Its a new year again! Subho Nabobarsho 1418!


Yet another year passed leaving behind its happy and sad memories to cherish and lament on! On this auspicious day of Nabobarsho we look ahead for a better and greener year ahead so that every life feels up with joy and prosperity!
Bengali New Year (Nabobarsho or Poila Boishakh) is the first day of the Bengali calendar, celebrated in both Bangladesh and West Bengal, and in Bengali communities in Assam and Tripura. It coincides with the New Year's Days of numerous Southern Asian calendars.
Poila Boishakh connects all ethnic Bengalis irrespective of religious and regional differences. In India, in West Bengal and Assam it is a public (state) holiday and is publicly celebrated in mid April. In Bangladesh, it is a national holiday celebrated around 14 April according to the official amended calendar designed by the Bangla Academy.
Poila Boishakh is the day for cultural programmes. Prayers are offered for the well-being and prosperity of the family. Young ladies clad in white saris with red borders and men clad in dhuti and kurta take part in the Probhat Pheri processions early in the morning to welcome the first day of the year.
This day being auspicious, new businesses and new ventures are started. The Mahurat is performed, marking the beginning of new ventures.
Poila Boishakh is the beginning of all business activities in Bengal. The Bengali Hindu traders purchase new accounting book. The accounting in the halkhata begins only after offering puja.
However this new year in west bengal will begin with the elections, which has now become the centre of attraction to almost every individual of bengal! Everyone is expecting something - either a change of colour or a change of thoughts! Lets wait and see what is waiting ahead of us! But for now lets come together and celebrate Nabobarsho!
Rabindranath Tagore (back) and National poet of Bangladesh - Kazi Nazrul Islam (front)
Two of the finest poets of Bengal and of of the world!
Bengalis celebrate almost every occassion of theirs with songs and poems by these two poets and so when i am writing about bengali new year it would not be right if i do not mention their names!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

'Rajmohan's Wife', the first Indian novel in English

Image
'Rajmohan's Wife' was first serialized in 1864. The book is by one of the most famous Bangla novelist - Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay. It was his first novel and his only English novel. Later, he went on to write Bangla novels which are loved even today and Bankimbabu is remembered as one of the bests that the Indian soil has ever produced.  This novel tells the story of the beautiful and passionate Matangini, married to a villainous man and in love with her sister's husband, represents the vitality of women who remain strong in the face of brutality and the confining expectations of middle-class society. It gives a great description of the then Bengali life. It gives a beautiful description of female beauty. it is told the Bankimchandra wanted to make the novel much larger but later shortened it. We can also feel it because the descriptions at the beginning of the book is very elaborate but it decreases as we move on. This novel was one which was more heard than read
Read more

'Human' by Kazi Nazrul Islam

Image
Let's sing the song of equality Nothing is greater than human, nor important. No difference in country-time-person, same for all religion, In countries, times, and houses they are relatives. Devotee, open the door, God of hunger is standing at the door, time for devotion. Seeing the dream, eager devotee opened a temple, Surely he will be a king today by the blessing of God. In tattered clothes, lean and thin body, voice is low for hunger Said the traveler, "Sir, open the door, I am starving for seven days." Door of the temple was closed at once, the hungry returns back, Dark night, only lights of hunger are all around the way. The hungry chants "O God, that temple is of devotee, not your." Yesterday was feast in the mosque, a lot of bread and meat Are left, the priest is very happy for that. At this moment a traveler came wearing tattered clothes, Said, "Sir, I am starving for seven days" The priest shouted with annoyance, "Wh
Read more

The legacy of a poet - Kazi Nazrul Islam, the prophet of tolerance

Image
Kazi Nazrul Islam's works have been acclaimed as well as criticized for egoism, but his admirers who supported him throughout his life, considered this as self-confidence more than ego. They said that he had the ability to defy God and yet be devoted. Was a Bengali poet, writer, musician, revolutionary and philosopher who is best known for pioneering works in Bengali expressing fierce rebellion against society, tradition, politics, injustice, intolerance and oppression. Popularly known as the Bidrohi Kobi – Rebel Poet – he is widely popular and revered in India and commemorated as the "national poet" of Bangladesh. Nazrul lacked any formal training as a journalist or artist, and appears to have built  his artistic experience through his participation in folk musical troupes in his youth.  After two years of high school, Nazrul joined the army of the British colonial government. Stationed in Karachi during World War One, as part of the Bengal regiment,  he ros
Read more