Thursday | 24 April 2025 | Reg No- 06
Bangla
   
Bangla | Thursday | 24 April 2025 | Epaper
BREAKING: ● Australia wants free, fair elections in Bangladesh      ● Pakistan Foreign Minister due Sunday      ● Human chain urges swift reopening of Malaysian labor market       ● Bangladesh want to be top manufacturing country in world      ● KUET VC, Pro-VC resign      ● Bangladesh, WB sign $850m deals to boost trade, create jobs      ● KUET students cheer, end fast      

Pahela Baishakh through a mother's eyes

Published : Saturday, 12 April, 2025 at 12:00 AM  Count : 1976
Adrija Das
Every year, like clockwork, Pahela Baishakh -the Bengali New Year- arrives wrapped in an air of laughter, hope, and the promise of fresh beginnings. Streets buzz with marches, homes hum with preparation, and the scent of 'hilsa' and 'panta bhaat' flows through the air. But amidst the colorful chaos and cultural hype, one group of people remains quietly at the heart of it all: mothers. For them, this season is all about making this celebration perfect with coordination- cooking traditional meals, organizing family gatherings, and ensuring everything from sarees to sweets is just right. While we soak in the joy, they orchestrate it behind the scenes.

As the sun rises, mothers are already in the kitchen, sleepy-eyed yet determined, starting the day with the beloved 'Panta bhaat'. As the rest of the household slowly wakes up, she moves on to preparing an array of 'bhortas', carefully mashing, seasoning, and tasting each one with care. Then come the brinjal fries and fish fry, sizzling away as she orchestrates a meal that holds both tradition and love. Once everyone is up and ready, she sets the table, calling the family together for breakfast. Food is the heart of Pohela Boishakh. It is believed that the more delicious the meal, the better the beginning of the Bengali New Year. And it is mothers who ensure that belief is brought to life, one dish at a time.

But her work does not end in the kitchen. A month before Pahela Baishakh, mothers take on another important role, helping their children prepare for cultural performances. They make sure every practice is attended, every costume is ready, and every move is remembered. Some even stay up late into the night, learning the choreography themselves, just so they can teach it to their children the next morning. It is tiring, sometimes overwhelming, but also deeply fulfilling. There is joy in watching a child perform with confidence, in knowing that all the effort helped shape that moment on stage. For mothers, these preparations are not just duties, they are celebrations of love.

Mothers also lead the family's shopping rituals in the days leading up to Pahela Baishakh. Together, they venture into bustling markets, searching for bright red and white attire to reflect the spirit of new beginnings. The art of choosing the perfect outfit is far from simple. She balances her children's ever-changing preferences, her spouse's quiet indecision, and her own sense of tradition. In between, she picks out gifts for her in-laws and her parents, making sure no one is forgotten. Each sari or panjabi is chosen with thought, not just for how it looks, but for the joy it might bring to someone else. It is in these crowded stores and warm family debates over patterns and sizes that another kind of celebration begins-one filled with excitement, love, and the satisfaction of a mother making the day special for everyone around her.

Then comes the day itself, when every plan set in motion finally takes shape. After serving breakfast, she rushes to get her children dressed and ready for their performances, carefully fixing their outfits, adjusting jewelry, and adding final touches with loving hands. She dresses herself too, draping a beautiful saree, slipping on bangles, and tucking a fragrant 'gajra' into her hair. Once the entire family is ready, she gently encourages her children to give their best, her heart swelling with pride as she watches them sing, dance, or recite on stage. Their joy becomes her own. After the performances, she takes them to a local mela, where the air is filled with music, laughter, and the scent of street food. While keeping a watchful eye on her little ones, she finds time to catch up with old friends, exchanging stories, sharing laughter, and offering each other wishes of a year filled with luck and happiness. It is in these moments- amid the noise, the colors, and the chaos- that she, too, celebrates.

Pahela Baishakh is a reminder that every new beginning carries its own blend of anticipation and nostalgia. It's about looking around at the people who make these moments worth celebrating, about honoring the past while stepping boldly into the future. So, as we step into this fresh new year, with gratitude for all the hard work and love poured into every detail, I dedicate this to all the mothers, those whose efforts often go unnoticed but never unappreciated- Shubho Noboborsho!


LATEST NEWS
MOST READ
Also read
Simple conditions for happiness in married life
Pahela Baishakh through a mother's eyes
Defend, empower and inspire
Sudan: Sexual violence used as weapon of terror against women and girls
The role of family and society to stop girls' oppression
Breaking the silence and fighting for justice
Shampa Akter's story of resilience
Introducing first Cohort of the returning women professionals
Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Online: 41053014; Advertisement: 41053012.
E-mail: [email protected], news©dailyobserverbd.com, advertisement©dailyobserverbd.com, For Online Edition: mailobserverbd©gmail.com
🔝
close