Today, Pahela Baishakh is being celebrated in Khulna.Photo: BSS

KHULNA, April 14, 2025 (BSS) – The Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla New Year Year-1432, is being celebrated in a comprehensive manner in Khulna involving people from all walks of life today.
 
The motto of this new year celebration is “Naboborshoer Oikyotan, Fascibader Oboshan”.
 
On this occasion, Khulna district administration began the day through a vibrant ‘Borsoboron Ananda Shovajatra’ at 8 am from the Khulna Railway Station premises and concluded at the Shaheed Hadis Park.
 
Officials of government, non-government organisations, people from different socio-cultural organisations, students and teachers from educational institutions joined the rally with festivities.
 
A discussion meeting, cultural function and prize distribution ceremony were held at the Shahid Hadis Park followed by the rally.
 
Khulna divisional commissioner Firoz Sarkar addressed the meeting as the chief guest with deputy commissioner Shafiqul Islam in the chair.
 
The chief guest said, “The celebration of Bangla New Year is deeply rooted in the soil and soul of our people. It transcends all barriers of religion and ethnicity. This secular festival, bearing the ancient cultural identity of Bengalis, has been a source of inspiration at various pivotal points in Bangladesh’s political and cultural history.”
 
Additional divisional commissioner (General) Md Hussain Sawkot, additional divisional commissioner (Education and ICT) Deboprosad Paul, additional divisional commissioner (Development) Abu Sayed Md Monjur Alam, among others, were present.
 
On this occasion, the Bangladesh Shishu Academy organised drawing and essay competitions for children. The Khulna Divisional Museum was open to the public, and traditional foods were served in jails and government-run orphanages in the city.
 
Besides, a showcasing of different handicraft items made by the prisoners and a traditional cultural function are being held at the jail, and cultural functions were held involving children at government orphanages, marking the day.
 
The day-long folk fair is being held at the Shaheed Hadis Park, organised by Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC). Similar programmes were also held at all upazilas in Khulna.
 
All educational institutions, including the Fine Arts School of Khulna University (KU) and different private universities, are celebrating the Bangla New Year with their own unique cultural identity and traditions.
 
Giving prominence to lokojsongskriti (folk culture), student teachers and employees of Khulna University began the day with Borsho Abahon in the morning, followed by the inauguration of a fair and the colourful ‘Anondo Shovajatra’ in the city with crafting paper-mache, figures of kings and queens, masks of tigers and owls, and traditional items such as horses, elephants, kulos, and dalas.
 
The traditional performances, including Lathikhela, a magic show, a monkey show and a cultural programme, are being held on the campus.
 
On the eve of Pahela Baishakh, Chaitra Sankranti was also celebrated on Sunday with various events at the KU’s playground, including a kite festival, traditional Bengali games, an Alpona Utsob, puppet shows, and an evening cultural program.
 
Khulna Medical College (KMC) is also celebrating the Bangla New Year 1432. Pitha Utsob and the cultural programme are being held at the S M Sultan Auditorium of the KMC.
 
 
Different political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and National Citizen Party (NCP), are celebrating the day with festivities.