14.4.2015

Celebrations of the Bengali New Year

শুভ নববর্ষ (Shubhô Nôbobôrsho) or ‘Happy new year!’ in Bengali

On April 14 the whole Bangladesh celebrates the Bengali New Year – it will be the year 1422 this year. Why so? And what do the celebrations look like?

In Bengali the New Year is called Pohela Boishakh. Pohela means ‘the first’ and Boishakh (or Baisakh) is the first month in the Bengali calendar that is based on the Hindu Vedic solar calendar. The origin of the Bengali calendar is not quite clear. It is believed that it was created to make it easy for peasants to pay taxes. It used to be impossible to pay during the harvest season which caused serious problems to the peasants.

The celebration of the Bengali New year is held not only in Bangladesh but also in West Bengal in India. What does the annual celebration look like in Bangladesh? People start the day bathing and putting on traditional clothes. During the day they visit their relatives, friends and neighbors. Especially in cities, celebrations are being held, special food is being served and sold in the street together with various products, toys, cosmetics and sweets. Street performers are playing theater and singing traditional songs and for children there are puppet shows and even carousels. The traditional New Year’s dish is the Panta Ilish – rice prepared in a special way, fried fish called Hilsha, dried Shutki fish, pickled vegetable called Achar, Dal lentil, green chili peppers, and onions.

The greatest celebrations take place in Dhaka. In the morning, crowds set out to a large banyan tree in the Ramna Park where a rich cultural program is awaiting them. Everyone, including students and teachers of the University of Dhaka, welcome the new year in a popular colorful parade. Across the whole country, a number of social, sport and cultural events are taking place, newspapers are issuing special supplements, radio and TV stations broadcasting interesting programs… Pohela Boishakh is – unlike other holidays – a day celebrated by every Bangladeshi citizen, without any regard to their social status or religion.


More information about program Support BanglaKids

BanglaKids is a development program of ADRA Czech Republic.
Since 1999 we have provided education to 6,500 children in Bangladesh.
Together, we’re giving them an opportunity for a better future.

Copyright © 2024 ADRA Web by B Media Solutions s.r.o.