After spending two Bengali New Year celebrations with no in-person events and virtual celebrations, different government and cultural organisations finally welcomed Bangla New Year 1429 by organising diverse programmes at different public venues.
The festivities of the day started in the early morning with the traditional cultural programme organised by Chhayanaut at the Ramna Batamul in the capital.
Dhaka University campus to witness Mangal Shobhajatra brought out by fine arts faculty of Dhaka University to welcome the advent of Baishakh 1429. Besides, special programmes will be organised in Uttara, Dhanmondi and other areas in the capital at 6:15 am. The two-hour programme featured group and solo songs presentations, dance recitals, speech and poetry recitations and instrumental presentations.
Alongside enthralling the live audiences, the programme was aired live on Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and the official YouTube channel of Chhayanaut.
Cultural organization Wrishiz Shilpi Goshthi organised its ‘Borshoboron’ programme featuring songs and dance performances at 7:30 am in front of Shishu Park, Shahbagh in the capital. This year marks the first time the organization celebrated its New Year event without its founder and legendary folk singer Fakir Alamgir, who was remembered throughout the event.
Bangla Academy organized several programmes celebrating Pahela Baishakh this year, starting with a special programme on its Rabindra Chattar at 8 am. Chaired by its President Selina Hossain, the welcome speech was delivered by Poet Nurul Huda, Director General of Bangla Academy and the keynote speech was delivered by writer and researcher Saymon Zakaria. The event also featured songs and poetry recitations.
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) also celebrated the day with a special cultural event at the National Theatre Hall at 8 am. Different cultural units of BSA performed group songs, dance performances, Baul songs and several dance recitals at the event.
The traditional “Mangal Shobhajatra” by Dhaka University’s Faculty of Fine Arts, known and observed as the marquee event of the day, began at 9 am and was brought out from the Sarak Deep area of the TSC and culminated at the same place. The flagship procession was led by State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid and DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Akhtaruzzman and joined by the students-teachers of Dhaka University alongside the netizens.
Bangladesh Shishu Academy welcomed the New Year with a special cultural event performed by child artists at 11 am at the academy auditorium in the capital, which was joined by State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira as the chief guest. Dr Md Anwar Hossain Hawladar, Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs was present as a special guest in the discussion part of the event. The programme was chaired by Bangladesh Children's Academy Chairman Lucky Enam and the welcome speech was delivered by Md Shariful Islam, Director General of Shishu Academy.
Besides, several other cultural organisations including Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi and its multiple wings across the country, several schools-colleges and public-private universities and organizations-institutions celebrated the first day of the Bengali new year 1429 with colourful and engaging cultural programmes throughout the day.
