 Its the only festival which ties up all religious people together under one tree. This is Pahela Boishakh. The nation today celebrated the Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla New Year 1418, amid traditional festivities and huge enthusiasm as well as a renewed pledge to build a non-communal Bangladesh. The day broke with the chirping of birds as usual, but singing of `Esho He Baishakh Esho Esho’ everywhere in Bangladesh gave the day really a festive flavour and dimension. Men and women attired in traditional Bengali dress like panjabi-pajama and sari and children in fancy robes turned out early in the morning as enthusiasts danced and sang with playing of traditional bamboo guitars and beating of miniature drums. The people gorged themselves on Bengali delicacies of `panta Bhat’ (rice soaked in water) and fried Hilsa and pepper at home and places of Baishakhi congregations, the major ones being in the capital’s Ramna Batamul and on Dhaka University campus. Leading cultural group Chhayanaut artistes rendered Baishakhi welcome songs at Ramna Batamul at sunrise, the main Nabobarsho function they are staging for the last several decades at the same venue. Young boys in pajama-punjabi and young girls in white saris with red or black borders came to Ramna Batamul, the main spot of Baishakhi festival in the heart of the city, in the early morning and joined the near and dear ones in celebration of the most jubilant occasion of the Bangalees in this part of the world. Students of the Institute of Fine Arts of Dhaka University (DU) brought out a colourful procession from the campus with decorative replicas of animals as well as elements of Bangalee culture. The whole campus and adjoining areas wore a festive look in welcoming the New Year. Cultural groups and different organisations staged various Dhaka City Awami League brought out a ‘Mangal Shobhajatra’ Central and city leaders of Awami League and its associate DHAKA, April 14 (BSS) |
