Poila Boisakh: Bengali New Year celebrated with traditional fervour across the globe

Pohela Boishakh or Bengali New Year, is a significant cultural festival in West Bengal. The festival is celebrated on the first day of the Bengali calendar, which usually falls on April 14. This year, it will be celebrated on April 15.

Kolkata: The Bengali community across the world is gearing up to celebrate Poila Baisakh, also known as Pohela Boishakh, on April 15. This festival marks the New Year’s Day for the Bengali community and is celebrated with great pomp and grandeur. It is observed on the first day of the month of Baishakh according to the Bengali calendar. The festival is significant not only for Bengalis in Bangladesh but also for those in the Bengali-speaking states of India, especially West Bengal.

Pohela Boishakh has its origin in the era of the Mughals when it was celebrated as a harvest festival. However, the festival gained significance during the Bengali Renaissance in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when cultural icons like Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam incorporated it into their works. Since then, Pohela Boishakh has become a symbol of Bengali cultural identity and a reminder of the region’s rich cultural heritage.

On this occasion people buy new clothes, visit temples to seek blessings so that the new year brings prosperity to them. Poila Baishak signifies prosperity, joy, health, and wealth for Bengalis. It is a day when people not only greet each other by saying “Shubho Nobo Borsho,” (Happy New Year) but also organises various cultural and literary programs, including poetry recitations, song performances, and drama shows.

Various leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari took to social media to greet the Bengalis. Taking to Twitter the Prime Minister said, “Shubho Nabo Barsho! May the year ahead bring joy and exceptional health- Modi”.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote on her official Twitter handle, “On the occasion of Poila Boishakh, I extend my heartfelt greetings to all fellow residents. I wish the dawn of New Year brings an abundance of hope, happiness, & health in your lives. Today, let's commit to the inclusive welfare & development of society. Shubho Nobo Borsho!”

Leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari tweeted in Bengali that says “May the New Year bring joy and prosperity to everyone”.

Pohela Boishakh is an occasion for cultural organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies to showcase their cultural and artistic talents. Educational institutions often organize seminars and cultural competitions to promote Bengali culture and heritage.

Poila Boishak is also important because people regardless of their sect and religion come out openly to greet each other spreading the message of harmony, unity, and a sense of community. It is a time for people to come together and celebrate their traditions, reflect on the past year and make plans for the future.

Pohela Boishakh is a reminder of the region’s rich history and traditions and brings people together in a spirit of unity and community. The festival is an integral part of Bengali identity and is celebrated with great enthusiasm by the Bengali community across the world.