The History and Celebration of Pohela Baishakh
Emperor Akbar ... The celebration of the first Baishakh started from the time of Akbar. Then everyone had to pay all rents, duties, and duties by the last day of the month of Chaitra. After that, on the first day of Boishakh, the landowners used to entertain the residents of their respective areas with sweets.
After the establishment of the Mughal Empire in India, the emperors collected rents for agricultural products according to the Hijri calendar. But since the Hijri year is dependent on the moon, it does not match the agricultural yield. This forced the farmers to pay the rent at an inopportune time. The Mughal emperor Akbar introduced the Bengali year with the aim of making the collection of rent fair. He originally ordered reforms to the ancient calendar. At the behest of the emperor, Fatehullah Siraj, the famous astronomer and thinker of Bengal at that time, made rules for the new Bengali year based on the solar year and the Arabic Hijri year. The Bengali year counting started from 10th March or 11th March 1584 AD.
However, this method of calculation was implemented from the time of Akbar's accession to the throne (November 5, 1556). At first, the name of this year was Fasli San, later it was known as Bangabda or Bangla Year. . During the reign of Akbar, everyone had to pay all rents, duties, and duties by the last day of the month of Chaitra. The next day, the first Baishakh, the landowners used to entertain the residents of their respective areas with sweets. Various festivals were organized on this occasion. The festival later turned into a social event which has changed its form and is now at this stage. At that time the main event of this day was to make a halkhata. Halkhata means a new book of accounts. In fact, halkhata is the process of formally updating the shop accounts on the first day of the Bengali year. In rural, urban, or commercial areas, old accounts are closed and new ones are opened. On the day of Halkhata, the shopkeepers entertain their customers with sweets. This practice is still prevalent in many places, especially in gold shops.
Pohela Boishakh starts in the morning. After sunrise. The main ceremony started on 31st Chaitra. Through Chaitra Sankranti. Chaitra Sankranti means the last day of Chaitra. Through this ceremony, Chaitra was bid farewell and the new year was welcomed.
Fagun said goodbye with all his looks. The heat of Kharatpan slowly came to nature. Another Boishakh came. The chariot of the great age crossed the boundary of 1425 BS on its journey. Today is Sunday, the first day of Boishakh, 1426 BS. The colorful day of a festival came into the life of a Bengali speaker. Whether the terrible-beautiful Kalavaishakhi storm comes or not, this morning will wake up in the new light of the new sun; The whole country will be full of dancing, singing, festivals, and merriment throughout the day. 'Drums of Bangladesh' will be played to the beat of 'Takdum Takdum' in the hearts of Bengalis.
What a joy for the Bengali nation's New Year! Regardless of religion or caste, everyone becomes one with the colors of the festival. This day is not only a day of joy and exhilaration but also a day of good wishes for all people. Bengalis celebrate the New Year with great pomp and circumstance with the hope of happiness, peace, prosperity, and welfare. Happy New Year to each other.
** Bengali New Year is now our main national festival. Every year this festival is getting bigger and bigger with the participation of a huge number of people. Apart from Pohela Boishakh, Bengalis have no other occasion for such a big public festival. Through this festival, Bengalis feel proud to realize the identity of nationality in a new sense in the light of their own cultural heritage. This pride and consciousness inspire the Bengalis in their struggle to establish their rights.
Every moment of the new year is a new color
May the coming days be beautiful and prosperous.
** In the continuity of history and tradition, people cherish some joys and memories. And it finds its own feelings and its own characteristics through culture at different levels and over time. Pahela Boishakh is one such festival in the continuity of history and tradition as a Bangladeshi and Bengali nation. Welcome, Bengali New Year !!
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On this day, let the sorrows, failures, mind-filth of the past year be left behind and start anew, I wish everyone a happy Bengali New Year, Happy New Year !!