Nation celebrates Pahela Baishakh

Risingbd Desk: Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla calendar, is being celebrated today amid traditional festivities and enthusiasm across the country.

The day is a public holiday.

Different socio-cultural organisations and institutions arranged various programmes to mark the country's biggest cultural festival at the advent of the New Year.

Bangladesh Folk Arts and Craft Foundation, Dhaka University, Jatiya Press Club and Dhaka Reporters Unity have chalked out various programmes to observe the Pahela Baishakh.

The programmes of the day have begin in the city with the musical soiree of Chhayanat, a leading cultural organization of the country at Ramna Batamul at dawn. Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private television channels are broadcasting the programme live.

On the occasion of Pahela Baishakh, Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi has taken various programmes including music, dance and drama. Swapnadal, a theatre group, has taken a two-day programme to welcome the Bangla New Year. The programmes include rally, discussion, dance and music.

As part of the two-day programme, artistes, leaders and members of the Swapnadal will attend the Mangal Sovajatra, the traditional procession which will be brought out by teachers and students of Faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University.

True to their centuries' old tradition, people from all walks of life gathered at different popular and historic spots at dawn in the capital and elsewhere across the country to welcome the Bangla New Year 1424 with new hopes and aspirations.

Mughal Emperor Akbar started the Bangla calendar year in 1556 and the celebrations of Pahela Baishakh began during his rule. Now it has become an integral part of the Bangali's cultural heritage and tradition and turned into a day of merriment.

Men, wearing panjabi-pyjama, women attired in saris with red borders, and children in colourful dresses thronged traditional Baishakhi Melas (fairs) and other cultural functions in the city and other parts of the country.

People took 'Panta Bhat (watery rice)' with fried fish, lentils, green chili and onions at home, restaurants and fairs following the rich tradition of Bangla culture.


risingbd/Dhaka/Apr 14, 2018/Nasim