Celebration of Pahela Baishak
At present the celebration of Bangla New Year’s Day (Celebration of Pahela Baishak) is gaining popularity. It is observed with great enthusiasm on the first day of Baisakh of the Bangla calendar. This function is not related to religion. It is (Celebration of Pahela Baishak) a social festival, and its appeal is universal, such a non-religious festival is rare in the world.
During the British Rule in India, many functions were amalgamated (মিশ্রিত) in Pahela Baishak. Since the 1960’s Bengali New Year’s Day assumed a new dimension (যাত্রা). During Ayub rule, Tagore songs were banned in the then East Pakistan. But Chhayanat, the leading cultural organization of the country, set aside this ban and arranged a function of Tagore songs under the famous banyan tree of Ramna on the occasion (উপলক্ষে) of observing the New Year’s Day or the first day of Baisakh. This endeavour of Chhayanat encouraged many other cultural organizations of the then East Pakistan. The observance of Pahela Baisakh in Ramna Batamul became popular throughout the country. After the independence of Bangladesh, the Bangla New Year’s Day was declared as an official holiday. Pahela Baishakh (Celebration of Pahela Baishak) is now a major social festival in Bangladesh.
Many functions are related to Pahela Baishakh. In many places of Bangladesh, cultural functions are held in the morning. The performers sing, dance and make jokes in these functions. The men wear our traditional dress of Pajamas and Panjabi, and the women wear yellowish (কিঞ্চিত হলুদ) ‘sharee’ to celebrate the New Year. In many places, Pantha rice is eaten with fried Hilsha fish. The businessmen complete their accounts of the previous year on the eve of the New Year’s Day. They open a new account book (Halkhata). On this day the customers repay their debt () to the shopkeepers. The owners of the shop distribute sweetmeats among the customers and clients.
Baishaki Melas are held everywhere on this day. In some places, a fair continues for a week, even a fortnight. Baishakhi fair has no religious fervour. On the first day of Baishakh about 200 fairs are held throughout Bangladesh. These fairs are arranged not only in Dhaka but also in other towns and urban areas. The attractions of the fairs are: earthen and handicraft (হাতের তৈরি) items. In some places book fairs are also held. Many people or publishers give books to their relatives, friends or clients as tokens of New Year’s good wishes.
Pahela Baishakh is the function of the Bangalees of Bangladesh. It (Celebration of Pahela Baishak) has become a main function of all the people of the country. Its appeal is universal. It comes every year removing the distress, pains, sufferings and despair.
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