Pahela Baishakh

The Pahela Baishakh is the first day of Bangla New Year. The day is celebrated with enjoyment in keeping with the age-old tradition. The day is celebrated all over the country with great festivity. Different programmes are held on this day. The day's first program is held at dawn at Ramna Batamul. The rural people celebrate the day with great enthusiasm. They make many kinds of cakes in home. They wear new dress and attend the local fair. Usually girls wear yellow sarees and boys wear pajamas and punjabis. On this day, the traders and shopkeepers open fresh account books called 'halkhata' and offer sweets to their clients. The urban people bring out colourful procession. They wear masks. Baishakhi Melas are the great attraction of this day and they are held at different places of the country. Some people eat watered rice with green chili and hilsha fish on this day. Different cultural organizations organize different cultural functions. The day is a public holiday. It has a great significance in our national life. It reflects our age-old tradition and culture. It bears the testimony to the fact that we have a rich culture of our own. It is also a manifestation of our cultural heritage. We welcome the 'Bangla New Year' with traditional festivities. National dailies bring out special supplements. On this day, radio and television air special programs. Bangla Academy, Shilpakala Academy and Jatiya Press Club organize cultural functions on their respective premises. In fact, the day is a great source of our joys and pleasure.