Bengali New Year aka Poila Boisakh or Bengali Nababarsha
source: http://serampore.ning.com/profiles/blogs/poila-boisakh-bengali
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According to Bengali calender, the new year, 1416, falls on 15th of April. Now, most of the people around the world might not be aware of the custom of this very special day. So, I thought it would be good to post down a blog on some info about Poila Baisakh (Bengali New Year ).
When is the Bengali New Year 2009 or Poila Baishak 2009?
Poila Baishak 2009 will fall on April 15th. Poila Baishak or Nabo Barsha (“Nabo” means new and “barsha” means year) is the New Year day for Bengali Hindus in West Bengal (India) and Bangladesh. It is celebrated on the first day of Baishak (and so is the name) and marks the beginning of crop cycle.
Poila Baisakh: Serampore Social NetworkHow is Poila Baishak or Nabo Barsha Celebrated? Traditionally, Bengalis welcome their New Year with beautiful alpanas (Rangolis). In the center of the alpana, a kalas filled with water and mango leaves is placed; which symbolizes prosperity. Worship of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh along with a holy dip in the river Ganga or in any other water body is must. Women decorate their houses with flowers as Baishak is the month of flowers in Bengal.
Prabhat Pheries or early morning processions play an important part in Bengali New Year celebration. In the procession, women in white saris with red borders and men in white dhoti and kurta shirt perform songs and dances. Various cultural programs are also organized on the occasion of Poila Baishak. In Bengal, grand Nabo Barsha celebration is held in Shantiniketan or Vishva-Bharati where people assemble to watch Rabindrasangeet, dances and baishakhi fair. In Bangladesh, the day of Poila Baishak is a national holiday. On this day, people wish “Shubho Nabo Barsho” to everyone they meet.
For the Bengali business communities, Poila Baishak is the day of opening of fresh ledgers or book of accounts, “Haalkhata”. The khata is bound in red cloth and the sign of “Swastik” is drawn on it. Customers are asked to clear their previous dues before the New Year day. In turn, after performing puja, shop keepers and traders welcome their customers and express their gratitude with sweets, drinks and calendars. As a show of confidence and goodwill, customers also pay a token amount to the traders and shopkeepers.
Bangali Food:Serampore Social NetworkTo Bengalis, no celebration is complete without having good food. So, the day of New Year is also the day to eat out. Restaurants and hotels compete with each other to attract customers with mouth-watering traditional Bengali delicacies. Some of the famous Bengali New Year dishes are – Echorer dalna, chingri macher malaikari, macher kalia, tel koi, chatni … the list is endless! No wonder, when it comes to food it is hard to beat Bengalis… can feel my own mouth watering! Wish you all a very prosperous, peaceful and happy Bengali New Year 2009! Also, Shubho Nabo Barsho 2009 to all food lovers!
When is the Bengali New Year 2009 or Poila Baishak 2009?
Poila Baishak 2009 will fall on April 15th. Poila Baishak or Nabo Barsha (“Nabo” means new and “barsha” means year) is the New Year day for Bengali Hindus in West Bengal (India) and Bangladesh. It is celebrated on the first day of Baishak (and so is the name) and marks the beginning of crop cycle.
Poila Baisakh: Serampore Social NetworkHow is Poila Baishak or Nabo Barsha Celebrated? Traditionally, Bengalis welcome their New Year with beautiful alpanas (Rangolis). In the center of the alpana, a kalas filled with water and mango leaves is placed; which symbolizes prosperity. Worship of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh along with a holy dip in the river Ganga or in any other water body is must. Women decorate their houses with flowers as Baishak is the month of flowers in Bengal.
Prabhat Pheries or early morning processions play an important part in Bengali New Year celebration. In the procession, women in white saris with red borders and men in white dhoti and kurta shirt perform songs and dances. Various cultural programs are also organized on the occasion of Poila Baishak. In Bengal, grand Nabo Barsha celebration is held in Shantiniketan or Vishva-Bharati where people assemble to watch Rabindrasangeet, dances and baishakhi fair. In Bangladesh, the day of Poila Baishak is a national holiday. On this day, people wish “Shubho Nabo Barsho” to everyone they meet.
For the Bengali business communities, Poila Baishak is the day of opening of fresh ledgers or book of accounts, “Haalkhata”. The khata is bound in red cloth and the sign of “Swastik” is drawn on it. Customers are asked to clear their previous dues before the New Year day. In turn, after performing puja, shop keepers and traders welcome their customers and express their gratitude with sweets, drinks and calendars. As a show of confidence and goodwill, customers also pay a token amount to the traders and shopkeepers.
Bangali Food:Serampore Social NetworkTo Bengalis, no celebration is complete without having good food. So, the day of New Year is also the day to eat out. Restaurants and hotels compete with each other to attract customers with mouth-watering traditional Bengali delicacies. Some of the famous Bengali New Year dishes are – Echorer dalna, chingri macher malaikari, macher kalia, tel koi, chatni … the list is endless! No wonder, when it comes to food it is hard to beat Bengalis… can feel my own mouth watering! Wish you all a very prosperous, peaceful and happy Bengali New Year 2009! Also, Shubho Nabo Barsho 2009 to all food lovers!
