Dhaka turned into a city of colours and fragrance on February 14, as Pahela Falgun, the first day of spring in the Bengali calendar, coincided with Valentine’s Day.
From early morning, the capital seemed to wear a festive mood, women in yellow and red sarees, young men in bright panjabis, and couples walking hand in hand brought energy and warmth to streets, parks, and markets. The scent of flowers mingled with laughter, chatter, and camera clicks, creating an atmosphere where spring and love danced together.
Shahbagh, one of Dhaka’s busiest and most popular flower markets, became the heart of this celebration. From Shahbag intersection to the nearby police station, rows of flower stalls were crowded with eager buyers. Roses, marigolds, gladiolus, tuberose, tulips, and gerberas were arranged like miniature spring gardens.
Red roses, symbolising love, were in the highest demand, while other flowers, yellow marigolds, fragrant tuberose, and vibrant gladiolus, added the festive palette of Pahela Falgun.
“Spring and love together make the day unforgettable,” said Meherun, a Dhaka University student, selecting a bouquet for her loved one. Another visitor, Niloy, admitted that prices seemed slightly higher this year but said the experience was worth it. “Dhaka feels less crowded today. It’s perfect for walking around, enjoying the blossoms, and celebrating,” he added.
Bengali literature has long intertwined the season of Falgun with beauty, renewal, and romance. Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, whose poetry often blends nature and human emotion, wrote:
“I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times…”
These words capture the timelessness of affection, echoing the spirit of Valentine’s Day in the heart of Shahbag. Similarly, poet Jibanananda Das celebrated the quiet intimacy of spring in his verses, making Falgun a metaphor for love and longing. Kazi Nazrul Islam, the national poet of Bangladesh, called upon the freshness of the season in his lines, invoking nature’s vibrancy and human joy:
“Esho he boishakh, esho esho”, an invitation to welcome life, colours, and renewal.
Vendors reported brisk sales throughout the morning. China roses sold for Tk 70–80 per piece, local roses Tk 30–40, Indian roses Tk 50, gladiolus Tk 40–50, tuberose Tk 30, and lily sticks up to Tk 400. Marigold garlands were priced between Tk 100 and 150.
Faisal, a trader at Malancha Pushpa Kendra, said the election holiday had kept some student buyers away, but buyers from other areas made up for the difference.
Swapan, a vendor at Anika Pushpa Bitan, expressed optimism that sales would rise in the afternoon when more people stepped out to celebrate.
Beyond commerce, the day symbolised a blending of culture, literature, and affection. While Dhaka is often defined by traffic jams and daily hustle, February 14 provided a pause, allowing the city to embrace beauty in petals, smiles, and shared moments. As blossoms were gifted and exchanged, the streets of Shahbag bore witness to centuries of tradition, the human impulse to celebrate life, love, and nature itself.
In a city that rushes forward, the meeting of Falgun and Valentine’s Day reminded Dhaka that some joys, the simple giving of a flower, a smile, or a heartfelt word, are timeless. Shahbag’s bustling stalls, fragrant air, and colourful crowds offered a glimpse of that beauty, proving that love and spring truly walk hand in hand.
NS/MHK