Baishakh

Baishakh, also spelled Boishakh or Baisakh, is the first month of the Bengali calendar and the Assamese calendar. The name derives from the traditional Hindu solar month Vaishakha, and in the Bengali calendar it marks the start of the new year. Baishakh generally falls between mid-April and mid-May in the Gregorian calendar and is associated with spring and the annual harvest.

The first day of Baishakh is known as Pohela Boishakh or Nobo Boishakh, a major cultural celebration in Bengal. It is widely observed in Bangladesh and in India’s West Bengal, as well as by Bengali-speaking communities elsewhere. The day is marked by public processions, cultural programs, and fairs, and people commonly wear new clothes and greet others as part of the festive atmosphere.

Customs during Pohela Boishakh often include open-air concerts, art exhibitions, and traditional fairs called Boishakhi Mela. Rural and urban communities alike participate in festive meals and family gatherings. Traditional foods associated with the celebration include panta bhat (fermented rice) accompanied by salt, chili, and onions, as well as various pithas and sweets; fish dishes are also common in many households.

Baishakh is seen as a time of renewal and communal celebration, aligning the calendar with the agricultural cycle and the cultural year for Bengali-speaking populations. While the intensity and style of observance vary by region, Pohela Boishakh remains a prominent festival that underscores local traditions, poetry, music, and a shared sense of new beginnings.