-The first day of the Hindu Bengali calendar
Bangladesh communities organized by the Embassy of Bangladesh unfolded its parade
on the Itaewon street, Yongsan district, Seoul to commemorate Bengali New Year on
April 16th morning.
The tradition of the celebration of the first day of the Bengali calendar was introduced
the Mughal Emperor when he reformed the calendar so that the collection of taxes
would match up with the harvesting period, said Bangladesh Amb. Md. Zulfiqur Rahman,
ushering the parade for himself.
Bangla Nababarsha (Nôbobôrsho) is the first day of the Hindu Bengali calendar which
is celebrated by the people of Bangladesh every 14th of April in the Gregorian calendar.
New Year’s Day celebration is also known to the Bengali as Pohela Boishakh.
On the next day after the New Year, the landlords would approach their tenants and
offer them with sweets followed by parades and festivals. Basically, the tradition of the
Pohela Boishakh was a custom to clear up all debts on the last day of the year.
The Pohela Boishakh is warmly and joyfully celebrated all over Bangladesh and to other
countries who adopted the Bengali calendar. People celebrate the event with loud
festivities and parades to the streets.
Part of the tradition of the businessmen is that they close all their book of accounts
and would start a new one at the first day of the Bengali calendar. This is believed as
a way of renewing and strengthening the business relationships with their customers
and business partners.
People start the celebration by having everything cleaned. People would take a bath in
the morning and wear their clothes made from their finest linen. After which they would
go the streets and start visiting their relatives and neighbors. People gather and follow
the float parades and band performances.