Nabobarsho

Nabobarsho is the traditional Bengali New Year celebrated by Bengali-speaking communities in Bangladesh, West Bengal, and the broader Bengali diaspora. It marks the first day of the Bengali calendar, 1 Boishakh, and typically falls on mid-April in the Gregorian calendar, with Pohela Boishakh being the common name in Bangladesh and Poila Boishakh in parts of India. The festival emphasizes a fresh start and shared cultural identity across regions.

In its observance, people wear new clothes, visit family and friends, and participate in public and private celebrations that often include parades, cultural performances, and fairs. A distinctive feature is alpona, decorative floor art drawn on doorsteps and courtyards. A prominent public event in Dhaka is the Mangal Shobhajatra, a festive procession organized by the University of Dhaka that UNESCO designated as an intangible cultural heritage. Food plays a central role, with dishes such as panta bhat (fermented rice) served with onions, chili and fried fish, alongside traditional sweets like mishti doi and various pithas.

Nabobarsho carries social and cultural significance as a symbol of renewal, prosperity, and communal harmony. It provides a platform for cultural expression through music, dance, art, and poetry while reinforcing regional Bengali identity within a broader shared heritage. The festival is celebrated with regional variations but remains a unifying mark of the Bengali calendar year.