Shuvo Nobobarsha!
Nobo Barsha, Bangla for New Year, also known as "Pahela Baishakh", marks the beginning of Baisakh, the first month of Bengali calendar. It is usually marked by the tradition of "Halkhata", opening of books of accounts for the new year by the village traders. The celebration of Pahela Baishakh by broad masses in the Bangladesh context may be dated from the observance of the day by "Chhayanat", a cultural organization in 1965. In an attempt to suppress Bengali culture, the Pakistan Government had banned tagore songs. Protesting this move, Chhayanat opened their Pahela Baishakh celebrations at Ramna Park with Tagore's song welcoming the month. The day continued to be celebrated in East Pakistan as a symbol of Bengali culture. After 1972 it became a national festival, a symbol of the Bangladesh nationalist movement and an integral part of the people's cultural heritage.
Read more about Pahela Baishakh which will be celebrated tomorrow (14th of April) in Bangladesh. Here are lots of pictures which show how Bangladeshis celebrate Pahela Baisakh (via Dipu).
Wishing everyone a happy Bengali New Year (1413), a happy Thai New Year (Songkran) a happy Combodian New Year (Maha Songkran) and a happy Easter.
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