Barisal gears up for colorful Pahela Baishakh celebrations
The southern city of Barisal is all set to welcome the Bengali New Year 1433 with vibrant festivities, cultural programs, and traditional processions marking the first day Pohela Boishakh. Preparations are in full swing across the city, with artists and cultural organizations working tirelessly to bring the celebrations to life. As in previous years, the much-anticipated Baishakhi procession will be organized by the Barisal Fine Arts (Charukala), featuring an array of folk art elements such as colorful masks, crowns, fans, rakhis, and handcrafted paper birds.
The day’s celebrations will begin early Tuesday morning at the premises of Brajmohan School. A cultural programme organized by Udichi Shilpi Gosthi and Barisal Natak will commence at 6.30 am. Freedom fighters will be honored at 7:30 am, followed by the national anthem at 7:45 am. The Baishakhi procession will officially start at 7:50 am with the rhythmic beats of traditional dhak drums and symbolic rakhi tying.
In addition to the procession, a three-day Baishakhi fair will be held at the Brajmohan School grounds, organized by Udichi Shilpi Gosthi. The fair will showcase Bengali heritage through music, dance, poetry recitation, and traditional crafts. Artists involved in the preparations expressed enthusiasm about this year’s themes. Child artist Anika shared that they have created a variety of colorful masks and accessories, while another participant, Shuvo, highlighted the inclusion of parrot motifs to raise awareness about the bird’s declining presence in nature.
Sushanta Ghosh, Coordinator of Fine Arts Barisal, emphasized the cultural roots of the festival, saying that Pohela Baishakh evolved from agrarian traditions celebrating the harvest into a universal celebration of unity and heritage. This year’s procession will feature large peacock figures and traditional folk designs. Subhankar Chakraborty, President of Samonnoy Parishad, said that the procession aims to promote messages of unity, harmony, and democracy.
Meanwhile, the district administration has also arranged official celebrations. A separate Baishakhi procession will begin at 8:00 am from the Barishal Circuit House, followed by cultural events and award distribution ceremonies. According to officials, more than 35 cultural organizations across Barishal are actively participating in this year’s New Year celebrations, making it one of the largest collective cultural events in the region. With all preparations nearly complete, Barishal is ready to usher in the Bengali New Year with color, tradition, and communal harmony.
