Kolkata, Apr 15 (PTI) People across West Bengal celebrated Bengali New Year, known as ‘Poila Boishakh’, with traditional fervour.
Observed on the first day of the Boishakh month of the Bengali calendar, the festival holds deep cultural significance for Bengalis in West Bengal and neighbouring Bangladesh as well as in other parts of India that are inhabited by the community.
People welcomed the Bangabda (Bengali) year 1433 donning new attires, visiting temples to seek blessings for prosperity, and greeting one another with ‘Shubho Noboborsho’.
Cultural programmes, including music, dance, poetry recitations, and theatrical performances, were organised and ‘prabhat pheris’ (morning processions) taken out across the state by social organisations, clubs and schools.
With the assembly polls round the corner, slated later this month, candidates of different political parties made the most of the occasion by blending campaigning with traditional ‘Poila Boishakh’ processions.
State minister and TMC leader Aroop Biswas led a vibrant procession in Garia area in south Kolkata, centred on the theme of ‘Maach-Bhaat-e-Bangali’ (Bengalis swear by fish and rice) as the rally featured colourful tiger and owl masks, reminiscent of traditional festivities.
Kaustav Bagchi, the BJP candidate from Barrackpore, also campaigned holding a fish.
TMC candidates Devdeep Purohit in Khardah, Sayantika Bandyopadhyay in Baranagar and Trinankur Bhattacharya in Noapara were at the forefront of colourful rallies where people sang songs of Rabindranath Tagore such as ‘Banglar Mati Banglar Jol’, and raised ‘Jai Bangla’ and campaign slogans.
In Balurghat, TMC candidate Arpita Ghosh also led a rally where men and women, donning traditional attire, walked on the roads.
In his Poila Boishakh greetings to the people of West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he prayed that the coming year marks the fulfilment of people’s all wishes.
“Shubho Noboborsho! My best wishes on the special occasion of Poila Boishakh, I pray that the coming year marks the fulfilment of all your wishes. May the spirit of happiness and brotherhood always prevail. Wishing you good health and lots of happiness,” he said in a social media post.
Modi said this is also an occasion to celebrate the timeless richness of West Bengal’s culture that has shaped India’s civilisational spirit.
Conveying her heartfelt greetings on the occasion of the Bengali New Year, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee posted on X: “On this fresh dawn of a new beginning, may each of your lives be free from sorrow and filled with purity and hope.” “Just as West Bengal is a cradle of art and culture, it is also a land of communal harmony and unity among all faiths. However, certain malicious forces are making concerted efforts to tarnish this spirit. The rulers in Delhi are attempting to snatch away people’s democratic rights. Remember, they must be answered through democratic means,” she said in a social media post.
“Stay well and remain healthy. In the upcoming assembly elections, to uphold your democratic rights, cast your vote for the Trinamool Congress candidates and ensure their victory with a massive mandate,” she said.
Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said that on the auspicious beginning of the Bengali New Year, he offered his respects to the elders and heartfelt love to the younger ones.
“I had the privilege of connecting with the beloved people of the Bhabanipur assembly constituency. Along with BJP workers, supporters, and responsible citizens of the area, I participated in the New Year’s procession. Later, I joined the candidates from Chowringhee, Jorasanko, Shyampukur, and Maniktala assembly constituencies in celebrating the New Year through vibrant processions across Kolkata,” the leader of the Opposition of the prorogued assembly said in a social media post.
“I pray to Maa Kali to bless everyone with happiness, peace, and prosperity, and to guide West Bengal away from misgovernance towards a path of progress and development,” he said.
Shop-owners offered puja to the goddess at Kalighat, Dakshineswar, Thanthania Kali Bari and other temples to open ‘haal khata’, the ledger book, marking the first day of Bengali New Year, and greeted the customers as part of traditional practice. Long queues of devotees were seen before the temples.
Long queues were also seen in front of eateries serving Bengali cuisine while fine dining restaurants hosted Bengali food festivals. PTI SUS ACD
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