Pohela Boishakh

Bengali New Year celebration in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Pôhela Boishakh (Bengali New Year) is the first day of the Bengali calendar. It is on 14 April in Bangladesh and 15 April in other places. The holiday is celebrated in Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal. It is also celebrated in Bengali communities in the other Indian states like Assam, Tripura, Jharkhand and Odisha and all over India as well where the Bengali community is. It is the same day as the New Year's Days of many Southern Asian calendars.

In Bangladesh, it is a national holiday .

In Bengali, Pohela means ‘first’. Baisakh is the first month of the Bengali calendar.

Boishakhi fairs are held in many parts of the country. Various agricultural products, traditional handicrafts, toys, cosmetics, as well as various kinds of food and sweets are sold at these fairs. The fairs also provide entertainment, with singers and dancers. They present folk songs. Among other attractions of these fairs are puppet shows and merry-go-rounds.

Pohela Boishakh Media

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  Mughal Emperor Akbar began the celebration of Bengali New Year and officialized the Bengali calendar to ease the tax collection process.

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  The new year salutation at Ramna Park

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  Mangal Shobhajatra at Pohela Boishakh in Bangladesh. UNESCO recognises Mangal Shobhajatra as cultural heritage.

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  Students of Charukala (Fine Arts) Institute, Dhaka University preparing masks for Pohela Boishakh

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  Colorful celebration of Pohela Boishakh in Dhaka

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  Pohela Boishakh Festive Meal

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  Children in Bangladesh carrying placards in Pohela Boishakh's rally

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  Children in Bangladesh carrying colorful placards in Pohela Boishakh's rally

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  Girls in Bangladesh wearing traditional saris and flower crowns at Pohela Boishakh celebration in Chittagong

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  Art competition at Pohela Boishakh celebration in Chittagong

Other websites

Media related to Pahela Baishakh celebrations at Wikimedia Commons