Pohela Boishakh.

Pohela Boishakh. Bangali people celebrate it. Bengali give most priority on this festival. Why they do that? What's reason? Let's know briefly.

What is Pohela Boishakh?

Pohela Boishakh is the first day of the Bengali year. This day is celebrated as New Year in Bangladesh. This is a universal folk festival of Bengalis.

On this day, the new year is welcomed in joyous and warm wishes by all the Bengalis. New Year is a symbol of welfare and new life. Forgetting the guilt of past mistakes and failures, the New Year is celebrated with new desires for happiness, peace, and prosperity. All government and non-government institutions are closed on this day.

History of Pohela Boishakh.

The celebration of Bengali New Year started from the time of Akbar. At that time the peasants of Bengal used to pay rent to zamindars, talukdars, and other landlords till the last day of Chaitramas. The next day, on the New Year, the landlords would make them sweet. On this occasion, fairs and other events were organized. Gradually, the first Baishakh merged with family and social life, became more joyous and festive, and the Bengali New Year was celebrated as a happy day. This festival is celebrated on 14 April in Bangladesh and 14 or 15. April in the Indian States of West Bengal, Tripura, and Assam by the Bengalis. In the past, the main festival of Bengali New Year was Halkhata. This is purely an economic matter. In the villages, towns, and cities, the merchants would open their new accounts at the beginning of the new year after completing their old accounts. On this occasion, they would distribute sweets by inviting new and old customers and establishing new business links with them. This traditional event is still celebrated today.

Occasions held on Pohela Boishakh

The Baishakhi fair.

The Baishakhi fair makes the New Year festive. It is basically a public folk fair. This fair is very enjoyable. Local agricultural products, handicrafts, folk products, cottage industries, all kinds of handicrafts, and pottery are available at this fair. The fair also features a variety of toys for children and teenagers, women's ornaments, and various folk foods such as chira, muri, khai, batasa, various types of sweets, etc. The fair also has entertainment. Folk singers and folk dancers from different parts of Bangladesh are present. They perform various types of folk songs including Jatra, Palagan, Kavigan, Jarigan, Gambhira Gaan, Gazir Gaan, Alkap Gaan, Baul-Marfati-Murshidi-Bhatiali etc. Narratives like Laili-Majnu, Yusuf-Julekha, Radha-Krishna etc. are also presented. Film exhibitions, dramas, puppet shows, merry-go-rounds, circuses, etc. are the special attractions of the fair. There is also a bioscope to attract children and teenagers. The Baishakhi fair is now held in the urban culture and this fair has become an indispensable gathering fair for the Bengalis. Baishakhi Mela is the bearer of the joyous folk culture of Bengalis. Among the places where Baishakhi Mela is held in Bangladesh are- Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Savar, Rangpur's Payraband, Dinajpur's Fulchhari Ghat area, Mahasthangarh, Comilla's Langalkot, Chapainawabganj, Maheshpur, Khulna's Satgachhi, Mymensingh, Tangail area, Mymensingh-Tangail area. Byaskathi-Batnatala, Gopalganj, Madaripur, Tungipara and Mujibnagar areas. The New Year celebrations were held in the capital Dhaka. Here the program of the Baishakhi festival creates a fair. On the first morning of the new year, a national bond was created in the Ramna Udyan and its surrounding areas. At the initiative of Chayanat, the new year was celebrated with the arrival song of Rabindranath Tagore at the base of the crowded Ramna. Chayanat first started this festival in 1382 BS (1975). New Year greetings were also given at the morning program at Bakultala of the Institute of Fine Arts, Dhaka University. The colorful procession of the artists here makes the New Year's call eye-catching and deeply appealing. All classes of young and old enjoy the procession. On this day, the entire university area including the premises of Shaheed Minar, TSC, and Fine Arts turned into a huge sea of people.

Mangal Shovajatra.

Mangal Shovajatra is a mass procession that takes place at dawn on the first day of Bengali New Year in Bangladesh. The procession is organized by the teachers and the students of the faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University.

Baishakhi meal.

Usually, Bengali people eat Panta Bhat (which is a rice-based dish prepared by soaking rice in water overnight). It is popularly eaten with Hilsha fish and other curries.

In West Bengal.

The beginning of the Bengali New Year is celebrated in a grand procession in West Bengal. On the first day of Bangabda, New Year celebrations are held all over West Bengal with great enthusiasm and fervor. With the merger of rural and civic life in Bengal, everyone was united in the joy of welcoming the new year. Preparations for the New Year continue throughout the month of Chaitra. On the last day of Chaitra month i.e. Chaitra Sankranti or Mahabishub Sankranti, Charak Puja i.e. worship of Shiva is celebrated on the occasion of the Gajan festival. On this day the Sun leaves Pisces and enters Aries. On this day Charak Mela is organized in different parts of rural Bengal. The monks of devotees participating in this fair perform various physical exercises in an attempt to satisfy the deity and entertain the common people.

Calcutta

Kolkata, known as the cultural capital of India, continues to play a vital role in the celebration of Pohela Boishakh. On the occasion of New Year, morning fairs are organized in the alleys of different parts of the city on the initiative of various organizations. In the month of Chaitra last year, most of the shops in the city offer special discounts on purchases, commonly known as 'Chaitra Cell'. So on the occasion of Holy Boishakh and to take advantage of this discount, all the people of Kolkata, regardless of their economic status, buy new clothes, etc. for a month. Above all, Pohela Boishak is a great and valuable festival in the history of the Bangladeshi people. People of all ages and classes, celebrate this day with great enjoyment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Pohela Boishakh.

1. What is Pohela Boishakh?

Answer: Pohela Boishakh is the first day of the Bengali year. This day is celebrated as New Year in Bangladesh. This is a universal folk festival of Bengalis. On this day, the new year is welcomed in joyous and warm wishes by all the Bengalis. New Year is a symbol of welfare and new life.

2. Which day is celebrated as Pohela Boishakh?

Answer: Pohela Boishak is celebrated on 14 April in Bangladesh and 14 or 15 April in the Indian States of West Bengal, Tripura, and Assam by the Bengalis.

3. What are the occasions that are held on Pohela Boishak?

Answer: From the very morning to the night, there are so many occasions that are held on Pohela Boishak. Such as- Boishakhi Fair, Mongol Shovajatra, Hal-khata, Boishakhi meal, and so on.