Pahela Baishakh

The festivities began at dawn today with the artistes from Chhayanaut welcoming the day with Tagore’s famous song ‘Esho hey Baishakh, esho, esho (come O Baishakh, come)’ at the Ramna Batamul in Dhaka.

People from all walks of life thronged different popular and historic spots in the capital and elsewhere across the country to welcome the Bangla New Year 1426 with new hopes and aspirations for a better, peaceful year.

Students of the Institute of Fine Arts of Dhaka University brought out the ‘Mangal Shobhajatra (procession of good wishes)’ from in front of the institute around 9:00am today as part of the festival and paraded through the university campus.

Traders and shopkeepers across the country opened ‘Halkhata’ (new book of accounts) and entertain customers and visitors with sweets on the first day of the New Year as part of the tradition and culture.

On the occasion, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have greeted countrymen and all Bangla-speaking people across the globe.

The day is a public holiday.