The nation is set to celebrate Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla calendar, on Friday amid festivities and enthusiasm.
The celebrations of Pahela Baishakh have become an integral part of Bangalees since it began over six centuries back.
The festivities of the day this year will begin at 6:15am with the artistes from Chhayanaut welcoming the day with songs and poetry recitations at Ramna Park in Dhaka.
True to their centuries-old tradition, people from all walks of life will throng different popular and historic spots in the capital and elsewhere across the country to welcome the Bangla New Year -- 1430 with new hopes and aspirations for a better, peaceful year.
This marks the second consecutive year that Pahela Baishakh will be observed during the holy month of Ramadan, and the festivity this year has been planned accordingly respecting the unity and essence of the holy month.
Dhaka University is all set to welcome the Bangla New Year with vibrancy and festivity. The university's Faculty of Fine Art, better known as Charukala, has taken preparations to observe this year’s Pahela Baishakh.
Traditionally, every year Dhaka University celebrates this national day with festive traits by arranging different sorts of functions including the colourful procession called the Mangal Shobhajatra (March of Good Tidings).
This year's Mangal Shobhajatra has been prepared with both global and Bengali cultural perspectives in mind.
With the slogan "Borisho Dhara Majhe Shantir Bari," a song by Rabindranath Tagore that expresses the desire for global peace, this year, six large structures of sheep, elephant, nilgai, tepa doll, tiger and peacock will be presented in the Shobhajatra to represent the Bangla New Year's motifs.
Meanwhile, tight security measures have been taken to ensure smooth celebrations of Pahela Baishakh.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq said there will be three tiers of security arrangements along with the police and various units during the celebration.
Businesses, especially in rural areas, will open their traditional new account books “Halkhata” and offer sweets to customers.
The day is a public holiday.
