Bangladesh welcomed the Bengali New Year 1430 on Friday as Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the year, is being celebrated across the country with festivity and outdoor programmes amid tight security.
Different cultural organisations in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country have been holding events of songs, traditional music performances, recitations, theatre shows, exhibition and dances to celebrate the day.
People from all walks of life and ages in colourful traditional dress joined the celebrations.
The Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangla Academy, Faculty of Fine Arts at Dhaka University, Theatre and Performance Studies Department of Dhaka University, Chhayanaut and other institutions and organisations arranged diverse events across the country to mark the day.
The welcoming ceremony of Bangla New Year 1430 began at Ramna Batamul with the first rays of Friday’s morning sun by Chhayanaut.
The programme started with an instrumental which played Ahir Bhairab raga. The two-hour programme featured solo and group songs and recitations.
Dhaka University brought out traditional Mangal Shobhajatra, a colourful procession, which has been organised since 1989 to celebrate Bangla New Year.
This year, the procession carried the slogan "Barisha Dhara Majhe Shantir Bari''.
Besides many colourful folk motifs, the procession featured six structures, namely a peacock, a tiger, an elephant, a nilgai, a sheep alongside a structure of a mother with her child.
The procession started at about 9:00am from the faculty of fine arts of DU.
Cultural organisation Wrishiz Shilpi Gosthi welcomed Bangla New Year 1930 by organising a programme in front of Shishu Park in Shahbag area at about 7:30am which features songs, recitations, dance recitals, discussions and others.
Bangla Academy director general Mohammad Nurul Huda was present as chief guest while Sammilita Sangskritik Jote president Ghulam Quddus and Charushilpi Sangsad general secretary Kamal Pasha Chowdhury were present as special guests.
Wrishiz Shilpi Gosthi president Suraiya Alamgir presided over the event, which was moderated by Wrishiz Shilpi Gosthi vice-president Fakir Siraj.
Bangla Academy lifted the curtain of the Pahela Baishakh celebration programme through songs on its premises at about 8:00am.
The academy’s director general Nurul Huda delivered the welcome speech while North Bengal International University pro-vice-chancellor Md Abdul Jalil delivered the keynote speech at the event presided over by Bangla Academy president Selina Hossain.
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy organised a special programme marking Pahela Baishakh at the National Theatre Hall Auditorium at 10:00 am.
The programme featured different cultural shows, discussions and a procession.
The BSA’s cultural programme comprises Tagore’s songs, Nazrul songs, folk songs, baul songs, Boishabi dance, Dhamail dance, recitations and others.
A five-day group art exhibition about the cultural heritage and motifs of Bengali was also inaugurated at the national art gallery of BSA which features.
Besides, different government organisations under the cultural affairs ministry, namely Bangladesh Shishu Academy, Bangladesh National Museum and Kabi Nazrul Institute, among others, have been celebrating Pahela Baishakh through elaborate programmes, such as, cultural programmes, discussions, quiz competitions and more.
Department of performance studies, University of Dhaka arranged a folk based performance including song, dance and theatre shows on their premise.
State minister for cultural affairs KM Khalid Hossain and Dhaka University VC Md Aktaruzzaman attended the procession.
Sammilita Pahela Baishakh Udjapan Parishad organised a cultural event titled 'Baisakhi Utsav' at DC Hill in Chattagram.
The programme started at 6.30am which featured songs, dance and poem recitation.
