Bangladesh New Year
Bengali New Year
“Baro Mase Tero Parban” is a common Bengali phrase that means “twelve months, thirteen festivals.” It’s a fun way to say that Bangladeshis have a festival for every month of the year, and then some! While there are an abundance of Bengali celebrations to learn about, the most famous is Bengali New Year.
It’s known as Pahela Baishakh—Pahela meaning “first,” and Baishakh being the name of the first month of the Bengali year. It’s celebrated on April 14th by Bangladeshis around the world. Curious about the festivities? Here’s a look at the history of Pahela Baishakh and all the many ways it’s celebrated.
The History of Pahela Baishakh
Origins
Bengali New Year originated as a compromise between the sun and the moon. This is how it happened:
On the 11th of February, 1556, Akbar the Great succeeded his father as the third ruler of the Mughal Empire. Under his guidance, the Empire swept across much of the Indian subcontinent, bringing a vast collection of cultures under Mughal rule. To unify these diverse groups, Akbar relied on precise centralized administration. This included an efficient taxation system.
The problem, however, was that up until that point, taxes had been collected according to the Islamic Hijri calendar—a lunar calendar. This meant that tax collection didn’t always line up with the agricultural year, leaving farmers in a difficult position to pay taxes outside of harvest season.
To solve this issue, Akbar directed his royal astronomer, Amir Fatehullah Shirazi, to create the Bengali calendar, otherwise known as the Bangla calendar. Crafted as a compromise between the Islamic lunar calendar and the Hindu solar calendar, the new Bangla calendar aligned taxation with the harvest and thereby optimized taxation for the Mughal Empire.
This unique blend between solar and lunar timeframes means that Bengali New Year coincides with neither January 1st nor the lunar new year. Instead, Pahela Baishakh is celebrated on its own distinct date.
Modern History
In the intervening years between the Mughal Empire and now, the Bengali calendar has been modified a few more times to better match the Gregorian calendar. These changes cemented April 14th as Pahela Baishakh. In some places where the newer calendar has not been adopted, such as West Bengal, Pahela Baishakh still has a degree of variation, and may occur on either the 14th or the 15th of April. In most places, though, Bengali New Year begins on April 14th, and is rung in with colorful celebrations.
One spectacular tradition is the Mangal Shobhajatra in Dhaka, a festival that started in 1989 and is organized by Dhaka University’s Faculty of Fine Arts. It’s a procession featuring masks, floats, song, and dance. Recognized on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the event “symbolizes the pride the people of Bangladesh have in their folk heritage, as well as their strength and courage to fight against sinister forces, and their vindication of truth and justice.”
Pahela Baishakh is a jubilant expression of Bengali culture. Its multifaceted celebrations and even the creation of the Bangla calendar itself demonstrate the historical influence of various cultures, religions, and ways of life. More than that, Bengali New Year is a unification of those things. UNESCO writes that the Mangal Shobhajatra “represents solidarity and a shared value for democracy, uniting people irrespective of caste, creed, religion, gender or age.” Pahela Baishakh remains not only an observance of a new year, but a celebration of togetherness.
How Bengali New Year Is Celebrated
Shubho noboborsho! That’s the traditional greeting of the day, meaning “Happy New Year!” Bengali New Year is celebrated widely, irrespective of religious boundaries, and is marked with an array of popular events. From Mangal Shobhajatra processions to fairs, business practices, and family gatherings, Pahela Baishakh is a sweeping affair.
Boishakhi Mela
One of the biggest events of the day is the Boishakhi Mela, mela meaning “fair” or “gathering.” People gather for music, dance, traditional Jatra plays, and more. Festive clothes are worn, particularly in red and white color combinations.
These celebrations are often held in countries outside of Bangladesh by Bangladeshi diaspora communities. The Boishakhi Mela in London, which takes place in the Banglatown area of Tower Hamlets, is the largest open-air Asian festival in Europe. This particular event is held on the second weekend of May instead of on April 14th, in order to avoid bad weather during the rainy season.
Mangal Shobhajatra
The Mangal Shobhajatra is a procession complete with music, masks, and floats. Dhaka’s Mangal Shobhajatra is among the most famous, but processions are also held in other cities throughout Bangladesh, India, and elsewhere.
Haal Khata
On Pahela Baishakh, some businesses observe the holiday by a practice known as Haal Khata. Business owners close their old ledger and open a new one for the new year. It’s a time to take stock and reset, and is a tradition that harks back to the times of Mughal tax collection.
Other Activities
Pahela Baishakh is also celebrated with many other activities and events. People gather with family and friends and attend events like rural fairs, folk performances, pigeon racing, and boat racing. It’s also a popular time to sing and perform songs written by the famous Bengali poet, Rabindranath Tagore.
The Food of Pahela Baishakh
Celebrations are never complete without meals to share, and Pahela Baishakh has its own foods to offer. Dishes commonly include panta bhat (watered rice), Ilish vaja (fried Hilsa fish), prawns, shrimp, and various types of vorta (paste)—the quintessentials of Bengali cuisine.
Celebration in Diaspora Communities
Pahela Baishakh celebrations are widespread not only in activities, but in locale. The Bengali New Year festival in London is just one of many international events. The holiday is celebrated by Bangladeshi diaspora communities wherever they may be, from the UK to the UAE, India, Malaysia, the US, and more.
In the United States, you’re likely to come across Pahela Baishakh festivities in cities with a significant population of Bangladeshis, like New York City, Los Angeles, and Detroit. There’s even a neighborhood in the Detroit and Hamtramck area known as “Banglatown.”
That’s where we at One New Humanity operate, serving immigrant, refugee, and low-income community members in the area. With initiatives like our Sylhet Farm community garden and our women-focused Sisterhood Fitness, we strive to elevate our beautiful community, and to bring joy and support to those who need it most.
Donate now to help our cause! If you’re in the Detroit area, consider dropping off in-kind donations, organizing a collection drive, or shopping at our nonprofit thrift store, Joy Thrift in Hamtramck. Together, we can embody the solidarity celebrated on Pahela Baishakh, and make our community strong. From all of us at One New Humanity, shubho noboborsho!