Pahela

Pahela is a Bengali term meaning the first day, and it is most commonly associated with Pahela Baishakh, also known as Pohela Boishakh, the Bengali New Year. The name reflects the start of the new year in the Bengali solar calendar and is celebrated by Bengali communities in Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and other regions with Bengali heritage.

The festival typically falls on 14 April, though the exact date can shift to 15 April in some years. It marks the beginning of the Baishakh month and the new harvest season in agricultural communities. Observances emphasize renewal and cultural expression, with urban and rural celebrations featuring music, poetry, theater, and traditional arts. People wear new clothes, visit family and friends, and participate in fairs and markets that sell seasonal foods and crafts.

Traditions associated with Pahela Boishakh include public processions and cultural programs. In Dhaka, the annual Mangal Shobhajatra parade, organized by the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Dhaka, is a prominent centerpiece of the celebration and has been inscribed on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2010. Similar festivities occur across West Bengal and Bangladesh, with regional variations in food, attire, and performances.

The festival is regarded as a cultural marker of Bengali identity and continuity, linking agrarian cycles with urban cultural life. It serves as a broad public celebration of language, art, and community across Bengali-speaking regions.