Pohela Boishakh - A Bengali Festival

I have always enjoyed a special celebration called Pohela Boisakh, from when I was young until now. I like to follow the customs and traditions of this day when I celebrate it. Pohela Boishakh is a very important festival for the Bengali people. It is celebrated on the first day of the Bengali month called "Boishakh". Like people from other countries, Bengalis also have their own way of celebrating their new year. This way is unique to Bengalis and sets them apart from people of other nations. Not just people from Bangladesh, but also people from West-Bengal, Assam, Tripura, and Bengalis all around the world celebrate this happy festival. On this special day, people of different ages wear clothes that are red and white. They also have a meal called “panta-ilish,” which is rice soaked in water and served with Hilsha fish. They take part in morning marches and visit fairs. The day begins with a song called “Esho hey boishakh” sung under a special tree at Ramna. After that, the students from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Dhaka organize a special parade called provat feri. It's a traditional and colorful procession where they walk together on the streets in the morning. They carry colorful signs and wear big masks that they made specifically for this event. The Boishakhi fair is now a very important part of the Pohela Boishakh celebration. People from all age groups come to the boishakhi fair in both cities and villages. Different stores are set up to show different types of items like clothes, toys, jewelry, decorative items, and other fancy things. Another fun thing people do on this day is wear dresses that are red and white mixed together. Women enjoy wearing sarees and men prefer wearing Punjabi suits on this day. It is also a part of the tradition.

The main aspects of Pohela Boishakh celebrations are very big and hard to explain. During the time of Mughal Emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar, farmers had to pay a tax on the lands where they grew crops, no matter what. If any of them did not do that, they would get in trouble for not paying taxes on time. That's when Emperor Akbar made a rule to pay taxes on the last day of the year and start a new year with new ideas and hopes. After that, the entire Bengali nation celebrates the first day of the Bengali year with a fresh outlook and optimism, by leaving the past behind. They made the celebration even happier by adding colorful decorations, fun activities, lively music, and more. People of different ages can meet each other. This festival is unique because it includes people from all religions and is not limited to just one religion. Furthermore, the people who own stalls at the fair also have the opportunity to showcase their new ideas for creating things, which helps them make money. People are improving how they dress. They are wearing bright colors on their clothes instead of just red and white. On this day, there are TV shows about different topics related to Pohela Boishakh. People are spending time with their friends and families to have a good time while keeping up with their customs. Students are thinking of new designs for alpona and creating cool masks. Some people wait a whole year to release their new music to please others. Some people have the opportunity to participate in performances like plays and dance programs.

Pohela Boishakh represents cultural unity and acceptance among people of different classes, ages, and religions. People learn things by observing them for a long time. Pohela Boishakh celebration is just like any other celebration. This is why schools, colleges, and universities are celebrating this event, just to keep its real purpose alive. People who live in a different country experience a culture that is different from their own. Even though they are busy, they still take the time to celebrate this day and show their love for their culture. Another important thing is different types of food. Bengalis have used leftover rice from last night, along with Hilsha fish, onion, and green chilli. They soaked the rice to soften it. In addition to that, they also have various types of cakes and treats made from recently harvested crops. Lastly, the day is celebrated nicely with some sweet and sour moments.