On the eve of ‘Pahela Baishakh’, the first day of the Bengali New Year, top leaders of the country have wished the people well to make a fresh start.
Published : 13 Apr 2013, 01:30 PM
Acting President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia on Saturday extended New Year greetings to Bangladeshis and all Bengali-speaking people across the world.
Pahela Baishakh, that marks the advent of the Bangla New Year, will be celebrated on Sunday in the spirit of the secular Bengali nation.
The trademark New Year rally will also reflect the spirit of the ongoing Shahbagh movement- the demand for trial of war criminals of the 1971 Liberation War.
True to their century-old tradition, people in traditional clothes will throng the Ramna Batamul, Suhrawardy Uddyan, Shahbagh intersection, Dhaka University campus and other venues in the city and elsewhere in the country to welcome 1420.
Mogul Emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar introduced the Bengali calendar. Pahela Baishakh celebration has become an integral part of the Bengali cultural heritage and tradition. It culminates into a day of joy and collective celebrations.
The day is a public holiday in Bangladesh.
Acting President Abdul Hamid said the New Year bear immense possibilities.
"Pahela Baishakh is a unique day in the classical Bengali tradition, which makes us very emotional and inspires us to go forward leaving the past behind. It is a day for cherishing our tradition and a day of self-contemplation."
He wished the New Year would strengthen the unity in all spheres of national life and bring eternal happiness to the nation.
In her greetings, Prime Minister Hasina said Pahela Baishakh was one of the major festivals of the Bengali nation, when the whole country imbued with the traditional heritage revelled in its rich culture.
"Pahela Baishakh is the festival of heart for Bengalis, a grand festival of the Bengalis at home and abroad across the world," she said.
Hasina said Pahela Baisakh recharged the secular spirit of the Bengali nation. She deplored repeated attempts to ruin this spirit and denounced fundamentalist violence that sometimes turned Pahela Baisakh into a bloody day.
The Prime Minister said the attempts of fundamentalists and communal forces would be unsuccessful.
”The practice of the Bengali culture marking Pahela Baishakh will strengthen our national identity and consolidate our national unity and give us strength to unite in resisting communalism, fanaticism and the evil forces."
In her message, Khaleda Zia said the New Year gave strength to the nation to start with fresh vigour putting behind the gloom of past failures.
"Pahela Baishakh brings the new perspective and enriches diversity in our lives. The external dominant forces have failed to undermine the vigour of our language and cultural tradition."
"It (Pahela Baishakh) reminds us of our glorious tradition and the nation's self-identity is reinforced."
She also hoped the Bengali New Year festival would bring happiness, peace and joy to all.
Arrangements
Several government and private organisations have drawn up elaborate plans to celebrate the day on Sunday.
Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Betar will start airing special programmes from Ramna Batamul live from early morning. Chayanat will conduct the programme.
Soon after that, Mongol Shobha Jatra, the central attraction of the celebrations, will be brought out from the Fine Arts department of Dhaka Univsersity.
Organisations like Shilpakala Academy, Bangladesh Shishu Academy, Jatiya Grahanta Kendro will organize discussion and cultural programmes to mark the day.