Bangladesh, April14 : The country is celebrating Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bengali New Year-1429, on Thursday upholding the rich cultural values and rituals of the Bangalees. The Bangla Nabobarsho festival is being celebrated at its traditional venue Ramna Batamul in the capital for the first time after two years due to Covid-19 situation. This year, the first day of the Bangla calendar, will be celebrated following its all rituals at the venue along with bringing out the traditional Mangal Shovajatra (procession) organized by the Fine Arts Faculty of the Dhaka University. But, due to the ongoing holy month of Ramadan, it will be celebrated on a limited scale this year. No food stalls will remain open on this day as Muslim devotees perform fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. Pahela Baishakh is one of the most colourful festivals through which the Bangalees bid farewell to the old year and welcome the New Year. On this occasion, people from all walks of life wear traditional Bengali dresses. Young women wear white sarees with red borders and adorn themselves with bangles, flowers, and tips, while men wear white pyjamas and panjabi or kurta. The government has drawn up an elaborate programme. The Mongol Shovajatra will be brought out at divisional, district and upazila levels to reach the traditional programme to the grassroots as it has earned the international recognition. However, business communities, especially in the rural areas, are ready to open their traditional ‘Halkhata’, new account books. On the day traders also offer sweets to customers. Day is public holiday today.
