Bangalees ring in new year

15 April 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

Different socio-political and cultural organisations as well as educational institutions celebrated the biggest carnival of Bangalees -- Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla New Year 1417, on Wednesday with colourful programmes. There were scores of cultural events organised by different organisations keeping the traditional celebration point of the perennial event Ramna Batamul area alive with huge rush of people. A festive mood gripped the city and other parts of the country. Women clad in white sarees with red borders and men and children in panjabees -- the dresses decorated with Baishakhi motifs -- greeted the new year. Youths had their cheeks painted with the country's national map and other emblems that added more colours to the celebrations. Many had traditional panta bhat (watered rice) with fried hilsa, lentil, green chilli and onion at home, restaurants and fair venues. The Central Shaheed Minar, Dhanmondi and Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban areas of the city were also seen swarmed with people of all ages throughout the day. The government took up a series of programmes across the country to mark the day. Noted citizens, who achieved Swadhinata Puraskar (independence awards) and Ekushey Padak (medals), were honoured at Bangabhaban as part of the programmes. It also arranged folk fairs, discussions and cultural events at five divisional headquarters as well as at the district and upazila headquarters. Awami League brought out a colourful procession in the city and arranged cultural events and Baishakhi fairs across the country to ring in the new year. The students of Dhaka University welcomed the first day of Baishakh amid huge festivities and gaiety on the campus where Baishakhi fairs and folk musical events and concerts were organised. Bangla Academy organised a 10-day programme to celebrate the day, including folk festival and national poetry recitation festival. Pizza Hut and KFC, flagship restaurant chains of Transcom Foods Limited, welcomed the Bangla New Year through various cultural events, including folk songs, a folk fair and a procession, at its respective offices and showrooms. Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), Nokia, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), National Museum, Nazrul Institute, Officers Club Dhaka, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote, Gulshan Club, Jatiya Ganatantrik Dal Bangladesh Udichi Shilpi Gosthi, Bangladesh Nari Mukti Andolon, International Turkish Hope School, Jashim Uddin Institute, Gulshan Youth Club, National Garment Workers Federation and Glamour World also celebrated the day.