By Saneem Afshain

Bangla New Year, popularly called Pohela Boishakh is the first day of the Bengali calendar, which is also the official calendar of Bangladesh. Just as the 1st of January is the first day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, Pohela Boishakh is the first day of the Bengali calendar.

It is celebrated on the 14th of April in Bangladesh, and 14/15 April in the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, Jharkhand and Assam (Barak Valley) by Bengalis regardless of religious faith. It is celebrated across religious boundaries by its Muslim majority and Hindu minority. The festival became a popular means of expressing cultural pride and heritage among the Bangladeshi.

It is a national holiday in Bangladesh and also in some parts of India.

The traditional greeting for this occasion is শুভ নববর্ষ "Shubho Noboborsho" which is literally "Happy New Year".

Pohela Boishakh was celebrated from the times of Sher Shah Suri and after the death of Sher Shah Suri in 1545, when his son Islam Shah occupied the throne of Delhi he announced celebration of both Hijri new year as well as Pohela Boishakh to bring Bengal under the control of a single administrative apparatus. However, in 1584 Rana Pratap again rebuffed emissaries of Akbar, and tried to interfered in the socio – cultural heritage. Even Taj Khan Karrani became the ruler of Bengal and Bihar in 1563 AD followed the heritage and cultural norms of Sher Shah.

There is also a view point regarding Pahela Baishakh celebration that it dates back to Mughal Emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar’s reign, who was semi Hindu-semi Muslim- semi atheist. Akbar was grandson of Zahiruddin Muhammad Babar was the 3rd Mughal Emperor but due to his father dethroning, he was brought out within the Hindu families of Umarkot in present day Pakistan.

It is claimed that in order to ease tax collection, Akbar eliminated Hijri and changed the tradition of agricultural tax collection according to Pohela Boishakh as Hijri calendar being a lunar calendar- did not coincide with the harvest sessions and thus the farmers faced severe difficulties in paying taxes out of season.

It is also claimed that Astrologer of Emperor Akbar`s court, Amir Fatehullah Siraji, was the one who actually devised this calendar, after performing a research on the lunar Hijri and Solar calendar.

 The unique characteristic of the Bengali year was that, rather than being a lunar calendar, it was based on an amalgamation of the solar and lunar year. This was indeed a great development, as the solar and lunar years were formulated in very different methods.
Initially this calendar was named as “Fasli San” (agricultural year) and then Bonggabdo or Bangla Year was introduced on 10/11 March 1584, but was dated from 5th November 1556 or 963 Hijri.
Another study,  shows that, King Shoshangko who ruled ancient Bengal might have actually started the Bengali era. It means the Bangla calendar started from value one, the starting point is estimated to be on Monday, 14th April 594 in preoptic Gregorian calendar and Monday, 12th April 594 in the Julian calendar.

 Pohela Boishakh is celebrated since hundreds of years ago, when Bengali calendar was introduced. The festival is celebrated by Bangladeshi’s with a display of colors, from the decorations to the clothes and accessories people wear. The most popular decorations are the signature colorful masks, made in the style of South Asian folk art and depicting animals, kings and queens.

 On the Bangla New Years’ Day, they start from visiting relatives, neighbors and friends, with special foods being prepared and shared. The day is marked with singing, processions, and fairs. Traditionally, businesses start this day with a new ledger, clearing out the old which often involves inviting loyal customers and offering sweetmeats to them. This festival is called Haal Khata. Singers perform traditional songs welcoming the new year.

 People enjoy classical Jatra plays. People wear festive dress with women dusking their hair with flowers. White-red color combinations are particularly popular.

New Year fairs are held in various locations around Bangladesh, featuring entertainment products. A Bangla New Year's (Pohela Boishakh) parade.

the occasion is celebrated by people parading the streets, donning traditional colorful Bengali attire and with carnivals, where singing and dancing performances take place.

 Bangladeshis prepare and enjoy a variety of traditional festive foods on Pohela Boishakh. These include Panta Bhat (lightly fermented watered rice), Ilish Bhaja (fried hilsa fish) Roshmalai a sweet delicacy and many special Tarkari (vegetable curries) The celebrations start in Dhaka at dawn with a rendition of Rabindranath Tagore's song "Eshoo he Boishakh" by Chhayanaut under the banyan tree at Ramna (the Ramna Batamul).

 An integral part of the festivities is the Mangal Shobhajatra, a traditional colorful procession organized by the students of the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka (Charukala). According to the history, the rudimentary step of Mangal Shobhjatra was started in Jessore by Charupith, a community organization, in 1985. Later in 1989 the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka arranged this Mangal Shobhajatra with different motives and themes. Now, the Mangal Shobhajatra is celebrated by different organization in all over the country.

The Dhaka University Mangal Shobhajatra tradition started in 1989 when students used the procession to overcome their frustration with the military rule.

They organized the festival to create masks and floats with at least three theme, one highlighting evil, another courage, and a third about peace. It also highlighted the pride of Bangladeshi people for their folk heritage irrespective of religion, creed, caste, gender or age

In recent years, the procession has a different theme relevant to the country's culture and politics every year. Different cultural organizations and bands also perform on this occasion and fairs celebrating Bengali culture are organized throughout the country. Other traditional events held to celebrate Pohela Boishakh include bull racing in Munshiganj, Boli Khela (wrestling) in Chittagong, Nouka Baich (boat racing), cockfights, pigeon racing

The festival is celebrated with processions, fairs and family time. The festive Mangal Shobhajatra is organized in Bangladesh. In 2016, the UNESCO declared this festivity organized by the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka as a cultural heritage of humanity.

Bangladesh Heritage and Ethnic Society of Alberta in Canada celebrates its Heritage Festival (Bengali New Year) in a colorful manner along with different organizations. Bengali people in Calgary celebrate the day with traditional food, dress, and with Bengali culture. Bengali people live on hope and rely on dreams! Whatever the situation may be, Bengalese always hope for a better and brighter future. Every year Bangla New Year brings new hope, goals and dreams for the people of Bangladesh. 

The Bangabandhu Council of Australia every year hosts a Pohela Boishakh event at the Sydney Olympic Park.