Dhaka wore a festive look on Monday to celebrate the beginning of Bangla year 1421. All across capital, millions came out on the streets in spite of the scorching heat and flooded Baishakhi fairs to rejoice the first day of the new year.
Pahela Baishakh has been one of the biggest celebrations of the country for many years now as people from all walks of life celebrate the occasion with a lot of zeal and fervour.To celebrate the day, several socio-cultural organisations arranged vibrant and attractive cultural programmes at different venues in the city.
The oldest and the most anticipated of the programmes was at Ramna Batamul which has been organised by Chhayanaut since 1965. The programme, this year, began about 6:00 in the morning with a raga presentation on sarod by artistes of the organisation. Singers of Chhayanaut presented songs of different genres including the famous Tagore number Eso He Baishakh Eso Eso, Balo Balo Bhai, Balo Nahi Bhay Nahi Bhay and others. Noted Nazrul singer Khairul Anam Shakil, who is also general secretary of Chhayanaut, presented Nazrul’s spiritual song Khama Karo Hazrat at the programme.
The faculty of fine arts in Dhaka University brought out the biggest and most vivacious procession (mangal shobhajatra) in the morning which walked from the faculty premises to the Ruposhi Bangla Hotel to the TSC, joined in by thousands.
At the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, one thousand artistes of music school Surer Dhara made the air resonant with their chorus presentation of Eso He Baishakh Eso Eso, Nao Chhaira De, Dao Dhairja Dao Shaurja, Jhar Jhanjhay Ore Nishan, Shyamal Baran Bangla Mayer, and others.
At Rabindra Sarobar at Dhanmondi, Bangladesh Sammilita Sangskritik Jote organised a colourful cultural show in the afternoon. The show began with the presentation of songs such as Banglar Mati Banglar Jal, Punya Hauk Punya Hauk and Baishakh Mase Aisha Bandhu in chorus by artistes of Satyen Sen Shilpi Goshthi. Artistes of Swabhumi Lekhak o Shilpi Kendra, on the other hand, presented people’s song Tir Hara Ei Dheuyer Sagar Pari Debo Re. Dancers of Bahnishikha presented a group dance recital synchronised with Guerilla Amra Guerilla. The show ended with solo presentation of legendary bard Shah Abdul Karim’s famous song Age Ki Sundar Din Kataitam by female Baul Sonia.
Vibrant and spirited sound of traditional dhol welcomed the Bangla New Year at a programme at Bengal Shilpalaya in Dhanmondi on Monday. Bengal Foundation organised a three-day programme beginning on Sunday, where mostly folk artistes performed. Folk artiste Halima Parvin presented Hate Dhare Lolita Go, while Bhajan Baul rendered Tin Pagale Halo Dekha and flautist Murtaza Kabir presented raga iman on the flute on Monday.
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy organised a programme at the open ground of the academy in the evening. Noted recitation artiste Jayanta Chattopadhyay, Dahlia Ahmed, Hasan Imam and Krishti Hefaz recited poems at the programme which also featured solo performances of songs by Amzad Dewan, Anima Mukti Gomes, Baby Akhter, and others.
The National Museum organised a three-day programme, beginning on Sunday to celebrate Pahela Baishakh. The Bangla Academy also held a programme in the evening at the Nazrul Mancha of the academy.
The Manik Miya avenue, in front of National Assembly, was decorated with alpona on the occasion.
-With New Age input
