celebrations and festivities reflect the life in rural
Bengal. On this day everything is washed and cleaned. On that day I woke up early in the morning, bathed early in the morning and dressed my new clothes. Pohela Boishakh has now become an integral part of Bengali culture. In Pohela Boishakh special food items were prepared for the guests. I decided to spend much of the day time visiting relatives, friends and neighbours.
In Dhaka and other large cities, the festivals begin with people gathering under a big tree. People also find any bank of a lake or river to witness the sunrise. Artists present songs to welcome the New Year, particularly with
Rabindranath Tagore's well-known song "Esho, he Boishakh". First I went to Ramna Park. Large numbers of people gathered under the banyan tree at Ramna Park where Chhayanat artists opened the day with Rabindranath
Tagore's famous song, Esho, he Boishakh, Esho Esho.
A similar ceremony welcoming the New Year was also held at the Institute of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka. Students and teachers of the institute took out a colourful procession and paraded round the campus. I felt happy joining the parade. At
Bangladesh, it is a national holiday celebrated around 14th April. The traditional greeting for Bengali New Year is "Shubhô Nôbobôrsho". Pohela
Boishakh is also the beginning of all business activities.
I am lucky enough that I am a Dhaka city dweller. Observance of Pohela
Boishakh has become popular in Dhaka. People from all walks of life dressup in traditional Bengali attire in Pohela Boishakh. Men wear dhuti / payejama / lungi and kurta /Panjabi. Young women wear white saris with red borders, and adorn themselves with tip (bindis), churi (bangles) and fūl
(flowers). I bought earlier Panjabi with white and red combination for wearing in Pohela Boishakh.
The Pohela Boishakh celebrations and festivities reflect the life in rural
Bengal. On this day everything is washed and cleaned. On that day I woke up early in the morning, bathed early in the morning and dressed my new clothes. Pohela Boishakh has now become an integral part of Bengali culture. In Pohela Boishakh special food items were prepared for the guests. I decided to spend much of the day time visiting relatives, friends and neighbours.
In Dhaka and other large cities, the festivals begin with people gathering under a big tree. People also find any bank of a lake or river to witness the sunrise. Artists present songs to welcome the New Year, particularly with
Rabindranath Tagore's well-known song "Esho, he Boishakh". First I went to Ramna Park. Large numbers of people gathered under the banyan tree at Ramna Park where Chhayanat artists opened the day with Rabindranath
Tagore's famous song, Esho, he Boishakh, Esho Esho.
A similar ceremony welcoming the New Year was also held at the Institute of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka. Students and teachers of the institute took out a colourful procession and paraded round the campus. I felt happy joining the parade. At