<i>Nation tinged with Baishakh colours</i>
Channel i, a satellite private TV channel, celebrates Pahela Baishakh through a cultural programme titled "Hajaro Kanthe Koti Bangaleer Barshobaran" at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital on Saturday.Photo: STAR
Shedding the preceding year's glooms to oblivion, the nation welcomed Pahela Baishakh, its biggest and most colourful festival and the first day of the Bangla year 1419, on Saturday with its customary fanfare and festivity. Thousands turned out on the streets, parks and open spaces since morning with the day being a public holiday, women clad in white sarees covered in intricate designs of red and men sporting panjabis. Revellers thronged the Baishakhi Melas (fairs) in the capital and other parts of the country which celebrated Bangla culture, entertainment, art and food and featured live music and performances, colourful rallies and “pitha” (cake) festivals. Braving the scorching heat, people patiently nudged forward in massive crowds into the fairs at Ramna Park, Suhrawardy Udyan, Central Shaheed Minar, Dhaka University, Shahbag and Dhanmondi Lake in the capital. Dhanmondi, Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban and other city areas were also seen swarming with people from early morning till night. Many had their cheeks and parts of their body painted with the country's map and other emblems, giving a special vibe to the celebrations. As in every year, the biggest venue of the celebration was at the capital's Ramna Batamul where a huge stage, a trademark of the cultural programmes, was set. Artistes of Chhayanaut, a cultural organisation organising the event for over three decades, launched the performances with Rabindranath Tagore's song “Esho he Baishakh…” at sunrise. It was followed by other songs and recitation of poems. Tight security measures were taken in and around the park. The next best attraction, a decorated procession called Mongol Shovajatra organised by the students of the Faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University, also started off from the premises at 9:00am. The procession featured giant replicas of “Sampan”, tiger, horses, cat, owl, tortoise, elephant and huge colourful masks symbolising the triumph of good over evil. Its participants danced along the beats of traditional musical instruments. Scores of cultural shows organised by different organisations kept the Dhaka University area lively. Visitors were seen buying traditional food, masks and toys at the fairs. Many ate traditional “panta bhat” (watered rice) with fried Ilish, lentil, green chilli and onion at home, restaurants and fairs. The state-owned BTV, Bangladesh Betar (radio), and private television channels broadcast special programmes and the newspapers brought out special supplements marking the day. Mughal Emperor Akbar introduced the tradition of celebrating the Bangla New Year in relation to closing of the annual tax collection. Traditionally, traders and shopkeepers open “halkhata” (new account register) on the day and serve sweetmeats to clients. Slowly this non-communal festival became an integral part of the Bangalee culture with people irrespective of their religion, sect and creed celebrating the day as one nation.
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