After spending two Bengali New Year celebrations with no in-person events and virtual celebrations, different government and cultural organisations finally welcomed Bangla New Year 1429 by organizing diverse programmes at different public venues. The festivities of the day started in the early morning with the traditional cultural programme organised by Chhayanaut at the Ramna Batamul in the capital. Also read:Amid tight security, Pahela Boisakh celebrated in DU Dhaka University campus to witness Mangal Shobhajatra brought out by fine arts faculty of Dhaka University to welcome the advent of Baishakh 1429. Besides, special programmes will be organised in Uttara, Dhanmondi and other areas in the capital at 6:15 am. The two-hour programme featured group and solo songs presentations, dance recitals, speech and poetry recitations and instrumental presentations.

After two years of muted celebrations due to the pandemic, Bengalees are observing Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla calendar, with gaiety and pomp. The festivities began early on Thursday morning, with artistes from Chhayanaut welcoming the day with Tagore’s famous song ‘Esho hey Baishakh, esho, esho (Come O Baishakh, Come)’ under the banyan tree at Ramna Park. People from all walks of life thronged different popular and historic spots in the capital and elsewhere across the country to welcome the Bangla New Year, 1429, with new hopes and aspirations for a better, peaceful year.

The nation is set to celebrate Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla calendar, on Thursday amid festivities and full enthusiasm after two years of hiatus caused by the Covid pandemic. The festivities will begin at dawn with the artistes from Chhayanaut welcoming the day with Tagore’s famous song ‘Esho hey Baishakh, esho, esho (come O Baishakh, come)’ under the banyan tree at the Ramna Park. True to their centuries old tradition, people from all walks of life will throng different popular and historic spots in the capital and elsewhere across the country to welcome the Bangla New Year, 1429 with new hopes and aspirations for a better, peaceful year. However, as Pahela Baishakh will be celebrated during the holy month of Ramadan, the festivities have been scaled down. Dhaka University is all set to welcome the Bengali New Year with the vibrancy and festivity. Regarded as the educational and socio-cultural hub of the country, Dhaka University and its Faculty of Fine Arts (FFA), better known as Charukala, have taken preparations to observe this year’s Pahela Baishakh. As this year’s Pahela Baishakh is knocking on the door to be celebrated with great enthusiasm after an unfortunate two-year break with restrictions on public gatherings and celebrations of public programmes in 2020 and 2021, this year the DU authority alongside its teachers and students has geared up to welcome the return of the festivities in the campus arena. Also read: RAB on alert to make Pahela Baishakh festival smooth and safe: DG Traditionally, every year Dhaka University celebrates this national function with festive traits by arranging different sorts of functions including the colourful procession called the “Mangal Shobhajatra” (March of Good Tidings). The flagship procession was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016. According to the DU authority, this year's “Mangal Shobhajatra” will start from the university's Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) premises at 9 am. The procession will be brought out from the Sarak Deep area of the TSC, as the road in front of the FFA has been narrowed due to the ongoing construction work of Metro Rail.

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Dhaka University is all set to welcome the Bengali New Year 1429 with the vibrancy and festivity usually associated with Pahela Baishakh on April 14 (Thursday).  Regarded as the educational and socio-cultural hub of the country, Dhaka University and its Faculty of Fine Arts (FFA), better known as Charukala, are preparing to observe this year’s Pahela Baishakh for the last couple of weeks.  As this year’s Pahela Baishakh is knocking on the door to be celebrated with great enthusiasm after an unfortunate two-year break with restrictions on public gatherings and celebrations of public programmes in 2020 and 2021, this year the DU authority alongside its teachers and students has geared up to welcome the return of the festivities in the campus arena. Also read:Pahela Baishakh celebrations must end by 2 pm: DMP Commissioner Traditionally, every year Dhaka University celebrates this national function with festive traits by arranging different sorts of functions including the colourful procession called the “Mangal Shobhajatra” (March of Good Tidings). The flagship procession was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016. 

Leading global smartphone brand vivo has announced discount for three of its phones on the occasion of Bengali New Year.  The discounted models are V23e, Y53s and Y1s, both from the brand's Y series, said a press release issued on Tuesday. Also read: Vivo Y33s 4G Review: Do features accompany premium look? From now onwards, v23e will be available on Tk 25990, where it was before at Tk 27990, the vivo Y53s will be sold at the promotional price of Tk20,990, instead of the regular price of Tk22,990 and the Y1s for Tk8,990 (regular price Tk9,990). Sales Director for vivo Bangladesh Sharon said that the Y series has always been well received by buyers because of high-quality features at affordable prices.  "The vivo Y series phones are unmatched when it comes to affordable phones with good features. Pahela Baishakh is one of the biggest festivals in Bangladesh. And people may look to get new phones on this occasion. We are offering the discount so that consumers can buy great phones for affordable prices," she said. Read:Vivo redefines smartphone charging capabilities through Fast Charge Technology vivo V23e vivo's V23e combines one of the industry's top front cameras, along with cutting-edge innovations in autofocus and various portrait modes, including AI Extreme Night Portrait and Multi-Style Portrait. The new V23e runs on Fun touch OS 12, supported by an 8 GB + 4 GB Extended RAM experience with Extended RAM 2.0, allowing 4GB of memory to be used as RAM whenever necessary, providing a lag-free experience. vivo Y53s With a Tk 2,000 discount, the 8 GB RAM and 128 GB ROM device will be of even greater value. Fitted with a 5,000mAh battery and capable of 33W fast charging, the Y53s has a 16-megapixel front and 64-megapixel main camera on the back. The back-camera system has 2 more cameras, each 2 megapixels. Read Eid Offers 2022: Various Deals, and Discounts in Bangladesh vivo Y1s The least expensive of the three, the Y1s has 2 GB RAM and 32 GB ROM. The phone has a 4030mAh battery and available in Olive Black and Aurora Blue colors.

This year, the programmes  for celebrating Pahela Baishakh must end by 2 pm and setting up of food stalls will not be allowed at Ramna fair premises due to Ramadan. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam said these on Tuesday at a press briefing after overseeing the security arrangements at the city’s Ramna Batamul ahead of Bengali New Year. Also read: Raushon, GM Quader greet PM on Pahela Baishakh He said, “After remaining suspended for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the traditional festival welcoming the Bengali New Year will be celebrated this year on a limited scale. Due to Ramadan New Year celebration will be a little bit different this year as no food stall including that of ‘Panta Bhat’ will be permitted.” He said Chhayanaut was asked to end the celebration progammes by 11 am and the concerned authorities were asked to wind up fair at Ramna by 2 pm so that people can easily have their Iftar after getting out from here. From 1 pm all the entrances of the fair area will be closed. The DMP Commissioner said to attend Mangal Shobhajatra, people will have to undergo checking and the members of law enforcement agencies will ensure no one joins the procession halfway.

Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Begum Raushon Ershad and Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Tuesday greeted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ahead of Bangla New Year (Pahela Baishakh). Also read: Bangla New Year: PM sends greetings cards to Raushon, GM Quader Raushon and Quader, also Deputy Leader of the Opposition, greeted the Prime Minister by sending greeting cards to her, according to the Prime Minister's Press Wing. A spokesperson for the wing said PM’s Protocol Officer-2 Md Abu Zafar Raju received the greeting cards at his office in the PMO in the morning from the Opposition Leader’s private secretary AKM Abdur Rahim and Jatiya Party Chairman’s Assistant Private Secretary Advocate Abu Taiyab. Also read: Raushon Ershad taken to Bangkok for better treatment

For the first time after the start of the Covid pandemic two years ago, Chhayanaut will welcome the Bengali new calendar year 1429 with cultural festivities at Ramna Park on April 14 this year. However, as Pahela Baishakh will be observed during the holy month of Ramadan, the festivities have been scaled down, the cultural institution said Saturday. Read: BGMEA for promoting culture, heritage to boost country's image globally "In the past two years, we remained confined to home due to the global pandemic. However, taking stock of the current situation, Chhayanaut has stepped up to welcome the Bengali New Year 1429 with its traditional festivity again at the Ramna Batamul," Chhayanaut President Sanjida Khatun said. Inspired by the success of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair this year, the institution has started taking adequate preparations to organise its traditional festivity at the Ramna Batamul to welcome the Bengali New Year 1429, Chhayanaut Executive President Dr Sarwar Ali said. Usually, more than a hundred Chhayanaut performers participate and showcase their musical performances every year at a live event in Ramna. However, considering the health protocols as well as the month of holy Ramadan, this time "we have reduced the number of performers and the overall duration of our event," Chhayanaut General Secretary Laisa Ahmed Lisa told UNB. Chhayanaut, founded in 1961, has earned global fame for organising the traditional, extravagant cultural festivity of Pahela Baishakh at Ramna Park every year. Read: Pandemic dampens Pahela Boishakh celebrations in Bangladesh The only exception was in 1971, during the Liberation War of Bangladesh, then the last two years due to Covid. The traditional cultural presentation of Chhayanaut marking the Pahela Baishakh – one of the most coveted and long-awaited festivities in Bangladesh – has earned its fame as one of the grandest regular cultural celebrations in the world.

Month-long exhibition ‘NOOR’ by artist and painter Ronni Ahmed recently begun in the capital in both offline gallery and virtual platform. The exclusive, solo exhibition started on April 14 at Bengal Art Lounge, Gulshan Avenue, marking both the occasions of the first day of Ramadan and Pahela Baishakh 1428. But the ongoing countrywide lockdown forced the exhibition to go virtual in association with art agency ARTcon. Showcasing Ahmed's personal and artistic journey toward Sufism, NOOR features 48 paintings and five installations, along with a premiere screening of the film ‘Taslima’s Garden’. Read Two-month long art show on Sheikh Hasina ends with tributes to Bangabandhu The works in the exhibition are themed on the mystical and romantic aspects of Sufism, where light and enlightenment are emphasised. An Artificial Intelligence (AI) art project by the artist can also be viewed in a VR tour of his own studio.

The pomp and colour associated with Pahela Baishakh was absent as people celebrated the event virtually for the second consecutive year amid restrictions imposed to contain the transmission of coronavirus. The first day of Bangla calendar also saw the country shattering its single-day Covid-19 fatalities record. With a lockdown in place, festivities and cultural events to mark the Bangla New Year were all held virtually. Symbolic ‘Mangal Shobhajatra-1428’ The marquee events of the day – the traditional ‘Borsho-Boron’ programme by Chhayanaut and the Mangal Shobhajatra parade by the Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University – have all been cancelled. Also read: After lives & livelihoods: Covid strikes at culture, with Pahela Baishakh forced indoors Both Chhayanaut and FFA broadcast pre-recorded programmes on national TV. The Faculty of Fine Arts pre-recorded a unique, symbolic Mangal Shobhajatra for 1428 with the participation of the State Minister for Cultural Affairs and fewer than 20 people. They showcased their banner and 100 prop items made by students and teachers, including face shields and masks in the symbolic procession. Online events Renowned cultural organisations and institutions including Chhayanaut, the Faculty of Fine Arts, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Liberation War Museum Bangladesh and many others have observed the day with online festivities and programmes. Also read: Chhayanaut cancels Pahela Baishakh festivities at Ramna, goes back to virtual celebration with BTV Chhayanaut had initial plans to arrange and record their programme at the Ramna Park without a live audience at the dawn of April 14, or pre-record the programme before that. Instead, they broadcast this year’s festivity through a special collaborative programme with Bangladesh Television (BTV) and also on its YouTube channel Chhayanaut Digital - Platform. Shilpakala Academy also broadcast a live webinar and cultural programme on its official Facebook page and YouTube channel, which was joined by former Cultural Affairs Minister and eminent thespian Asaduzzaman Noor. Liberation War Museum and Wrishiz Shilpi Goshthi also held online programmes on Facebook on the occasion. Also read: Google celebrates Pahela Baishakh with new doodle This year, April 14 also marks the first day of the holy month of Ramadan in Bangladesh and some other Muslim countries in the world. On the occasion, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages greeting the countrymen and all Bangla-speaking people across the globe. Prime Minister Hasina urged everyone to follow health guidelines and celebrate Pahela Baishakh at home, in the wake of a surge in Covid-19 cases.