Pohela Boishakh, 14th April, the first day of Bengali Calendar. This is the biggest festival of Bangladesh. The day of new hope, new enthusiasm, new inspiration and new perseverance for every Bengali’s. On the day of the new year, the whole country is covered with mats in the Boishakhi festival.
The celebration of Pohela Boishakh is now spreading beyond the boundaries of the whole world. every Bengali’s celebrate the day with different festivals. They all meet cultural events by wearing new clothes. The program was started by Chayanot Ramna Batomul has become a symbol of prominence throughout the world. On the other hand, the tradition of welcoming the new year with rally (মঙ্গল শোভাযাত্রা) has been recognized by the Faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University as part of the UNESCO World Heritage now.
A mandatory part of the Boishakhi festival of Dhaka is ‘Mangal Shobhajatra’. In the morning, the procession goes around the city streets. The rural life of Bengal are highlighted in this procession. People of different ages and different types of profession, participate in the procession. Colored masks and replicas of different animals are made for the procession.
Since 1989, this procession of ‘Mangal Shobhajatra’ is one of the biggest attractions of the festival of Pohela Boishakh. This procession has recognized UNESCO’s cultural heritage. The United Nations Educational, Culture and Science Organization officially acknowledged this recognition at the end of 2016.
How did the Bengali New Year came:
The Bengali calendar began in the period of Mughal emperor Akbar. This great work was done for the benefit of farming and taxation. The Bengali Calendar was introduced based on the Hijri Chandrason (হিজরি চন্দ্রাসন) and the Bengali Solar year (সৌরবর্ষ). Initially, the Bengali calendar was known as the crops calendar. Later in 1556, it was known as Bangabdo (বঙ্গাব্দ). After the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, Pohela Boishakh celebration became a symbol of non-communal spirit of Bengal. Alongside the festival, there is a protest against terrorism and militancy in the event of this day.
Celebrating Pohela Boishakh in Bangladesh:
At one time, different festivals were organized on this day. During this time, the main event of this day was to create a Halkhata (হালখাতা). Halkhata is a new account book. Actually, the process of officially updating the business account of Halkhata is the first day of the Bengali calendar. On this day shopkeepers entertain their buyers with sweets and other foods. In many places, this tradition has been seen till now, especially in the gold shops.
Intensive relationship with the culture of rural people with the New Year festival. People wake up in the morning, wear new clothes and go to relatives and friends home. The houses are cleaned and decorated beautifully. Special meals are provided. Boishakhi fair is organized in open ground. There are many types of soil manufactured products in the fair, there are many types of Pita-Puli (পিঠা-পুলি). Panta rice and hilsa fish (পান্তা-ইলিশ) are available in many places.
An old culture of this day is organizing rural sports competition; include boats ride, stick games and wrestling. The biggest wrestling event in Bangladesh is 12th Boishakh at Laldighi ground in Chattagram. This is known as Jabberer Boli Khela (জব্বারের বলী খেলা).
Besides, many different festivals are held in different places of the country on the occasion of Bangla New Year. An unique fair is held in Isha Khan’s Sonargaon, named ‘Baumela’ (বউমেলা). Ghoramela (ঘোড়ামেলা) is organized in another village here.
And, there are three major minorities in Chattagram Hill Tracts area; each of them has a festival on the new day of the year. Boishukh (বৈশুখ) in Tripura, Sangrai (সাংগ্রাই) festival of Marmas and Biju (বিজু) festival of Chakmas. The name of the joint festival is called Baisabi (বৈসাবী).
