Pohela Boishakh (পয়লা বৈশাখ) is the first day of Bengali month. Month name is Boishakh Mash. It is a festival day of Bengali life in India and Bangladesh. This year 2018, the day will celebrate on Saturday.
Bengali people wear new dress this day. Basically men wear Panjabi and women wear Shari.
Bangladesh is a land of varieties cultural festivals. People of Bangladesh follow several days as their happiest occasion. Pohela Boishakh, a traditional day to celebrate among the Bengali. 14 or 15 April in Gregorian calendar, they celebrate alongside the Bengali of India.
History of Pohela Boishakh
Pohela Boishakh is the first day of Baishakh month every new year in Bengali calendar (Panjika). This day is a public holiday in Bangladesh to remember the Bengali history across the country. People of West Bengal and Bangladesh celebrate this day arranging different auctions. The first day of Hindu Vedic Solar calendar also known as Bongabdo is traditionally known as Pohela Boishakh. On the early years, this day was celebrated only as annual day. Mughal emperor Shah Jahan commenced this day as a day to collect tax from the civilians. 10th or 11th March of 1584, people started to count Bengali year. The Fasli year was its ancient name. This name has changed to Pohela Boishakh later.
Ramna Batamul and Nabobarsha
On this day, the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka is seen in new colorized. The civilians of Dhaka arrange cultural events and different activities. These activities are started on the dawn of day with the song “Esho he Boishakh” by Rabindranath Tagore. The local organization “Chhayanaut” organize the event under a big old banyan tree at Ramna Batamul. Mongol Shobha Yatra or Provat Ferry, the traditional colorful procession starts in the early morning. On this day people wear different colorful mainly white and yellow colored dresses. Some of the cultural events are music and drawing competition, acting, drama, boat racing, cockfight, wrestling, bull racing, etc.
Ways to celebrate Poila Boishak
Villagers in the villages of Bangladesh also take part in this awesome day of celebration. The shopkeepers arrange “Halkhata” to increase the density of relation with their customers. The customers pay their dues on this Halkhata to the traders and open new account book. The shopkeepers invite their clients to have a meal or fatty dishes together. They exchange greetings one to others.
Local fairs known as Mela, It celebrates across the country. Nagor Dola, Palkis etc are the part of Mela. In this Mela, people buy and sell their homemade products, foods such as wooden, steel and other groceries.
Panta Vat
“Panta Vat” is the favorite food of the Bengalis. Pantha Vat with the fried Hilsa fish is traditional food which has exceptional taste. Everybody with their relatives and friends eats this food at their homes or in the Mela. The householders serve Cakes, sweets, sours, etc. foods to the guest. Children enjoy this day much than the elder. They were new dresses, draw tattoos on their faces and visit the fair with their parents.
Pohela Boishakh is a ritual fact for the Bengalis. This day let them remember the history of Bangladesh. Day by day, Pohela Boishakh is becoming an attractive festive around the world. In fact, different cultured people are getting to attract to this day of celebration. This day holds up the familiarity of Bengalis to all nation.
Corine Harris: