The first day of the Bangla New Year, Pahela Baishakh, was marked by vibrant celebrations at Ramna Batamul. As in previous years, cultural organization Chhayanaut welcomed the New Year with traditional performances that upheld the essence of Bengali heritage.
The celebration began at 6:15 am on Monday under the banyan tree at Ramna Park (Ramna Batamul), with a performance in Raag Bhairavi as the morning light broke.
This year’s programme featured a total of 24 performances, including 9 group songs, 12 solo vocal pieces, and 3 recitations. Chhayanaut’s Executive President, Sarwar Ali, is scheduled to deliver the New Year’s address. The event will conclude with the national anthem.
A semi-circular stage, 72 feet long and 30 feet wide, was constructed from east to west under the banyan tree. The five-level stage accommodated around 150 vocalists and instrumentalists who welcomed the New Year in melodious harmony.
From early morning, people of all ages—children, women, and men—gathered at Ramna in traditional Baishakhi attire. Many expressed hopes of leaving behind the sorrows and burdens of the past year and embracing the new one with renewed spirit. A united and harmonious Bangladesh, free from division and discrimination, remains a collective aspiration.
Chhayanaut, one of the country’s leading cultural organisations, has been organising the Pahela Baishakh celebrations at Ramna Batamul since 1967. This year, too, Bangla year 1432 was welcomed with songs, recitations, and a spirit of unity at this iconic venue.