8/2/2019 pohela

1/12

Bangla New Year [Bangla: BanglaNbobrsho]or Pohela/Poyela Boishakh [ PhelaBoishakh or Phela Boishakh] marks the first day ofthe Bangla Calendar. Poyela Boishakh is celebrated with great

fervor in the South Asian region of Bengal

(BangladeshandIndian/West Bengal) and among Bengali

communities living in the Indian states of Tripura and Assam

(specially in Barak Valley [Bangla: ]). PoyelaBoishakh coincides with the New Years in many otherSouthern

Asiancalendars. Bangla New Year or Pohela Boishakh connects

all Ethnic Bengalis irrespective of religious and regional

differences. Ethnic Bengalis across the world and from all walks

of life unite to celebrate the Public or Universal Festival of

Bengalis i.e. Pohela Boishakh; its the occasion to welcome the

New-Year with a new hope of peace, prosperity and goodwill.

Poyela Boishakh generally falls on 14th

or 15th

of April of the

Georgian calendar. InBangladesh, it is a national

holidaycelebrated around14th

April according to the official

amended calendar designed by theBangla Academy. In India,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladeshhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladeshhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Bengalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Bengalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Asiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Asiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Asiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Asiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladeshhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladeshhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladeshhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangla_Academyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangla_Academyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangla_Academyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangla_Academyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladeshhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Asiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Asiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Bengalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladeshhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_language

8/2/2019 pohela

2/12

inIndian/West Bengal&Assamit is apublic (state) holidayand

is publicly celebrated on 15th

of April

Names

Bengali New Year is referred to inBengalias "New Year"

(Bengali:Noboborsho,fromSanskritNava(new)vara(year

)) or "First ofBoishakh" (Bengali: PohelaBoishakh or Phela Boishakh). Nobo means new

and Borsho means year.

Historical Background of Pohela Boishakh |

Pohela Boishakh celebration dates back to MughalEmperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbars * ] reign. Akbar the Great, the renowned grandson of

Zahiruddin Muhammad Babar [ ] was the3

rd

Mughal Emperor. In order to ease tax collection, Akbar-e-

Azam changed the tradition of agricultural tax collection

according to Hijri calendar [] and ordered a reform of

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Bengalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Bengalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Bengalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boishakhhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boishakhhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boishakhhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Bengal

8/2/2019 pohela

3/12

the calendar because the 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.

The Royal Astrologer of Emperor Akbar's court, Aamir

Fatehullah Siraji [ ], was the one whoactually devised this calendar, after performing a research on

the lunar Hijri and Solar calendar[ ]. The uniquecharacteristic 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 Bnggabdo [] or Bangla

Year was introduced on 10/11 March 1584, but was dated from

5th

November 1556 or 963 Hijri. This was the day that Akbar

defeated Himu in the second Battle of Panipat to ascend the

throne. This not only glorified his victory but also streamlined

revenue collection into an orderly process.

8/2/2019 pohela

4/12

It was Akbar-e-Azams directive to settle all dues on thelast day ofChoitro. The next day was the first day of the New

Year (Poyela Boishakh), the day for a new beginning; landlords

would distribute sweets among their tenants, and Businessmen

would open a HalKhata *] (new accounts book) and

close their old ones. Businessmen used to invite their

customers to share sweets and renew their business

relationship with them. There were fairs and festivities allover

and gradually Poyela Boishakh became a day of celebration.

Celebration of Pohela Boishakh |

Pohela Boishakh is a Public festival [ ] of theBengalis; it is celebrated among all Bengalis- irrespective of

religious and regional differences. As discussed earlier; the

celebrations started from Akbars reign. But the Public

celebration of Poyela Boishakh and the large-scale

organizations of cultural events have started more recently.

Rabindranath Tagore had said,' , , ,

8/2/2019 pohela

5/12

, ' The summaryof the statement is that, a person feels stronger, complete &

united when hes among other fellow mates on the occasion of

a festival as compared to daily life. Truly, socializing brings a lot

of change in the personality of a person; it actually changes his

outlook towards the world and makes him broad minded, well-

mannered and a better person indeed. Nowadays its seen that,

due to our busy schedule and hectic life we tend to forget

thepurpose of the festivals after they are over; people come

together during festivals, forget their differences but as soon as

the festival is over the differences are highlighted once again!

The Poyela Boishakh celebrations and festivities reflect the life

in rural Bengal. Usually on this day everything is washed and

cleaned; people bathe early in the morning and dress in fine

clothes and then go to visit relatives and friends. Special food

items are prepared for the guests. Starting as a rural festival,

Poyela Boishakh has now become an integral part of Bengali

culture.

8/2/2019 pohela

6/12

People from all walks of life dress-up in traditional Bengali

attire: Men

wear dhuti/payejama / lungiand kurta /Panjabi. Young

women wear white saris with red borders, and adorn

themselves with tip (bindis), churi(bangles) andfl(flowers). Its

like a custom to start the day with the traditional breakfast

ofPant-Bht(leftover rice soaked in water), onion, Shbuj

Lnk(green chillies),chr(pickles), dl(lentils) & Bhja Elish

Mch(fried Hilsa fish).

Boishakhi Fairs are organized in many parts of Bengal. The

lifestyle of rural Bengal is showcased in almost all these fairs.

Various traditional handicrafts, toys, cosmetics, agricultural

products, as well as various kinds of food and sweets are sold at

these fairs. The fairs also provide entertainment, with singers

and dancers staging jatra (traditional plays), pala gan, kobigan,

jarigan, gambhira gan, gazir gan and alkap gan. They present

folk songs as well as baul, marfati, murshidi and bhatiali songs.

Narrative plays like Laila-Majnu, Yusuf-Zulekha and Radha-

8/2/2019 pohela

7/12

Krishna are staged. Among other attractions of these fairs are

puppet shows, merry-go-round and Giant wheels are also

installed and are enjoyed by the children.

Historical Importance of Poyela Boishakh in Bangladesh & Rise

of a nation | In an attempt to suppress Bengali culture, the Pakistani

Government had banned poems written by Rabindranath

Tagore, the most famous poet and writer in Bengali literature.

Protesting this move, Chhayanat opened their Poyela

Boishakh celebrations at Ramna Park with Tagore's song

welcoming the month in 1965. The day continued to be

celebrated in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) as a symbol ofBengali culture. After 1972 it became a national festival, a

symbol of the Bangladesh nationalist movement and an

integral part of the people's cultural heritage. Later, in the

mid- 1980s the Institute of Fine Arts added color to the day by

initiating the Boishakhi parade, which is much like a carnival

parade. In the big metropolitans like Dhaka and Chittagong

8/2/2019 pohela

8/12

this day is marked by mass crowd flocking to hundreds of

open air concerts and cultural programs, mask rallies etc.

DHAKA, BANGLADESH | ,

In Dhaka, large numbers of people pour out of their houses and

gather early in the morning under the banyan tree at Ramna

Park [ ]. Along with the rising sun,theChhayanat[] artists sing the famous song of Tagore

in chorus, , , (Come, O Boishakh, Come,Come), welcoming Boishakh.

Dhakas Poyela Boishakh celebration is incomplete without

the Mangal Shobhajatra. Students and teachers of the

Dhaka Universitys Institute of Fine Arts() take out a colorful procession(known as Mangal Shobhajatra) and parade on different

streets and finally returns to the Fine arts Institute. This

procession mainly consists of Arts & crafts like (cutouts of

tigers, owls, dragon-fly etc. and different types of masks) these

http://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%A2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE_%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BChttp://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%A2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE_%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BChttp://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%A2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE_%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BChttp://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%A2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE_%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BChttp://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%A2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE_%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BChttp://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%A2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE_%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BChttp://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%A2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE_%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC

8/2/2019 pohela

9/12

colorful pieces of art display the elements of Bengali culture

and resemble lifestyle of rural and modern Bengal. People of all

ages and irrespective of class and profession take part in this

procession. Since 1989 this Procession (Shobhajatra) has

become an important event and also a major tourist attraction.

Apart from these, various cultural programs are organized by

social and cultural organizations all over Dhaka. Newspapers

and magazines bring out special supplements. Targeting the

Poyela Boishakh event, various movies, music albums, books

etc. are released and special programs are also telecasted on

television and radio.

Many old festivals connected with New Year's Day have

disappeared, while new festivals have been added. With the

abolition of the zamindari system, the punya connected with

the closing of land revenue accounts has disappeared. Kite

flying in Dhaka and bull racing in Munshiganj used to be very

colourful events. Other popular village games and sports were

horse races, bullfights, cockfights, flying pigeons, and boat

racing. Some festivals, however, continue to be observed; for

8/2/2019 pohela

10/12

example, bali (wrestling) in Chittagong and gambhira in

Rajshahi are still popular events.

Pohela Boishakh celebration has also hit the dancefloor of the

pubs and clubs in the major cities, as an increasing number of

parties are being organized nowadays for the youth. Thus,

giving the celebration a western touch but keeping the

indigenous feel intact.

CHOTTOGRAM, Bangladesh | ,

The centre of attraction of the Poyela Boishakh celebrations in

the port city Chottogram is the DC Hill Park [ ]. Sammilit Sanskritik Jot[ ]organizes a two day festival to bid farewell to the old year and

welcome the New Year. Various cultural events are organized

here including plays etc. Public celebration of Poyela Boishakh

in Chottogram was started in 1973; the initiative was taken by

the politicians to promote Bengali culture.

Chottogram Hill Tracts | : In theHill tracts of Chottogram three different ethnic minority groups

8/2/2019 pohela

11/12

have their individual New Year celebrations.Boisuk []

of Tripura People, Sangrai [] of Marma people and Biju

[] of Chakma people; presently they have come together to

celebrate it commonly as Boi-Sa-Bi [--], a day of a wide

variety of festivities; specially need to mention the water

festival [] of the Marma people.KHULNA, Bangladesh | ,

Pohela Boishakh is celebrated in Khulna with enormous joy and

enthusiasm. People from all walks of life take part in

the Borshoboron Rally ( ) organized by Khulna

Sonskriti Kendro( ).

CONCLUSION

Today, Pohela Boishakh celebrations also mark a day of cultural

unity without distinction between class and religious affiliations.

Of the major holidays celebrated in Bangladesh and West

Bengal, only Phela Boishakh comes without any preexisting

expectations (specific religious identity, culture of gift-giving,

8/2/2019 pohela

12/12

etc). Unlike holidays like Eid ul-Fitr & Durga Pujo, where

dressing up in lavish clothes has become a norm, or Christmas

where exchanging gifts has become an integral part of the

holiday, Phela Boishakh is really about celebrating the simpler,

rural roots of the Bengal. As a result, more people can

participate in the festivities together without the burden of

having to reveal one's class, religion, or financial capacity.