Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bengali New Year-1430, was celebrated in the city and its adjacent areas with a festive mood and enthusiasm like other parts of the country today.
Children, youths, men, women and activists of the socio-cultural, voluntary and professional organisations wearing traditional dresses came out on the streets after sunrise to welcome the Bengali New Year.
Besides, hundreds of men, women and children, in traditional colourful clothes, thronged Rajshahi College playground, Fudkipara open stage, Shishu Academy, Riverview Collect-orate School playground and other venues especially the bank of the river Padma for celebrations of the occasion.
The programmes of the day heralded the city by inaugurating a colourful "Mongol Shobhajatra" on Shilpakala Academy premises. Rajshahi district administration arranged the rally.
After parading some of the city streets, the rally ended at the same venue where a discussion and cultural function programme were formally opened.
Divisional Commissioner GSM Jafarullah, Deputy Inspector General of Police Abdul Baten, RMP Commissioner Anisur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner Shamim Ahmed and Superintendent of Police Masud Hossain were present in the opening programme.
Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) arranged a daylong celebration programme.
Cultural groups and different organisations including Sammillita Sangskritik Jote arranged various programmes like musical functions, colourful marches and street side Baishakhi fairs in the city.
They brought out Baishakhi processions in the city streets carrying colourful festoons, placards and banners and singing Baishakhi songs, Palli Geeti, Gambhira, Jarigan, Bhatiali, Baul, Lalon Geeti, Nazrul Geeti and Rabindra Sangeet and other folk and classical songs.
Baishakhi Melas, cultural functions, staging of dramas, doll-dances, Nagor Dola, kite flying competitions and discussion meetings were also arranged throughout the day.
Various other educational institutions including Rajshahi University, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, Rajshahi Medical University, Rajshahi College and Rajshahi Medical College also celebrated the festival through separate daylong programmes.
The Faculty of Fine Arts in Rajshahi University (RU) along with university administrative officials, brought out a colorful rally titled Mongol procession around 9:30am in front of the faculty building.
They have also arranged a three day-long programme of folk songs, gambhira dance, band music and jatra pala at the university Charu Chattar to celebrate Pahela Baishakh of the Bengali New Year-1430.
RU Vice-chancellor Prof Golam Sabbir Sattar, Pro-vice-chancellors Prof Sultan-Ul-Islam and Prof Humayun Kabir, Treasurer Prof Obayedur Rahman Pramanik and Fine Arts Faculty Dean Prof Muhammad Ali, among others, were present on the occasion.
Meanwhile, the law enforcement agencies adopted all-out tightened security measures to make the daylong celebration a total success.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha