Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla New year, was celebrated at Dhaka University campus with great enthusiasm and festivity by bringing out the UNESCO recognized traditional Mangal Sobhajatra with a colourful and vibrant look.
The celebration started with Mangal Shobhajatra, that began on the Charukola premises around 9:00am and ended at around 9:30am after parading the Shahbagh area.
State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid, DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Akhtaruzzaman, DU Pro-VC (Administration) Dr Mohammad Samad, DU Pro-VC (Education) ASM Maksud kamal, DU Teachers Association president Dr Nizamul Hoque Bhuiyan, General Secretary Dr Zeenat Huda and DU Fine Art Dean Professor Nisar Hossain participated in the procession, among others.
Wishing to prevail peace on earth, a line from Rabindranath Tagore's poem 'Borisho Dhora-Majhe Shantir Bari' has been set as the theme of this year's Mangal Shobhajatra.
In the procession, there were five motifs— Tepa Putul (child in the lap of the mother), Tiger, a peacock, an elephant, and the nilgai, which symbolises peace and the disappearing animals of our country.
Beside motifs, some large masks including owls, birds, hand fans and chorki (wheelbarrow) that are also part of Bangladeshi folk art, were displayed during the procession. More than a hundred motif masks were displayed in the procession.
Every year, on April 14 (Bengali New Year), students of the Fine Art Faculty of Dhaka University bring out the 'Mangal Shobhajatra', which got the recognition from Unesco as an intangible cultural heritage in 2016.
This well-decorated carnival with colourful larger-than-life banners and animal replicas has been an integral part of Bangladeshi culture since 1989 and became a signature event that represents folk motifs of the country's traditions.
While addressing Dr Akhtaruzzaman said, “Bengali New Year 1430 has appeared with a message of hope and success. Mangal Shobhajatra is our cultural heritage. It is listed in the UNESCO heritage list too. Our struggle for freedom started through cultural movement”.
"The procession is a cultural tradition of the Bengalees. Now it belongs to the World Heritage. Thus, this cultural heritage belongs to the international community too,” he added.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha