The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rangpur

The northern region including greater Rangpur wore festive looks as thousands of people spontaneously joined traditional Pahela Baishakh celebrations through various programmes on Monday.

Thousands of children, adolescents, youths, men, women and activists of the socio-cultural, voluntary, NGO, business and professional organisations wearing traditional dresses turned out into the streets after sunrise and welcomed the new year.

Huge Boishakhi processions paraded the streets of the district and upazila towns carrying colourful festoons, placards and banners, wearing masks and singing Baishakhi songs including Esho Hey Baishakh Esho Esho, Palligeeti, Jarigan, Vatiali, Baul, Lalon Geeti, Nazrul Geeti and Rabindra Sangeet and other folk and classical songs.

The businessmen in villages, hats, bazars, sales centres and important places in both rural and urban areas organised the century-old traditional Halkhata and distributed sweets among their customers along with updating their accounts. Cultural functions and discussions on Pahela Baishakh were also organised at all district and upazila towns on the occasion of welcoming the Bangla New year, reports reaching here from different areas said.

Meanwhile, the Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla New Year, was celebrated here amid enthusiasm and gaity on Monday.

Students of Moubina Art School and Shantinagar Theater wearing colourful dresses brought out a "mangal Shobhajatra in the morning.

Jatiyo Rabindra Sangeet Sammelon Parishad organised the cultural programme and welcomed the day with Tagore's song "esho hey Baishakh esho esho," at Shaheed Dr Abul Kashem Moidan. Bangla Department of Joypurhat Government College and different socio-cultural organisations also celebrated the day by organising the new year.