Pohela Boishakh 2013 : The Bengali New Year

The Bengali New Year 2013 or Pohela Boishak will be celebrated on the 15th April 2013. In the state of Bengal, this day is considered the New Year day. The Bengali Newyear is celebrated on the first day of the Hindu month Baisakh. All the family members get together and worship the idols of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Laxmi. All the devotees pray for the well being of their loved ones. They wish that Lord will fulfill all their desires on this sacred day of Bengali New year.

The day of Pohela Boishak holds great significance for the Bengali businessmen as they open their new books known as Haal Khata on this day. Special delicacies are prepared in the family. It is believed that on this day Goddess Laxmi blesses her devotees with health, wealth, prosperity and bliss. People decorate their houses with colorful Rangolis and Diyas (oil lamps). An earthen pot that has a sign of Swastika is kept in the middle of the Rangoli. People exchange sweets and visit each other to convey their wishes.

Bengali New Year: The Celebrations

Bengali New Year in 2013 is going to be celebrated with great enthusiasm. The Nabo Barsha Festival was introduced by the great Mughal emperor Akbar. This festival is celebrated by all the Bengalis residing in different parts of Assam, Bangladesh and West Bengal. Bengalis are very traditional people and it is visible in the way they celebrate their festivals. They wear traditional clothes and dance after taking a bath early in the morning. On the auspicious day of Pohela Boishak, all the people assemble to welcome the rising Sun as it is considered highly sacred. Folk songs welcoming the New Year are sung by the people.

The women wear traditional Sarees and men wear Dhoti and Kurta. As per the old tradition they feast on a special breakfast on the New Year morning. The special breakfast includes delicacies like the Panta Bhat (soaked rice) with onion, green chillies and the famous Hilsa fish. There is a famous ritual which involves worshipping the clouds to please them to provide ample water to the mankind.

It is also considered very auspicious to pay off all your debts, loans and dues in this day or before it. This is done because the businessmen open new accounts on this day. This ritual also has a spiritual significance that one should clear all the debts to start the New Year at a fresh note. It is celebrated by organizing different Boishaki fairs like the Bangla Sangeet Mela at Nandan Rabindra Sadan ground. Such fairs are an opportunity where people celebrate by dancing and singing. Folk plays and puppet shows are performed by the local artistes. It feels like the whole Bengali culture melts down to one ground. The whole scene looks like a traditional extravaganza which is a delight for the eyes.

Bengali New Year: Significance in Bangladesh

The significance of Pohela Boishakh has its roots back in the year 1965 when the people of Bangladesh were suppressed by the Pakistani government. The government banned the following of the Bengali culture and also banned Rabindranath Tagore�s poems and writings. However, fighting the government's� orders people of Bangladesh celebrated the day by dancing and singing Rabindranath Tagore�s poems and songs. Later, when Bangladesh got freed from the repressive Pakistani rule in 1972, the day went on to become the national festival. It should be noted that Pohela Boishak is a festival which is celebrated by all the communities of Bengal irrespective of their religion and caste.

Pohela Boishakh (Bengali Newyear): The Spiritual Aspect

While celebrating Bengali newyear 2013, it is a good idea to understand the spiritual aspect about it. People put aside all their differences and come together to welcome the New Year with open arms. This festival teaches us a lesson of oneness and fosters us to begin a new life, sans all the past debts and burdens. New Year is a very significant day for all of us as it encourages us to forget the past and begin the New Year which is better than the previous one. We resolve not to repeat our mistakes and reform ourselves into a new and better person.

At the end, we wish all the readers a happy Pohela Boishakh 2013 or Bengali Newyear. With a hope that this year comes with a promise to make your life better in every aspect we conclude the article.