A new song created with the help of artificial intelligence has joined this year’s Pahela Baishakh  releases, adding a technological twist to the Bengali New Year celebrations.

Swift already holds the record for the most wins in the history of the awards. This year, she has the chance to extend that lead.

Currently a member of the association’s executive committee, Mukti said her decision is shaped both by professional experience and a personal commitment to fulfil the wishes of her mother, veteran actor Anwara Begum.

BotTala Theatre staged the 100th performance of its production “Khona” at Central Shaheed Minar on April 11, marking a rare milestone for a Bangladeshi stage play.

Two web films have been released on local OTT platforms to mark the Bengali New Year, featuring performances by Pritom Hasan, Xefer Rahman, Safa Kabir, and Partho Sheikh, among others.

From vibrant street processions to intimate family gatherings, Bengalis across the world have welcomed the new year with enthusiasm. Social media, too, has been abuzz, offering glimpses into how public figures and celebrities are celebrating the day with their fans and well-wishers.

Her professional life has extended beyond studio practice into art education, children’s culture, and publication. She is also the author of two books, “Surrealism in Painting” and “Drawing and Reading of Pictures”.

For actress Quazi Nawshaba Ahmed, the festival is about love and unity. “My desire to celebrate is always there,” she says. “Given my work, I usually collaborate with friends from Charukola, theatre colleagues, and younger artists from Gen Z.”

Artist Suporna Alice Gomes inaugurated her first solo art exhibition, “Burnt Expressions: The Realms of Fantasy,” today at Safiuddin Shilpalay in Dhanmondi, marking a significant milestone in her artistic journey.

For Bengalis, Pahela Baishakh is more than just the first day of the year—it is a feeling, a rhythm of life that returns with colour, music, and the promise of renewal. Long before city processions and curated celebrations, the day lived in simpler, more intimate moments—village fairs, homemade delicacies, and shared joy.

The Bengali New Year is set to be marked by a packed lineup of concerts, cultural events and digital releases across Bangladesh, as celebrations for Chaitra Sankranti and Pahela Baishakh gather momentum.

Chhayanaut has expressed deep concern over a series of attacks on the country’s cultural sphere.

In a social media post, Jaya Ahsan described the gathering as a “home full of Bengali spirit” and “our kind of chaos.”

Singer Dola Rahman, who has recently voiced multiple songs for Eid, has shared her fondest memories of Pahela Baishakh, reflecting on how the festival shaped her love for music and culture.

What is now one of the most widely celebrated cultural events across Bangladesh actually started as an administrative solution, and its transformation over the centuries offers a surprisingly layered look at how traditions evolve.

To welcome the Bengali New Year, a variety of celebrations are taking place across the country. Various programmes will also be broadcast on the country’s television channels.

Noted actor Tariq Anam Khan holds some of his fondest memories of early Pahela Baishakh celebrations close to his heart.

For Khairul Anam Shakil, Nazrul Sangeet exponent and vice president of Chhayanaut, Pahela Baishakh is far more than the start of a new year—it is a living expression of Bangali identity.

Folklorists have long recognised multiple categories within Bengali folk literature—songs, proverbs, riddles, and rhymes. Rhymes are not homogeneous; they appear in distinct functional types: nursery rhymes, social or satirical rhymes, occupational rhymes, ritual rhymes, and those associated with games. That diversity signals not triviality, but embeddedness. In their rhythmic repetition are folded patterns of labour, hierarchy, crisis and adaptation.

For the talented actress Afsana Mimi, Pahela Baishakh is an essential part of her life. Though she hasn’t been able to participate in Mongol Shobhajatra over the past ten years, she continues the tradition with the children at her cultural centre, Ichchhetola.