People performing rituals on the occasion of ‘Bengali New Year’ in Agartala on Saturday, April 15, 2023. Photo Credit: PTI
Colorful processions were taken out in various areas on Saturday morning, while devotees thronged the Virasat Dakshineswar Temple and the Kali Temple in Kalighat to offer prayers and seek blessings for a happy and prosperous ‘Poila Baisakh’ (Bengali New Year).
braving the scorching heatMen and women – dressed in ethnic wear – joined the ‘ morning walk‘ (Cultural procession in the morning) singing Tagore’s popular song – ‘ Hey Nautun Dekha Dik ArbarModels of colorful tableaux, palanquins, bowl singers depicting the rural life of Bengal became part of the procession.
Extending my wishes to the people on this occasionWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted, “On the occasion of Poila Boishakh, I extend my heartiest greetings to all the residents.”
“I wish that the dawn of the new year brings abundance of hope, happiness and health in your lives. Today, let’s commit to the inclusive welfare and development of the society. Subho nobo borsho,” the CM said on the microblogging site.
People take part in a rally to celebrate Bengali New Year in Kolkata on Saturday, April 15, 2023. Photo Credit: PTI
One of the processions organized by Rajdanga Naba Udaya Sangha, an award-winning Durga Puja committee in the south, included women in red-bordered sarees to the accompaniment of Tagore songs. Eso hey Baisakh Eso Eso’ (Invocation of the month of Baisakh). Similar rallies were taken out in the Gol Park-Rasbihari area and at the Lalit Kala Akademi building, the center of cultural activities.
I’m ringing nababarsho‘ (Bengali New Year 1430) and setting the stage for Durga Puja celebrations, Thakurpukur SB Park Sarbojanin, another award-winning Durga Puja committee, organized the ‘Khuti’ Puja, setting the stage for the Puja to begin , where the gods will be. About six months from now it will be kept during worship.
The first day of the Bengali New Year, called ‘Kha’, saw customers visiting neighborhood shops to formally mark business transactions. light account‘, as crowds were seen at jewelery shops, cloth shops, sweet shops and other places since afternoon.
In a historic move, Governor CV Anand Bose on Saturday decided to allow heritage walks for people through parts of the Raj Bhavan built by the British in 1803.
Popular eateries like Bhojohori Manna, Saptapadi, 6 Ballygunge Place, Bhooter Raja Dilo Bar, Oh Calcutta, Kasturi offered dishes like Bhetki Paturi, Bhapa Ilish, Daab Chingri, Gandharaj Chicken, Doi Murgi, Doi Lish, Mutton Dak Bungalow, Dhokar . Dalna with chutney, papad, mishti, emulsion.
Despite scorching heat-like conditions, long queues were seen outside various outlets of popular Bengali cuisine restaurant brands apart from countless small eateries across the city and the state.
The scale of festivities was reminiscent of pre-Covid days despite heatwave-like conditions as festivities were on a muted note in 2020-2021 and the impact of the pandemic was felt in 2022 as well. on the last day of the month in different parts of the city Chaitra,