Pohela Boishakh 2021: Here’s everything you need to know about Bengali New Year

The Pohela Boishakh, otherwise called Bangla Noboborsho or the beginning of Bengali New Year, marks the first day of the first month (Baishakh) of the lunisolar Bengali calendar. It usually falls on April 14 or 15 consistently. The festival is also celebrated in various parts of the country with various names. Pohela Boishakh 2021 festival will be celebrated by Bengalis in West Bengal, Tripura and Assam on April 15.

History and Significance of Pohela Baishakh:

The practice of Poila Boishakh returns to the Mughal era. It is accepted that the tradition was introduced in Bengal during the time of emperor Akbar to time the tax year to the harvest. Akbar had asked royal astronomer Fathullah Shirazi to make new calendar combining the lunar Islamic calendar and solar Hindu calendar already in use.

Bangladeshi academic and folklorist Shamsuzzaman Khan, be that as it may, followed it back to Nawab Murshid Quli Khan, a Mughal governor, who utilized the tradition as a day for ceremonial land tax collection. Inrural Bengali Hindu communities, the Bengali calendar is credited to emperor Vikramaditya.

Festivity of Pohela Baishakh:

Any celebration in Bengali culture accompanies a lot of energy. Furthermore, as Pohela Baishakh is one of the greatest and most significant Bengali celebrations, it is praised with much fervour and enthusiasm by Bengalis everywhere on the nation. Women and men wear traditional attires and start this day by frequently going to the temple in the morning, seeking blessings from God for a good year ahead. Bengalis clean their homes and paint artful alpona (Bengali rangoli) in their gardens.

Pohela Boishakh additionally works in as an perfect time for family reunion. Thus, on this day individuals visit each other’s homes and greet each other by saying ‘Shubho Nobo Borsho’ on Pohela Boishaakh. ‘Shubho’ means happy, ‘Nobo’ means new and ‘Barsho’ meaning year. As Bengali festival is never finished without great food, an variety of veg and non-veg delicacies are prepared, alongside a decent round of treats.

Happy Pohela Boishakh!