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Published : 12 Apr 2022, 05:51 PM
April comes with new hopes and a sense of romance and festivity in the minds of Bangladeshis all over the world, as Apr 14 is Pahela Boishakh, the 1st day of Bangla New year.
'Pohela Boishakh' is the biggest cultural festival worldwide where Bengalis celebrate and welcome the New Year with great enthusiasm in keeping with the age-old traditions called 'Borsho Boron Utsab.' It marks a day of cultural and religious unity. In Bangladesh, Apr 14 is a national holiday.
The history of Bangla New Year dates back to the Mughal emperor, Akbar's reign (1556-1609). During those times the economy of the country depended heavily on agricultural production. The tax was collected on the basis of Arabic or Hijri years that didn't match the seasonal cycle of that region. When it was time to collect taxes, the farmers were still waiting to reap their harvest from the fields and faced tremendous difficulties in paying the tax, so amendments were made and a new calendar was designed. Some scholars believe that sometimes landlords subjected the people to physical force and paying taxes could result in rebellion. To avoid this, Emperor Akbar introduced the custom of the New Year celebration. These festivities took their minds off those harsh situations and helped them to look forward to a better year.
Later, during the Pakistani regime, Pakistan Government banned poems of famous poet Rabindranath Tagore to suppress Bengali culture. This gave rise to a kind of silent rebellion. In 1965 Chayanat protested this move by welcoming the New Year celebrations at Ramna Park with Tagore's songs. This became a symbol of Bengali culture in then East Pakistan. After Independence, this became a symbol of Bangladesh's nationalist movement. It's now an integral part of Bangladesh's cultural heritage.
Did you know that till 1987 the Bangla New Year in Bangladesh was either on 14 or 15 April?
In West Bengal and the rest of India, an age-old religious solar calendar is followed just like Muslims and Jews have their own calendar for religious purposes. The Hindu calendar isn't fixed and is based on several calculations of stars and moon; the date can fall either on Apr 14 or 15. A committee headed by Muhammad Shahidullah in 1966, modified the old Bangla calendar and Apr 14 was fixed as New Year. It was officially adopted in 1987.
The celebrations begin long before the actual date as families, friends and organisations start drawing traditional designs 'alpona' all nightlong using bright red, green, blue and yellow colours in the front yards, staircases, streets and walls.
On this day, Bengalis greet family and friends by saying 'Shubho Nobobarsho.' The day is celebrated with traditional festivities across the country. Social and cultural organisations celebrate the day with cultural programs all over the country. Newspapers bring out special supplements. Special programs are broadcast on radio and telecast on television.
In Dhaka, large numbers of people assemble early in the morning under the banyan tree in Ramna Park for the cultural show held by Chhayanat every year. The programme starts with Rabindranath Tagore's famous Pahela Boishakh song welcoming the New Year, 'Esho He Boishakh, Esho Esho' followed by vibrant songs, colourful dance and other cultural activities.
During the late 1980s, the Faculty of Fine Arts, or Charukala, at Dhaka University introduced Mongol Shobhajatra to enhance the participation of the common people in this great national event. This is a unique custom that takes place in all the cities across the country. The biggest one is arranged by Charukala. Thousands of people join a colourful rally and parade around the campus and throng the streets wearing colourful masks and gigantic replicas holding banners, placards and festoons. Students of the institute take weeks in designing these for the event. Each year the procession has different themes relevant to the country's culture, current affairs or some specific issues and political state. This voluntary procession showcasing the traditional themes and motifs carried by people has been termed by UNESCO as a 'cultural heritage of humanity.'
Women dress up in colourfully designed traditional white and red coloured saree, adorn their hair with flowers and wear colourful bangles and red tips. Men wear traditional Panjabi with paijamas with a touch of red and white too. Romance is in the air as lovers meet each other. It's also a great occasion for socialising. Families and friends all join the festivities together, visit each other and give gifts for the occasion.
Businessmen open new account books called Halkhata and offer sweets to their clients.
'Boishakhi Mela' is arranged all over the country and continues for at least a week. The wide range of traditional products and activities attracts all classes of people. The traditional puppet shows and joy rides like the merry-go-round and Ferris wheel are the major attractions. Various agricultural products, traditional handicrafts, toys, cosmetics, as well as various kinds of food and sweets are sold at these fairs.
Traditional and popular food items are another major attraction. Some popular and mouthwatering items are: Panta Bhat, Panta Ilish, Shutki, Begun Bhaja, Muri Ghonto, Kanchkolar kofta, and many types of ' bhortas' with Chital fish, Sheem, eggplant, potato and dried fish.
Sweets include different types of Pithas (cakes) prepared with rice powder and molasses and sweets like Payesh, Lobongo Latika, Rasogulla, Rasomalai and many more.
Jatra, an age-old traditional play and different types of traditional and folk songs: Baul, Marfati, Murshidi and Bhatiali are performed. Different popular musical bands also perform on this occasion.
Rural sports such as Nouka Baich (boat race), kite flying, bull race, cockfights, and flying pigeons are among the popular games all over the country.
The day ends with beautiful memories of the day's festivities.
Since we are passing through hard times with covid 19, it's important to safeguard your health. If you decide to participate in the celebrations follow a few simple guidelines:
– Wear double masks and encourage others too.
– Maintain your distance (though difficult in processions).
– Sanitize hands frequently, especially before eating.
– Don't go out if you are feeling sick.
TS Eliot in his famous poem The Wasteland called April the cruellest month. Thousands died and many were affected by the Spanish flue including Eliot and his wife both from 1918 to April 1920, A feeling of hopelessness engulfed him, in the aftermath of the global pandemic. We are also trapped in a pandemic. Hopefully, there is a decline in the spread in Bangladesh. We need to keep our hopes alive.
Boishakh month comes with 'Kaal Boishakhi (Nor'wester). Each year it comes with a thundershower as if the Creator sends this to cleanse this part of the earth from dirt and sickness.
Pahela Boishakh, the beginning of a New Year comes with renewed hopes blossoming with love as we sing:
"Muchhe Jaak Glani, Ghuche Jaak Jora, Agni Snanay Shuchi Hok Dhora"
Let's hope and pray there will be another beautiful sunrise tomorrow: free of sickness and affliction.
We, the human race, are like no other. We will overcome.
'Shubho Nobo Barsho!'
References:
Abdullah, Shah Asif, Pohela Boishakh: Origin, History, Culture & Facts, March 2, 2022, Daraz Life.
