Today, the nation celebrates Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bengali New Year 1431, with great celebration, honoring the rich cultural traditions and customs of the Bangalee people.
The "Nabo Barsho" celebrations are anticipated to draw a sizable crowd from all around the nation, especially in the capital city.
One of the liveliest celebrations to greet the New Year and tell the old one goodnight to Bangalees is Pahela Baishakh.
People from all walks of life dress traditionally in Bengali attire on this special day. Men dress in white pajamas and panjabi or kurta, while young ladies accessorize with flowers, bangles, and "tips" on their white sarees with red borders.
The musical soirée of Chhayanat, a prominent cultural organization in the nation, at Ramna Batamul at daybreak will kick off the day's events in the capital.
In the morning, the Fine Arts Faculty of Dhaka University (DU) will host a traditional Mangal Shobhajatra.
The shows will be shown live on private television networks, Bangladesh Betar, and Bangladesh Television.
Since Mangal Shobhajatra has gained international renown, it will also be implemented at the divisional, district, and upazila levels in an effort to spread the traditional programming to the local level. In 2016, Mangal Shobhajatra became part of the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, maintained by UNESCO.
Business communities are prepared to open their customary "Halkhata," or fresh account books, particularly in the rural regions. On this day, vendors also provide sweets to patrons.
On the eve of Pahela Baishakh yesterday, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sent out separate greetings to their fellow citizens.
Along with seminars, exhibitions, quiz, essay, and art competitions marking the festival, various government and non-government organizations, socio-cultural platforms, and institutions such as Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangladesh Shishu Academy, Bangla Academy, Department of Public Libraries, the National Museum, Kabi Nazrul Institute, Copyright Office, National Book Center, Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), the Department of Archives and Library, and Dhaka University will hold various programs.
In addition, the local government will plan folk fairs, cultural events, and quiz contests.
In Ramna Park, Suhrawardy Uddyan, Dhaka University Campus, Rabindra Sarobor in Dhanmondi, and other tourist destinations, city dwellers typically begin their days with the traditional breakfast of "panta bhat" (soaked rice), green chili, onion, and fried fish.
All museums and archeological sites will be available to the public on this day, and admission to the museum will be free for children, students, those with disabilities, and individuals with autism.
On this special day, hospital patients, orphans, and jail inmates will all receive better traditional meals.
To celebrate the Bengali New Year, Bangladeshi embassies overseas will also host a variety of events.
To allow citizens to celebrate the day, law enforcement agencies will implement stringent security measures around the nation.
It's a public holiday on this day.
Special programs emphasizing the significance of Pahela Baishakh will be aired on Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar, and other private TV and radio networks.
According to some historians, the Bengali calendar originated with King Shashanka in the seventh century. Akbar, the Mughal Emperor, changed it later on in order to collect taxes.
Bengali citizens were required to pay land taxes during the Mughal era in accordance with the Islamic Hijri calendar. The new year of this lunar calendar did not align with the solar agricultural cycles.
Fasholi shan, or the harvest calendar, was the result of Akbar's request to the royal astronomer Fathullah Shirazi to combine the solar Hindu calendar and the lunar Islamic calendar that were already in use.
