Shubha Nababarsha – today is Pahela Baishakha, the first day of Bangla New year 1416. People, across the world who speak Bengali, will celebrate Pahela Baishakh in a festive mood. Besides the Bengalis, people of other ethnic identities also celebrate the day as their New Year in their own ways.
Thousands of people from different walks of life in Dhaka throng at Ramna Batamul, the main venue of the celebrations.
They begin to gather during sunrise. They will welcome the New Year by singing Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘Eso hey Baishakha, eso eso’.
Concert of ganasangeet organised by the cultural organisation called Wrishij will begin at 7:00am in front of Shishu Park in Shahbagh.
Then the waves of people will head to the other places of celebration such as the Faculty of Fine Art at Dhaka University, from where a ‘mangal shobhajatra’ or a procession welcoming the New Year, organised by the students and teachers of the faculty will be brought out. People will take part in the rally, to be brought at 8:00am, with masks, festoons and other traditional elements.
Bangla department will stage a jatra naming Lalan Fakir in front of Arts Faculty Building on April 14. Department of Theatre and Music of Dhaka University will be arranging a daylong celebration at the TSC on April 15.
People will also visit the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) and Natmandal at Dhaka University, Suhrawardy Udyan, Shishu Academy, Central Shaheed Minar, Rabindra Sarabar in Dhanmondi. Baishakhi Melas will be organised in different parts of the city.
Nokia Baishakhi Fusion Concert celebrating Pahalea Baishakh, will take place today at 12:30pm at the Banani Railgate playground on Kemal ataturk Avenue in Dhaka. Popular music bands Miles, Warfaze, Artcell, Dalchhut, and singer Arnab will be performing at the function.
Hotel Sonargaon Pan Pacific will organise a three-day exhibition of traditional and handmade dresses
programme from the
April 14.
The organisers will also arrange cultural programme every night.
Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) will arrange a 10-day Baishakhi Mela on the premises of Bangla Academy from the first day of Baishakh.
Amid these festivities and fanfare people can enjoy the traditional Baishakhi Mela to be held at Dhupkhola Playground in Old Dhaka. The fair is being arranged for the last 150 years and this year East End Club is organising the traditional fair.
One of the oldest and major temples in Dhaka, the Dhakeswari Mandir is also arranging a two-day Baishakhi Fair from today.
The Folk and Craft Museum at Sonargaon is also arranging a two-day Baishakhi Mela to celebrate the occasion.
Courtesy of NewAgebd
