Shuva Nababarsha

By Taslima Akter

Shuva Nababarsha or Happy New Year. Today is Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the first month of Bangla calendar year 1415. The weary sun of 1414 set last evening and took away all the sorrows of loss and melancholy of unfulfilled expectations. A new sunrise this morning brings with it new hopes and spirit for better days in the first day of Bangla New Year.

New Year's festivities are closely linked with rural life in Bengal. Usually on Poila Boishakh, the home is thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned; people bathe early in the morning and dress in fine clothes. People from all walks of life wear traditional Bengali attire: young women wear white saris with red borders, and adorn themselves with churi (bangles), ful(flowers), and tip (bindis). Men wear white paejama (pants) or lungi(dhoti/dhuti) (long skirt) and kurta (tunic). Many of town’s people start the day with the traditional breakfast of Panta bhat (rice soaked in water), green chilies, onion, and fried Hilsa fish. They spend much of the day visiting relatives, friends, and neighbors.

The famous song of New Year Esho, he Boishakh, Esho Esho (Welcome, O Boishakh, Welcome,Welcome) by Rabindranath Tagore's.

Shuvo Nababarsha to all of our readers.