The nation is set to celebrate the Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla New Year-1432, today in an inclusive manner involving people from all walks of life, including the ethnic groups. A huge number of people are expected to join the 'Naba Barsha' festivities across the country, particularly in the capital city.
Pahela Baishakh is one of the most colourful festivals through which the country's people bid farewell to the old year and welcome the Bangla New Year. The day is a public holiday.
On this occasion, people from all walks of life wear traditional dresses, especially the Bengali young women wear white sarees with red borders and adorn themselves with bangles, flowers and 'tip' while men wear white pyjamas and panjabi or kurta while the ethnic people wear their respective traditional dresses.
The day's event will mandatorily begin with the performance of the national anthem and the song 'Esho He Baishakh, Esho Esho' in the Ramna Batamul with the cultural event organized by the Chhayanaut. The artistes of the organization will start rendering songs to welcome the new sun of the New Year.
The Faculty of Fine Arts of the Dhaka University (DU) will celebrate New Year 1432 with festivities across campus including organizing the traditional 'Barshabaran Ananda Shobhajatra', which was known as 'Mangal Shobhajatra' earlier, procession. The procession will begin at 9:00am from the Faculty of Fine Arts, themed 'Unity in the New Year, End to Fascism'.
According to the plan of Dhaka University, the rally will proceed through Shahbagh intersection, TSC roundabout, Central Shaheed Minar, Physical Education Centre, Doel Square, and Bangla Academy before returning to the Faculty of Fine Arts.
The entry to university grounds will be restricted to Nilkhet and Palashi gates only, with all other access points closed during the event. Participants must join from the end of the procession rather than the sides and carry personal identification, according to the notice of the university authority.
This year's event builds upon university tradition whilst embracing greater inclusivity, featuring folk heritage and references to recent student movements. The celebration expands with representatives from 28 indigenous communities, various educational institutions, cultural organisations, and international guests. Visual elements include 7 large motifs, 7 medium motifs and 7 small motifs.
Masks and bags are strictly prohibited on campus during celebrations, though hand-held masks created by the Fine Arts Faculty may be displayed. Vuvuzela horns must not be blown or sold within university grounds. Several gates to Suhrawardy Udyan will remain closed, including those behind Raju Sculpture, near Chobir Haat, and adjacent to Ramna Kali Mandir.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will ensure the arrangement of broadcasting the processions on all government and private TV channels, radio stations, commercial radios, and community radios.
All celebrations must conclude by 5:00pm. Campus entry remains open until 5:00pm, after which only exits will be permitted. From 7:00pm on Sunday, only vehicles with valid university stickers may enter campus. No vehicles, including motorcycles, will operate on university campus on the Pahela Baishakh. Campus residents may use only Nilkhet and Palashi gates for personal vehicle movement.
Support facilities include a help desk, control room and medical camp at TSC, with mobile toilets installed near Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall, TSC surroundings, Doel Square and Curzon Hall. CCTV cameras and security archways will be positioned throughout campus.
On the occasion of the Chaitra Sangkranti and Pahela Baishakh, the government has taken two-day elaborate programmes for the first time this year to celebrate the 'Naba Barsha' in an inclusive manner involving the people from different ethnic groups.
For the first time, the government has taken an initiative to organize an inclusive festival at the national level to celebrate the Bangla New Year 1432 and the new years of other ethnic groups, including Chakma, Marma, Tripura and Garo, according to a handout issued by the Cultural Affairs Ministry.
Concerned ministries and divisions, educational institutions, district and upazila administrations, metropolitan cities and municipalities as well as different cultural organizations will implement the events.
On the occasions, Chief Adviser Chief Adviser Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus on Sunday issued a message greeting the countrymen.
According to the programmes taken by the government, special features will be published in newspapers highlighting the significance of the Pahela Baishakh this year instead of publishing special supplements.
Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and other print and electronic media will make illustrated reports putting emphasis on the occasion. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will take the necessary measures in this regard.
On the occasion, different cultural organizations, including the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies of Dhaka University, Shurer Dhara, Rishij Shilpigoshthi, Bulbul Lalitakala Academy, Bangladesh Nritya Shilpi Sangstha, Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation, Ganasangeet Samannay Parishad, Utsab Udjapan Parishad, Band-F Minor, Saimum Shilpigoshthi and Garo cultural organizations will organize various programmes.
Colourful processions and cultural programmes will also be organized in every district, upazila and union on Pahela Baishakh, involving people from all ethnic groups. The processions will also be brought out at every union across the country. On the occasion, all district and upazila administrations will organize essay competitions, cultural programmes, and traditional fairs on the first day of the Bangla calendar.
Besides, all educational institutions will celebrate the Bangla New Year in a festive and grand manner under their own arrangements.
Bangla Academy and the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) will organize a weeklong Bashakhi Fair on the Bangla Academy premises at a convenient time while they will also organize discussions and other events on the occasion.
Besides, the Bangladesh Folk Art and Crafts Foundation will organize a traditional New Year Fair on the foundation's premises in the city.
Traditional Bengali foods will be served to prisoners at all prisons, patients in all hospitals and all children's homes (orphanages).
