All preparations have been taken to celebrate Pahela Boiskhak, the first day of Bengali month Baishakh, across the country.
Different socio cultural organisations and educational institutions in the port city have completed all the preparations to celebrate Pahela Baishakh in Chittagong.
Like previous years, Sommilito Pahela Baishakh Udyapan Parishad has ogranised a two-day programme on DC hill premises in the city in a bid to farewell the old year and welcome the new year.
The programmes will feature folk songs, group dance, puppet shows, local drama, photo exhibition, Bangali fashion show and other events.
The Institution of Fine Arts of Chittagong University will bring out Mongol Shovajatra in the city.
This year, the theme of Mongol Shovajatra is “Baishakhe Chole Noborupe Jagi” will bring out from the institution’s premises at Chattesari road while another will bring out from the CU campus at the same time, said Nasima Akhtar, director of CU Fine Arts Institution.
While visiting the institution yesterday, the students were seen busy to paint and make their materials to celebrate the new year.
Condemning the political impasse, the students have made several masks which carry the sign of political violence.
Programmes displaying different folk cultures like indigenous dance, folk songs and puppet shows will be held on District Shilpakala Academy premise while Central Railway Building (CRB) premises have also wear festive looks.
Markets and shopping malls are colorfully decorated with various Baishakhi products and offers special discounts to their customers.
Hotels and restaurants also offer special packages on the occasion.
In Sylhet, preparation is going on to arrange fairs on the premises of Shahjalal Science and Technology University, MCJ College and Street Sangskrito College.
The Sylhet City Corporation has arranged a fair where a good number of stalls have been set up.
Polimol Pal, a potter, said he had bought products of Tk1 lakh to sell in the fair.
On the occasion of Pahela Baishakh, a concert will be held on the premises of MCJ College.
In Barisal, preparations for ‘Chaitra Sangkranti’ and ‘Pahela Baishakh’ with various colourful programmes and enthusiasm for bidding farewell to 1421 and welcoming Bangla New Year 1422 is going on full swing.
Volunteers of Charukala are working 24-hour to organise traditional ‘Mangol Shovajatra from Brojo Mohun Bidyaloy ground.
Charukala Barisal will also arrange a two-day folk cultural fair, painting competition at Barisal City College ground focusing on folk and heritage.
Udichi Barisal unit also arranged another ‘Mangol Shovajatra’ for the second time.
Shohidul Alam, deputy commissioner and Shoibal Kanti Chowdhury, Metropolitan Police commissioner of Barisal will also take part in the colourful procession.
In Khulna, elaborate programmes have been taken to celebrate the day.
The district administration, different government, non-government, socio-cultural, professional and other private bodies, educational institutions, will celebrate the daylong programmes.
The programme will begin with a colourful ceremony welcoming Pahela Baishakh which popularly known as “Borshaboron with Rakhibondhon” in front of Khulna Circuit House in the morning.
The other programmes of the day include, colourful rally, Baishakhi fair, sports competitions, poetry recitation, discussion, cultural shows and musical soirees.
Khulna University (KU), Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet), Khulna Medical College, Different Private Universities, Sammilto Sangskritik Zote, Khulna Union of Journalists (KUJ) and other organisations will bring out Baishakhi processions with colourful festoons, placards, banners.
Later, they will organise discussion and cultural function to be followed by Bangalees traditional breakfast “Panta Ilish.”
Business establishments both in rural and urban areas will arrange traditional ‘Halkhata’ and distribute sweets among customers to renew their old accounts.
JU arranges three-day festival
The authorities of Jahangirnagar University (JU) have arranged a three-day festival from Tuesday till Thursday on the occasion of celebrating the first day of Bangla New Year ‘Pahela Baishakh’.
Meantime, different departments, institutes and dormitories have individually arranged different events and programmes to celebrate Bengali New Year, source said.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
