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Imagine the feeling of being amidst an ocean of colorful crowd. A stream of happiness blowing in the wind is announcing the celebration of life. This is how you feel when you are exposed to the biggest festival of Bangladesh. POYELA BOISHAKH, the Bengali new year.

This day is the first day in Bengali Calendar which was started by Somrat Akbar in Mughol period.

For this year is mentioned as the term Poyela Boishakh will be celebrated at 14 April 2016.

The festival has its own signature rituals. Women wearing white Sarees with red borders and men in Payjama-Punjabi or Dhuti-Kurta attend rally and Eat Panta-Ilish (Watery Rice and Hilsha Fish) early in the morning. Other attractions of the day are Haalkhata, Alpona and traditional sports such as Boat race, Kite flying, Bull Racing, flying pigeons etc.

Panta-Ilish (Watery Rice and Hilsha Fish)

People sing traditional Poyela Boishakh song or also known as Boishaki song or Boishakhi Gan. They try to sent Poyela Boishakh Gift to near and dear.

Targeting this day different fashion houses from home and abroad produces different types of fashionable dresses for Poyela Boishakh Fashion.

In Bangladesh set huge Poyela Boishakh Concert. Most of them are free for all like ramna botomul concert, boiskhakhi concert etc. and some are also paid concert held indoor stadiums.

In Dhaka

Large numbers of people pour out of their houses and gather early in the morning under the banyan tree at Ramna Park [রমনা বটমুল]. Along with the rising sun, the Chhayanat [ছায়ানট] artists sing the famous song of Tagore in chorus, “এসো, হে বৈশাখ, এসো এসো” Esho, hey Boishakh, Esho Esho (Come, O Boishakh, Come, Come), welcoming Boishakh.

Dhaka’s Poyela Boishakh celebration is incomplete without the “Mangal Shobhajatra”. Students and teachers of the Dhaka University’s Institute of Fine Arts take out a colorful procession (known as “Mangal Shobhajatra”) and parade on different streets and finally returns to the Fine arts Institute. This procession mainly consists of Arts & crafts like (cutouts of tigers, owls, dragon-fly etc. and different types of masks) these colorful pieces of art display the elements of Bengali culture and resemble lifestyle of rural and modern Bengal. People of all ages and irrespective of class and profession take part in this procession. Since 1989 this Procession (Shobhajatra) has become an important event and also a major tourist attraction.

Apart from these, various cultural programs are organized by social and cultural organizations all over Dhaka. Newspapers and magazines bring out special supplements. Targeting the Poyela Boishakh event, various movies, music albums, books etc. are released and special programs are also telecasted on television and radio.

Join and experience how a nation becomes passionately soulful to celebrate the first day of their calendar with colorful and unique customs.

Itinerary