Rangpur: The vibrant festival of ‘Pahela Baishakh,’ welcoming the first day of the Bengali New Year 1432, has turned Rangpur into a colorful city of immense enthusiasm and excitement. The district administration, District Shilpokola Academy, ‘Sangskritik Oikya Parishad’, government departments, socio-cultural organizations, and educational institutions chalked out colorful programs to welcome the ‘Pahela Baishakh’.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the celebrations began at 8:30 am with the national anthem and the rendition of the ‘Eso Hey Baishakh…’ song at the Banyan Tree premises of the Zilla School ground. Artists of different organizations simultaneously performed traditional ‘Baishakhi’ and cultural programs at the Banyan Tree premises and at the Central Shaheed Minar premises in the city.
The district administration organized the largest ever ‘Borshoboron Ananda Shobhajatra’ with participation from countless people carrying festoons, placards, banners, and singing ‘Baishakhi’ songs from Zilla School ground at 10 am. Notable figures such as Divisional Commissioner Md Shahidul Islam, Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md. Majid Ali, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rabiul Faisal, and Superintendent of Police Md. Abu Saim participated in the procession.
The fervor of people of different ages, including children, teenagers, and young people, who participated in the procession, was evident with their colorful traditional costumes, dancing, singing, and shouting, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Participants dressed in yellow, red, green, and orange clothes, with women wearing flower garlands on their heads and colorful bangles in their hands, added to the festive spirit. Children excitedly participated in the joyous procession wearing small masks and carrying flags, with the procession featuring artworks including large-scale portraits, bullock carts, horse-drawn carriages, masks, puppets, birds, and fish.
To attract the attention of the city dwellers, traditional stick games, and displays of fishermen, blacksmiths, plows, yokes, wedding palanquins, and musical instruments were part of the festivities, with songs portraying the traditions of rural Bengal. The fervent crowd gathered on both sides of the city streets to watch the ‘Borshoboron Ananda Shobhajatra’ procession.
Simultaneously, a joyous ‘Borshoboron Ananda Shobhajatra’ with colorful arrangements in Baishakhi costumes was initiated by Rangpur ‘Sangskritik Oikya Parishad’ from the Town Hall premises. This procession joined the district administration procession after leaving the Town Hall premises, eventually returning to the Town Hall after parading the main streets via Kachari Bazar, City Bazar, Paira Chattar, Jahaz Company Intersection, and other points on the main city street.
Earlier, a traditional ‘Kabaddi’ game was inaugurated on the Zilla School ground. Later, Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation and National Association of Small and Cottage Industries of Bangladesh, with the assistance of the district administration, organized a five-day ‘Baishakhi Mela’ on the Public Library ground.
The District Shilpokola Academy and District Shishu Academy organized essay writing and painting competitions, cultural programs, and award distribution ceremonies at the Town Hall premises. Numerous rural fairs, kite festivals, gathering festivals, painting exhibitions, ‘Baishakhi’ fairs, and sports events were organized across the city and district.
Chikley Water Park, ‘Vinnojogot’ entertainment center, Hotel Grand Palace, and other elite hotels, amusement parks, and clubs made extensive preparations to welcome the Bengali New Year 1432. Improved traditional Bangalee diets were served to the inmates of all hospitals, Rangpur Central Jail, and ‘Shishu Paribars’ on the occasion of the Bangla New Year.
Rangpur Metropolitan Police, District Police, RAB-13, and other law enforcement agencies implemented measures to ensure security during the ‘Baishakhi’ programs. Since there is no authoritarian regime in the country, this year, a new dimension has been added to the festivities of welcoming ‘Pahela Baishakh’, inspiring people to celebrate with enthusiasm in the city as elsewhere across the country.