Pahela stands for ‘first’ and Baishakh is the first month of Bengali calendar.
The Bengali calendar is closely tied with the Hindu Vedic solar calendar, based on the Surya Siddhanta. As with many other variants of the Hindu solar calendar, the Bengali calendar begins in mid-April of the Gregorian year. The first day of the Bengali year therefore coincides with the mid-April New Year in Mithila, Assam, Burma, Cambodia, Kerala, Manipur, Nepal, Odisha, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu and Thailand.
History
Mughal Emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar, the renowned grandson of Zahiruddin Muhammad Babar, introduced the Bengali Calendar. In regards of relatively easier tax collection, Akbar-e-Azam changed the practice of agricultural tax collection according to Hijri calendar and ordered an improvement of the calendar because the Hijri calendar, being a lunar calendar- did not agree with the harvest sessions and eventually the farmers faced severe difficulties in paying taxes out of season.
The majestic astrologer of Emperor Akbar’s reign, Aamir Fatehullah Siraji, was the one who in fact developed this calendar, after working out a research on the lunar Hijri and Solar calendar. The distinctive characteristic of the Bengali year was that rather than being a lunar calendar, it was based on a union of the solar and lunar year. This was essentially a great promotion, as the solar and lunar years were formulated in very diverse systems.
Primarily, this calendar was named as “Fasli San” and then Bangabdo or Bangla Year was launched 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 clash of Panipat- 2 to ascend the throne.
Akbar-e-Azam’s ordered to resolve all dues on the last day of Choitro. The next day was the first day of the New Year (Bengali New Year), the day for a new opening; landlords used to allocate sweets among their tenants, and businessmen would commence a “Halkhata” (new financial records book) and lock their old ones. Vendors used to provoke their consumers to allocate sweets and renew their business relationship with them. There were fairs and festivities allover and gradually Pahela Baishakh became a day of celebrations.
Celebrations
The Bengali New Year begins at dawn, and the day is marked with singing, processions, and fairs. Traditionally, businesses start this day with a new ledger, clearing out the old.
People of Bangladesh enjoy National holiday on Pahela Baishakh. All over the country people can enjoy fairs and festivals. Here singers sing traditional songs welcoming the New Year. Food vendors sell conventional foods and artisans sell traditional handicrafts. People also enjoy traditional jatra plays.
The day is also marked by visiting relatives, friends and neighbors. People prepare special dishes for their guests.
Generally, the festivals begin with people gathering under a big tree. People also find any bank of a lake or river to witness the sunrise. Artists present songs to welcome the New Year, particularly with Rabindranath Tagore’s well known song ‘Esho, he Baishakh’.
People from all spheres of life wear traditional Bengali dresses. Women are used to wearing traditional saris with their hair all bedecked in flowers. Likewise, man prefers to wear traditional Panjabi. A huge part of the festivities in Dhaka is a vivid procession organized by the students and teachers of Dhaka University.
These days, Pahela Baishakh celebrations are marked by a day of cultural unity without distinction between class, race and religious affiliations. Of the major holidays celebrated in Bangladesh and West Bengal, only Pahela Baishakh comes without any preexisting expectations .Unlike Eid ul-Fitr & Durga Pujo, where dressing up in lavish clothes has become a norm, or Christmas where exchanging gifts has become an essential part of the holiday, Pahela Baishakh is really about celebrating the simpler, rural roots of the Bengal. Eventually, more people can take part in the festivities together without the load of having to reveal one’s class, religion, or financial capacity.
In the Chittagong Hill Tracts, three different ethnic minority groups come together to merge their observance with Pohela Baishakh. Boisuk of Tripuri people, Sangrai of Marma people and Biju of Chakma people have come together as Boi-Sa-Bi, a day of a wide variety of festivities that is observed on the last day of Chaitra, April 13.
Source: UNB Connect
PAGAN BAISHAKI PUJA
Before 1971 it was in existence but not in practice. Gradually SHALTAMAMI became Baishaki puja. Since 1985 these all un-Islamic, pagan innovation started to penetrate our cultural society. It has been promoted by anti-Islamic circle gradually as our “NATIONAL (UNIVERSAL) BISWAJANIN!!!(?) FESTIVAL”! Nothing further than the truth.
This kind of BIDA has got nothing to do with our Islamic way of life. Naming and ridiculing those Muslims who oppose these as “SAMPRODAYIK”(COMMUNALIST), “JONGIBADI” (ISLAMIC MILITANTS) by the opponents are just an insult on vast majority of the people who do not approve this kind of BIDA. If the non-Muslim community do observe it as their own Puja/Festival we have no objection. Let them do so by all means. But why put psychological pressure on Muslims to do so? What this innovation has got to do with our independence or Muktijuddo? Why we have to observe this “NEW YEAR” as “BENGALI NEW YEAR” introduced by non-Bengali ruler AKBAR and again Christian New year in one solar calendar year? Dr Bodi Uz Zaman Qureshi:Dhaka:
This is nothing but a Hindu tradition accepted by the so called “cultured” people of Bangladesh. People of all faiths should be free to practice their religions and customs and live in peace with everyone else. However, that does not mean Bangaldeshi Bengalis have to accept this pagan custom simply because they speak the same language. Honestlly, there is not much in common between the Hindu and Muslim bengalis. There is a regular calendar used for day to day purposes and an Islamic calendar to keep track of the major events and festivals. No need for anything else.