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Shobhajatra

Shobhajatra, also spelled Shobhajatra, is an annual cultural procession held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to celebrate Pohela Boishakh, the Bengali New Year. It is organized by the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Dhaka and involves participants from the university community and visitors.

The procession features large-scale, handmade art and puppets crafted from bamboo, fabric, paper, clay, and other

The tradition began in the 1960s as part of Pohela Boishakh celebrations organized by the University of

In 2010, UNESCO inscribed Shobhajatra on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity,

Shobhajatra continues to be held annually, though its form and scale have varied with prevailing social conditions.

materials.
The
floats
and
masks
display
symbolic
motifs
such
as
animals,
birds,
mythological
figures,
and
scenes
from
daily
life,
often
conveying
messages
of
peace,
social
harmony,
and
national
identity.
The
event
blends
visual
arts
with
performance
and
is
commonly
covered
by
national
media.
Dhaka’s
Faculty
of
Fine
Arts.
It
has
grown
into
a
nationally
recognized
cultural
emblem
that
attracts
audiences
within
Bangladesh
and
among
the
Bangladeshi
diaspora.
recognizing
its
significance
and
the
need
to
safeguard
its
transmission
to
future
generations.
The
designation
highlights
the
festival
as
a
distinctive
example
of
Bangladesh’s
creative
expression
and
communal
cultural
life.
It
remains
an
important
symbol
of
Bangladesh’s
artistic
heritage
and
the
role
of
university-led
cultural
initiatives
in
shaping
national
identity.