Pohela Boishakh

2022-06-22T14:03:19Z

2A0A:A546:11F8:0:893D:5EB:6238:C2: robot: Import articles to fix broken redirects

{{short description|New Year festival of the Bengali people where they celebrate the Bengali new year (mid April)}}

{{Use British English|date=September 2010}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}

{{Infobox holiday
| holiday_name = Pohela Boishakh (পহেলা বৈশাখ)
| type = cultural
| image = Mangal Shobhajatra in Dhaka.jpg
| caption = Pohela Baishakh celebration in [[Dhaka]], [[Bangladesh]]
| official_name = Pohela Boishakh / পহেলা বৈশাখ<ref name=samayeen159>{{cite book|author1=Nubras Samayeen|author2=Sharif Imon|editor=Kapila D. Silva and Amita Sinha|title=Cultural Landscapes of South Asia: Studies in Heritage Conservation and Management|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tc1CDQAAQBAJ |year=2016|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-317-36592-1|pages=159–160}}</ref>
| observedby = [[Bengalis|Bengali]]
| longtype = Social, cultural and national festival
| duration = 1 day
| frequency = Annual
| celebrations = [[Mangal Shobhajatra]] (processions), [[Boishakhi Mela]] (fair), gift-giving, visiting relatives and friends, songs, dance
| relatedto = [[South and Southeast Asian solar New Year]]
| alt =
| litcolor =
| significance =
| begins =
| ends =
| date = 14 April {{small|(nationally and usually)}}<br />15 April
| weekday =
| month = April
| scheduling =
| firsttime =
| startedby =
}}
{{Culture of Bengal}}

'''Pohela Boishakh''' ({{lang-bn|পহেলা বৈশাখ}}) is the first day of the [[Bengali calendars|Bengali calendar]] which is also the [[Bangladeshi calendar|official calendar of Bangladesh]]. This festival is celebrated on 14 April in [[Bangladesh]] and 15 April in the [[India]]n<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bureau |first=ABP News |date=2022-04-14 |title=Poila Boishakh 1429: Why Bangladesh & West Bengal Celebrate Bengali New Year On Different Days |url=https://news.abplive.com/lifestyle/poila-boishakh-1429-history-of-bengali-calendar-and-why-bangladesh-and-bengal-celebrate-bengali-new-year-on-different-days-1525756 |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=news.abplive.com |language=en}}</ref> states of [[West Bengal]], [[Tripura]], and [[Assam]] ([[Barak Valley]]) by [[Bengalis]] regardless of religious faith.<ref name="Sinha2016p159">{{cite book|author1=Kapila D. Silva|author2=Amita Sinha|title=Cultural Landscapes of South Asia: Studies in Heritage Conservation and Management |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tc1CDQAAQBAJ |year=2016|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-317-36592-1|pages=159–162}}</ref><ref name="BBC Hinduism">{{cite web |title= BBC – Religion: Hinduism – Vaisakhi|publisher=[[BBC]]|url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/holydays/vaisakhi.shtml |access-date=22 January 2012}}</ref><ref>Crump, William D. (2014), [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=cDTfCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA114 Encyclopedia of New Year's Holidays Worldwide], MacFarland, page 114.</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lD_2J7W_2hQC&pg=PA633|title=Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations [2 volumes]: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations|isbn=9781598842067|last1=Gordon Melton|first1=J.|date=13 September 2011}}</ref>

Celebration of Pohela Boishakh traces its roots back to [[Mughal Empire|Mughal rule]] in this region and also the proclamation of tax collection reforms of [[Akbar]].<ref name="Chakrabarti 2013">{{Cite book|last=Chakrabarti|first=Kunal|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/861692768|title=Historical dictionary of the Bengalis|date=2013|others=Shubhra Chakrabarti|isbn=978-0-8108-8024-5|location=Lanham [Maryland]|oclc=861692768}}</ref>

The festival is celebrated with processions, fairs and family time. The traditional greeting for Bengalis in the new year is {{lang|bn|শুভ নববর্ষ}} "''Shubho Noboborsho''" which is literally "Happy New Year". The festive ''[[Mangal Shobhajatra]]'' is organized in Bangladesh. In 2016, the [[UNESCO]] declared this festivity organized by the [[Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka]] as a cultural heritage of humanity.<ref name="unescopb">[http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/en/RL/mangal-shobhajatra-on-pahela-baishakh-01091 Mangal Shobhajatra on Pohela Boishakh]. UNESCO.</ref>

==History and origin==

===Nomenclature===
In [[Bengali language|Bengali]], the word ''Pohela'' ({{lang-bn|পহেলা}}) means 'first' and ''Boishakh'' ({{lang-bn|বৈশাখ}}) is the first month of the Bengali calendar ({{lang-bn|পহেলা বৈশাখ}} ''Pohela Boishakh'').<ref name="sinha161">{{cite book|author1=Kapila D. Silva|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tc1CDQAAQBAJ|title=Cultural Landscapes of South Asia: Studies in Heritage Conservation and Management|author2=Amita Sinha|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=2016|isbn=978-1-317-36592-1|pages=161–168}}, Quote: "Poyla Boishakh is celebrated on the first day of Boishakh, the first month of the Bengali calendar. It falls on 14 April in the Gregorian calendar, and it coincides with similar Vedic calendar-based New Year celebrations (...)"</ref> Bengali New Year is referred to in Bengali as ''Nobo Borsho'' ({{lang-bn|নববর্ষ}}), where 'Nobo' means new and 'Borsho' means year.<ref name="crump114q" />
<ref>{{cite news |title=Subho Poila Baisakh |url=https://www.banglalovestory.in/2021/04/subho-poila-baisakh-wishes-in-bengali.html |publisher=Bangla Love Story |access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref>

[[File:Emperor Akbar.png|alt=|thumb|Mughal Emperor [[Akbar]] began the celebration of Bengali New Year and officialized the Bengali [[calendar]] to ease the tax collection process.]]

===Traditional roots===
====Mughal origin theory====

Some say that during Mughal rule, land taxes were collected from [[Bengalis|Bengali]] people according to the Islamic [[Islamic calendar|Hijri]] calendar. This calendar was a [[lunar calendar]], and its new year did not coincide with the solar [[agricultural cycle]]s. According to some sources, the festival was a tradition introduced in [[Bengal]] during the rule of Mughal Emperor [[Akbar]] to time the tax year to the harvest, and the Bangla year was therewith called [[Bengali calendars|Bangabda]]. Akbar asked the royal [[astronomer]] [[Fathullah Shirazi]] to create a new calendar by combining the lunar Islamic calendar and solar [[Hindu calendar]] already in use, and this was known as Fasholi shan (harvest calendar). According to some historians, this started the [[Bengali calendars|Bengali calendar]]. According to [[Shamsuzzaman Khan]], it could be Nawab [[Murshid Quli Khan]], a Mughal governor, who first used the tradition of Punyaho as "a day for ceremonial land tax collection", and used Akbar's fiscal policy to start the [[Bengali calendars|Bangla calendar]].<ref name="Chakrabarti 2013">{{Cite book|last=Chakrabarti|first=Kunal|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/861692768|title=Historical dictionary of the Bengalis|date=2013|others=Shubhra Chakrabarti|isbn=978-0-8108-8024-5|location=Lanham [Maryland]|oclc=861692768}}</ref><ref name=banglapedia>{{Cite encyclopedia |year=2015 |title=Pahela Baishakh |encyclopedia=Banglapedia |publisher=Asiatic Society of Bangladesh |location=Dhaka, Bangladesh |url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Pahela_Baishakh}}</ref>

According to Shamsuzzaman Khan,<ref name=meghna>{{Cite book |title=The Bangladesh Reader: History, Culture, Politics |last1=Guhathakurta |first1=Meghna |last2=Schendel |first2=Willem van |publisher=Duke University Press |year=2013 |isbn=9780822353188 |pages=17–18}}</ref> and [[Nitish Sengupta]], the origin of the Bengali calendar is unclear.<ref name="Sengupta2011">{{cite book|author=Nitish K. Sengupta|title=Land of Two Rivers: A History of Bengal from the Mahabharata to Mujib|date=2011|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-14-341678-4|pages=96–98}}</ref> According to Shamsuzzaman, it is called Bangla shon or shaal, which are [[Arabic]] (سن) and [[Farsi|Persian]] (سال) words respectively, suggests that it was introduced by a Muslim king or sultan."<ref name=meghna/> In contrast, according to Sengupta, its traditional name is ''Bangabda''.<ref name="Sengupta2011"/><ref>Syed Ashraf Ali, [http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Bangabda Bangabda], National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh</ref> It is also unclear, whether it was adopted by [[Alauddin Husain Shah]] or Akbar. The tradition to use the Bengali calendar may have been started by Husain Shah before Akbar.<ref name="Sengupta2011"/> Regardless of who adopted the Bengali calendar and the new year, states Sengupta, it helped collect land taxes after the spring harvest based on traditional Bengali calendar, because the Islamic Hijri calendar created administrative difficulties in setting the collection date.<ref name="Sengupta2011"/>

====Vikramaditya origin theory====

Some historians attribute the Bengali calendar to the 7th-century Indian king [[Shashanka]].<ref name=meghna/><ref name="Sengupta2011"/> The term ''Bangabda'' (Bangla year) is found too in two [[Shiva]] temples many centuries older than [[Akbar]] era, suggesting that Bengali calendar existed before Akbar's time.<ref name="Sengupta2011"/> Various dynasties whose territories extended into [[Bengal]], prior to the 13th-century, used the [[Vikram Samvat|Vikrami]] calendar. [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] texts and inscriptions created in the [[Pala Empire]] era mention "Vikrama" and the months such as [[Ashvin (month)|Ashvin]], a system found in [[Sanskrit]] texts elsewhere in ancient and medieval Indian subcontinent.<ref name=crump114q>{{cite book|author=William D. Crump|title=Encyclopedia of New Year's Holidays Worldwide |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cDTfCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA114 |year=2014 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-9545-0|pages=113114}}, Quote: "''Naba Barsha'' ("New Year"). Hindu New Year festival in West Bengal State, observed on the first day of the month of Vaisakha or Baisakh (corresponds to mid-April). New Year's Day is known as ''Pahela Baisakh'' (First of Baisakh)."</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Karen Pechilis|author2=Selva J. Raj|title=South Asian Religions: Tradition and Today|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kaubzRxh-U0C&pg=PA48 |year=2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0-415-44851-2|pages=48–49}}</ref><ref name=dalal135>{{cite book|author=Roshen Dalal|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC |year=2010|publisher=Penguin Books |isbn=978-0-14-341421-6|pages=135–137}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=D. C. Sircar|title=Indian Epigraphy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hXMB3649biQC |year=1965|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-1166-9|pages=241, 272–273}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Richard Salomon|title=Indian Epigraphy: A Guide to the Study of Inscriptions in Sanskrit, Prakrit, and the Other Indo-Aryan Languages|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t-4RDAAAQBAJ |year=1998|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-509984-3|pages=148, 246–247, 346}}</ref>

In rural Bengali communities of India, the Bengali calendar is credited to "Bikromaditto", like many other parts of India and [[Nepal]]. However, unlike these regions where it starts in 57 BCE, the Bengali calendar starts from 593 CE suggesting that the starting reference year was adjusted at some point.<ref name="Klass1978p166">{{cite book|author=Morton Klass|title=From Field to Factory: Community Structure and Industrialization in West Bengal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XAZ2JBQ2vwsC&pg=PA166|year=1978|publisher=University Press of America|isbn=978-0-7618-0420-8|pages=166–167}}</ref><ref name="Nicholas2003p13">{{cite book|author=Ralph W. Nicholas|title=Fruits of Worship: Practical Religion in Bengal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yLI7nyI2UVYC&pg=PA13|year=2003|publisher=Orient Blackswan|isbn=978-81-8028-006-1|pages=13–23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Nesbitt|first=Eleanor M.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XebnCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA122|title=Sikhism: A Very Short Introduction|date=2016|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-874557-0|language=en}}</ref>

===Contemporary usage===

In Bangladesh however, the old Bengali calendar was modified in 1966 by a committee headed by [[Muhammad Shahidullah]], making the first five months 31 days long, rest 30 days each, with the month of Falgun adjusted to 31 days in every leap year.<ref name= Chakrabarti114>{{cite book|author1=Kunal Chakrabarti|author2=Shubhra Chakrabarti|title=Historical Dictionary of the Bengalis|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QVOFAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA114 |year= 2013|publisher =Scarecrow|isbn= 978-0-8108-8024-5|pages=114–115}}</ref> This was officially adopted by Bangladesh in 1987. Since then, the national calendar starts with and the new year festival always falls on 14 April in Bangladesh.<ref name= Chakrabarti114/> In 2018-19, the calendar was amended again, with Falgun now lasting 29 days in regular years and to 30 days in leap ones, in an effort to more align with Western use of the Gregorian calendar. However, the date of the celebration, 14 April, was retained.

The Bengali calendar in [[India]] remains tied to the Hindu calendar system and is used to set the various Bengali Hindu festivals. For Bengalis of West Bengal and other Indian states, the festival falls either on 14 or 15 April every year. The current Bengali calendar in use in the Indian states is based on the Sanskrit text ''[[Surya Siddhanta]]''. It retains the historic Sanskrit names of the months, with the first month as [[Boishakh|Baishakh]].<ref name= Chakrabarti114/>

==Holiday customs==
{{expand section|date=April 2021}}

===House cleaning and shopping===
===Visiting family and friends===
During Pohela Boishakh, people visit their families and friends and spend time together. Pohela Boishakh is also known for uniting friends and family.

=== New year salutation ===
{{See also|Chhayanaut}}
[[File:ছায়ানটের বর্ষবরণ, ১৪২৪ বঙ্গাব্দ.jpg|thumb|The new year salutation at [[Ramna Park]]]]
The celebration of Bengali new year [[Pahela Baishakh]] begins at dawn arranges by the cultural organisation [[Chhayanaut]] welcoming the year at Ramna Batamul under the banyan tree in the Ramna Park.<ref>[https://www.newagebd.net/article/69960/nation-celebrates-pahela-baishakh Nation celebrates Pahela Baishakh, newagebd.net, 14 April 2019]</ref>

=== Haal Khata ===
{{main|Haal Khata}}
[[Haal Khata]] is a festival celebrated on the occasion of Pohela Boishakh in order to complete all the account reckonings of the last year and open a new [[ledger]]. It is observed by the Bengali businessmen, shopkeepers and traders. It signifies that every year starts with a new beginning.

=== Red-White Attire ===
On this occasion, males are seen wearing red or white [[Panjabi (garment)|Panjabi]] with traditional designs on them, imprinted or embroidered. Women and young ladies wear red and white [[Sari|saree]] with blouses and put on flower crowns on their heads. Girls also dress in [[Shalwar kameez|salwar kameez]]. They are seen wearing traditional ornaments and accessories along with their dresses.

=== Baishakhi meal ===
Usually, Bengalis eat [[Panta bhat|Panta Bhat]] or [[Panta bhat|poitabhat]], which is a rice-based dish prepared by soaking rice, generally leftovers, in water overnight. It is popularly eaten with [[Ilish|Hilsa]] Fish and other curries.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Staff Correspondent|title=Pahela Baishakh down the years|url=https://en.prothomalo.com/lifestyle/Pahela-Baishakh-down-the-years|access-date=2021-04-13|website=Prothomalo|language=en}}</ref>

=== Mangal shobhajatra ===
{{main|Mangal Shobhajatra}}

=== Baishakhi Rural Fair ===
It is a fair held by the locals of that area where many different things ranging from books to special dishes are sold. Traditionally, the fair was held under huge [[Banyan]] trees and traders from far across the areas would gather with their goods and toys in the fair. Some rides such as Nagordola (wooden [[Ferris wheel]]), are set for kids. Different types of traditional foods are sold out in the stalls such as [[Jalebi|Jilipi]], [[Sandesh (confectionery)|Sandesh]], [[Soan papdi]], Batasha (a candy made of sugar or jaggery),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/বাতাসা|title=Batasha}}</ref>{{Circular reference|date=April 2022}} Khoi (popped rice), Kadma (a candy made of sugar), and so forth. 'Bioscope', a form of the old movie projector, was also a part of the attraction for the youngsters back in days.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://m.theindependentbd.com/printversion/details/145568#:~:text=organisation%20committee%2C%20continued.-,There%20will%20be%20various%20types%20of%20traditional%20food%20items%2C%20including,not%20familiar%20with%20this%20tradition.|title=Boishakhi Mela}}</ref>

==Locality==
===Bangladesh===
[[File:Bengali New Year 1422 01.jpg|thumb|Mangal Shobhajatra at Pohela Boishakh in Bangladesh. [[UNESCO]] recognises Mangal Shobhajatra as cultural heritage.<ref>[http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/en/RL/mangal-shobhajatra-on-pahela-baishakh-01091 Mongol Shobhojatra on Pohela Boishakh]</ref>]]
The Bengali New Year is observed as a public holiday in Bangladesh. It is celebrated across religious boundaries by its Muslim majority and Hindu minority.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Kapila D. Silva|author2=Amita Sinha|title=Cultural Landscapes of South Asia: Studies in Heritage\n" Conservation and Management |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tc1CDQAAQBAJ |year=2016|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-317-36592-1|pages=159–168}}</ref> According to [[Willem van Schendel]] and [[Henk Schulte Nordholt]], the festival became a popular means of expressing cultural pride and heritage among the Bangladeshi as they resisted Pakistani rule in the 1950s and 1960s.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Willem van Schendel|author2=Henk Schulte Nordholt|title=Time Matters: Global and Local Time in Asian Societies |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wQp-AAAAMAAJ |year=2001|publisher=VU University\n\t" Press|isbn=978-90-5383-745-0|page=41}}</ref>

The day is marked with singing, processions, and fairs. Traditionally, businesses start this day with a new ledger, clearing out the old which often involves inviting loyal customers and offering sweetmeats to them. This festival is called [[Haal Khata]]. Singers perform traditional songs welcoming the new year. People enjoy classical [[Jatra (theatre)|Jatra plays]]. People wear festive dress with women desking their hair with flowers. White-red color combinations are particularly popular.<ref name="Schendel2013p17"/>

Bangladeshis prepare and enjoy a variety of traditional festive foods on Pohela Boishakh. These include ''[[panta bhat]]'' (watered rice), ''[[ilish]] bhaji'' (fried hilsa fish) and many special ''[[Bhurta|bhartas]]'' (pastes).<ref>{{cite book |editor1=Vishweshwaraiah Prakash |editor2=Olga Martin-Belloso |editor-link2=Olga Martín-Belloso |editor3=Larry Keener |editor4=S. Astley |editor5=S. Braun |editor6=H. McMahon |editor7=H. Lelieveld |display-editors=3 |title=Regulating Safety of Traditional and Ethnic Foods |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H2glBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA104 |year=2016 |publisher=Elsevier Science |page=104 |isbn=978-0-12-800620-7}}</ref><ref name="Schendel2013p17">{{cite book|author1=Meghna Guhathakurta|author2=Willem van Schendel|title=The Bangladesh Reader: History, Culture, Politics |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QES2AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA17 |year=2013|publisher=Duke University Press|isbn=978-0-8223-9567-6|pages=17–21}}</ref>

====In Dhaka====
[[File:PreparationsForPohelaBoishakh1417.jpg|thumb|240x240px|Students of Charukala (Fine Arts) Institute, [[Dhaka University]] preparing masks for Pohela Boishakh]]
[[File:Colors of Celebration!-4.JPG|thumb|left|240px|Colorful celebration of Pohela Boishakh in Dhaka]]
The celebrations start in Dhaka at dawn with a rendition of [[Rabindranath Tagore]]'s song "''Esho he Boishakh''" by [[Chhayanaut]] under the banyan tree at [[Ramna Thana|Ramna]] (the Ramna Batamul). An integral part of the festivities is the [[Mangal Shobhajatra]], a traditional colourful procession organised by the students of the [[Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka]] (Charukala). According to the history, the rudimentary step of Mangal Shobhjatra was started in Jessore by Charupith, a community organization, in 1985. Later in 1989 the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka arranged this Mangal Shobhajatra with different motifs and themes. Now, the Mangal Shobhajatra is celebrated by different organization in all over the country.<ref>[http://archive.ittefaq.com.bd/index.php?ref=MjBfMDRfMTRfMTRfM181NF8xXzEyMzIyNg%3D%3D মঙ্গল শোভাযাত্রা] (Non-English source)</ref>

The Dhaka University [[Mangal Shobhajatra]] tradition started in 1989 when students used the procession to overcome their frustration with the military rule. They organized the festival to create masks and floats with at least three theme, one highlighting evil, another courage, and a third about peace.<ref name=unescopb/> It also highlighted the pride of Bangladeshi people for their folk heritage irrespective of religion, creed, caste, gender or age.<ref name=unescopb/>

In recent years, the procession has a different theme relevant to the country's culture and politics every year. Different cultural organizations and bands also perform on this occasion and fairs celebrating [[Culture of Bengal|Bengali culture]] are organized throughout the country. Other traditional events held to celebrate Pohela Boishakh include bull racing in Munshiganj, [[Jobbarer Boli Khela|Boli Khela]] (wrestling) in Chittagong, [[Nouka Baich]] (boat racing), cockfights, pigeon racing.<ref name="history">{{cite news |title=Nobo Borsho and Pahela Baishakh: The Past and the Present |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/nobo-borsho-and-pahela-baishakh-the-past-and-the-present/ |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=14 April 2013}}</ref>

==== In Chittagong ====
Pohela Boishakh celebrations in Chittagong involves similar traditions of that in Dhaka. The students of the fine arts institute of [[Chittagong University]] brings the Mangal Shobhajatra procession in the city, followed by daylong cultural activities.<ref name="Chakraborty1" />

At DC hill & CRB, a range of cultural programmes are held by different socio-cultural and educational organisations of the city. The Shammilito Pohela Boishakh Udjapon Parishad holds a two-day function at the hill premises to observe the festival, starting with Rabindra Sangeet recitations in the morning. In the late afternoon, through evening, Chaitra Sangkranti programme is held to bid farewell to the previous year.<ref name="Chakraborty1" />

At the Chittagong Shilpakala Academy, different folk cultures, music, dances, puppet shows are displayed.<ref name="Chakraborty1">{{Cite news |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/arts-entertainment/event/chittagong-set-welcome-bangla-new-year-76317 |title=Chittagong set to welcome Bangla New Year |last=Chakraborty |first=Pranabesh |work=The Daily Star |access-date=7 April 2017}}</ref>

===India===
[[File:Poila Baisakh food Main lead image.jpg|thumb|Poila Baisakh Festive Meal]]

Bengalis of India have historically celebrated Poyla Boishakh, and it is an official regional holiday in its states of West Bengal and Tripura. The day is also called Nabo Barsho.<ref name=crump114>{{cite book|author=William D. Crump|title=Encyclopedia of New Year's Holidays Worldwide |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cDTfCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA114 |year=2014|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-9545-0|pages=114–115}}</ref>

====West Bengal====
Poila Boisakh has been the traditional New Year festival in the state, with the new year referred to as the ''Noboborsho''.<ref name=crump114q/> The festival falls on 14 or 15 April, as West Bengal follows its traditional Bengali calendar, which adjusts for solar cycle differently than the one used in Bangladesh where the festival falls on 14 April.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Kunal Chakrabarti|author2=Shubhra Chakrabarti|title=Historical Dictionary of the Bengalis|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QVOFAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA115 |year=2013|publisher= Scarecrow|isbn=978-0-8108-8024-5|pages=114–115}}</ref>

Notable events of West Bengal include the early morning cultural processions called ''Prabhat Pheri''. These processions see dance troupes and children dressed up with floats, displaying their performance arts to songs of [[Rabindranath Tagore]].<ref>[http://zeenews.india.com/news/west-bengal/poila-baisakh-celebrated-in-west-bengal_1579225.html 'Poila Baisakh' celebrated in West Bengal], Press Trust of India (15 April 2015)</ref>

====Tripura and Northeast India====
Pohela Boishakh is a state holiday in Tripura. People wear new clothes and start the day by praying at the temples for a prosperous year. The day marks the traditional accounting new year for merchants.<ref>[http://bdnews24.com/neighbours/2015/04/15/pahela-baishakh-celebrated-in-tripura Pahela Baisakh celebrated in Tripura], Bangladesh News (15 April 2014)</ref><ref name=tfepahela>[http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2016/04/14/26140/Tripura-people-observe-Pahela-Baishakh Tripura people observed Pahela Baishakh], Financial Express (14 April 2016)</ref> Festive foods such as [[South Asian sweets|confectionery and sweets]] are purchased and distributed as gifts to friends and family members.<ref name=tfepahela/>

The festival is also observed by the Bengali communities in other eastern states such as [[Assam]].<ref>[http://www.thestatesman.com/section/celebrating-new-year-all-year-long-1482952955.html Celebrating New Year all year long!], The Statesman, 29 December 2016</ref>

===Celebration in other countries===
{{Main|Boishakhi Mela}}
Bangladesh Heritage and Ethnic Society of [[Alberta]] in Canada celebrates its Heritage Festival (Bengali New Year) in a colorful manner along with other organizations. Bengali people in [[Calgary]] celebrate the day with traditional food, dress, and with Bengali culture.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baisakhifestival.com/naba-barsha-in-bengal.html|title=Naba Barsha in Bengal|access-date=5 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://bhesa.ca/index.php/events/events-bengali-event-heritage |title=Our Bengali Event Heritage |website=Bangladesh Heritage and Ethnic Society of Alberta |archive-url=http://archive.today/2015.07.27-091751/http://bhesa.ca/index.php/events/events-bengali-event-heritage |archive-date=2015-07-27}}</ref> The Bangabandhu Council of Australia also hosts a Pohela Boishakh event at the [[Sydney Olympic Park]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bangabandhucouncil.com.au/boishakhi-mela/|title=BOISHAKHI MELA|publisher=Boishakhi Mela|access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Bengali Renaissance]]
* [[List of festivals in Bangladesh]]
* [[Festivals of West Bengal]]
* [[Pahela Falgun|Pohela Falgun]]
* [[Haal Khata]]
* [[Bangal]]

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Bangladeshi girls celebrating Pohela Boishakh (17152686985).jpg|Children in Bangladesh carrying placards in Pohela Boishakh's rally
File:Bangladeshi children with Pohela Boishakh placard at Pohela Boishakh celebration (02).jpg|Children in Bangladesh carrying colorful placards in Pohela Boishakh's rally
File:Bangladeshi girls wearing traditional sari with flower crown at Pohela Boishakh celebration 2016 (01).jpg|Girls in Bangladesh wearing traditional saris and flower crowns at Pohela Boishakh celebration in [[Chittagong]]
File:Art competition at Pohela Boishakh celebration 2016 (04).jpg|Art competition at Pohela Boishakh celebration in [[Chittagong]]
File:ঐতিহ্যবাহী বৈশাখী মেলার একটি স্টল.jpg|Colorful show pieces in a Boishakhi fair stall
File:Bangladesh Women Association, Abudhabi.jpg|Pohela Boishakh Celebration by the Women Association, Abudhabi, UAE
File:Bengali New Year 1422 07.jpg|A motif of sun at [[Mangal Shobhajatra]] procession in Pohela Boishakh celebration at [[Dhaka]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Pahela Baishakh celebrations}}
* [http://www.bengalicalendar.com/ Pohela Boishakh 1425]
* [https://pure.uva.nl/ws/files/3756588/153270_199687.pdf Modern Times in Bangladesh], H.W. van Schendel (2001)
* [https://todaybengalidate.com/calendar/baisakh-mas-1-tarikh/ Pahela Baishakh] Pahela Baishakh Utsab

{{Bangladesh Holidays}}
{{New Year by Calendar}}

{{West Bengal}}

[[Category:Bangladeshi culture]]
[[Category:Culture of West Bengal]]
[[Category:April observances]]
[[Category:Festivals of Bangladeshi culture]]
[[Category:Events in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Public holidays in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Folk festivals in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Food and drink festivals in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Cultural festivals in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Annual events in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Harvest festivals]]
[[Category:Festivals in India]]
[[Category:New Year in India]]
[[Category:Spring (season) events in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:New Year celebrations]]

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Pohela Boishakh