Pahela Baishakh being celebrated across Bangladesh in festive mood
The faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Dhaka brings out Mangal Shobhajatra, a UNESCO-recognised intangible cultural heritage, from the Teacher-Student Centre on the campus on Thursday morning. – Sony Ramany.
Different cultural organisations and people from all walks of life across Bangladesh welcomed Bangla year of 1429 by celebrating Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla calendar, in a festive mood on Thursday morning.
Pahela Baishakh programmes started physically on the day after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid pandemic. The programmes featured songs, recitations, dance recitals and more.
Young people in colourful attire and adorned with flower garlands started pouring in at the University of Dhaka premises where many cultural programmes were scheduled.
Beefed up securities were observed everywhere in and around the DU campus. No vehicle was permitted inside the campus. Visitors were taking a walk to different event venues in a festive mood.
A significant number of people were seen ignoring health safety measures and were seen without masks.
The proceedings of the stay started in Dhaka at about 6:15am with cultural organisation Chhayanaut’s cultural programme at the historic Ramna Batamul.
Members of the organisation rendered solo and group songs to entertain the audience. Singers sang Arun kanti, Jago jago, Ano ano amrita, Barisho dhara majhe, Keno jibon bifol koro, Lolate mor shidur dio and others.
Wrishiz Shilpi Gosthi started their 39th Pahela Baishakh celebration with a group song at 7:30am in front of the Shishu Park. Members of the cultural organisation Spandan presented a group dance.
Before moving on to the main cultural programme, the audience at the event observed a minute of silence paying respect to late recitation artiste Hasan Arif.
Besides, performances of invited Baul singers, Wrishiz Shilpi Gosthi’s programme feature solo songs by Samar Barua, Ferdous Wahid, Khurshid Alam, Fakir Siraj, Mina Barua, Fakir Mashuk Alamgir, Arif Rahman, Iqbal Khorshed, Rafiqul Alam and others.
The faculty of Fine Arts of the DU brought out their iconic procession, Mangal Shobhajatra, a UNESCO-recognised intangible cultural heritage, at 9:00am from the Teacher-Student Centre of the campus.
People in the procession were carrying colourful masks and effigies of different local animals. The procession marched towards the vice-chancellor’s residence and took a U-turn to end the event at the TSC.
Bangla Academy started Pahela Baishakh celebration featuring recitation and music show on its premises at 8:00am.
The academy’s director-general poet Nurul Huda delivered the welcome speech. Writer and researcher Saymon Zakaria presented the keynote speech.
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy celebrated Pahela Baishakh at the National Theatre Hall on Thursday. Their programme included a group dance performance with songs, namely, Mawla bol, Dhonno dhonno boli tare, Samoy gele sadhon hobe na, Milon hobe koto dine and others.
Police banners were seen asking the visitors to leave the programme venue before 2:00pm.
Jahangirnagar University organised elaborate cultural programmes to welcome the first day of the Bangla year.
With the theme, Manushe Manushe Sampriti Baye Jaak, Prakriti o Pratyaye Eso Baishakh, the university administration and students brought out the traditional Mangal Shobhajatra in front of the business studies faculty at around 9:45am.
Besides, the cultural affairs ministry, Bangladesh Shishu Academy, Bangladesh National Museum and Kabi Nazrul Institute, among others, celebrated Pahela Baishakh organising cultural programmes, discussions, quiz competitions and more.
Reports received from Khulna, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barishal, Rangpur, Gazipur, Jashore, Feni, Lakshmipur and Cumilla said that different organisations and people of all walks of life were celebrating the Pahela Baishakh amid festivity.
New Age
