Nation celebrates Pahela Baishakh today

The country set to celebrates Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bengali New Year-1430, today upholding the rich cultural values and rituals of the Bangalees.

The Bengali New Year festival is being celebrated today at the traditional venue Ramna Botmool
This year, the first day of the Bangla calendar, is being celebrated following its all rituals at the venue along with bringing out the traditional 'Mangal Shovajatra' (procession) organized by the Fine Arts Faculty of Dhaka University.

But, due to the ongoing holy month of Ramadan, it is being celebrated on a limited scale.

People are expected to join the "Nabo Barsho" festivities across the country, particularly in the capital city.

Pahela Baishakh is one of the most colourful festivals through which the Bangalees bid farewell to the old year and welcome the New Year.

On this occasion, people from all walks of life wear traditional Bengali dresses.

Young women wear white sarees with red borders and adorn themselves with bangles, flowers, and tips, while men wear white pyjamas and panjabi or kurta.

The government has drawn up an elaborate programme. The Mongol Shovajatra is being brought out at divisional, district and upazila levels to reach the traditional programme to the grassroots as it has earned the international recognition.

However, business communities, especially in the rural areas, are ready to open their traditional 'Halkhata', new account books. On the day traders also offer sweets to customers.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are expected to issue separate messages greeting the countrymen on the eve of the Pahela Baishakh.