Today, the Vibrant festival of Baishakh is being celebrated in Rangpur. Photo: BSS

RANGPUR, April 14, 2025 (BSS) - The vibrant festival of 'Pahela Baishakh, welcoming the first day of the Bengali New Year 1432, has turned Rangpur into a colorful city of immense enthusiasm and excitement.

The district administration, District Shilpokola Academy, 'Sangskritik Oikya Parishad', government departments, socio-cultural organizations and educational institutions chalked out colorful programs to welcome the 'Pahela Baishakh'.

The celebrations began at 8:30 am with the national anthem and the rendition of the 'Eso Hey Baishakh...' song at the Banyan Tree premises of the Zilla School ground.
 
Artists of different organisations simultaneously performed traditional 'Baishakhi' and cultural programs at the Banyan Tree premises and at the Central Shaheed Minar premises in the city.
 
The district administration brought out the largest ever 'Borshoboron Ananda Shobhajatra' with participation of countless people carrying festoons, placards, banners and singing 'Baishakhi' songs from Zilla School ground at 10 am.
 
Divisional Commissioner Md Shahidul Islam, Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md. Majid Ali, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rabiul Faisal, and Superintendent of Police Md. Abu Saim participated in the procession.
 
The enthusiasm of people of different ages, including children, teenagers, and young people, who participated in the procession, and the colorful traditional costumes, dancing, singing, and shouting created a different atmosphere.
 
Everyone dressed up in yellow, red, green, and orange clothes to participate in the colorful procession. Women wore flower garlands on their heads, colorful bangles in their hands, and children were excited.
 
They took part in the joyous procession wearing small masks and carrying flags. The procession featured artworks including large-scale portraits and bullock carts, horse-drawn carriages, masks, puppets, birds and fish.

To attract the attention of the city dwellers, traditional stick games, fishermen, blacksmiths, plows, yokes and wedding palanquins and musical instruments were displayed and songs were sung to portray the lost traditions of rural Bengal.

 
The fervent crowd gathered on both sides of the city streets to watch the 'Borshoboron Ananda Shobhajatra' procession.

Simultaneously, a joyous 'Borshoboron Ananda Shobhajatra' with colorful arrangements in Baishakhi costumes took out from the Town Hall premises at the initiative of Rangpur 'Sangskritik Oikya Parishad'.

The procession also joined the district administration procession after leaving the Town Hall premises.

The combined 'Borshoboron Ananda Shobhajatra' reached the Town Hall premises again after parading the main streets via Kachari Bazar, City Bazar, Paira Chattar, Jahaz Company Intersection and others points on the main city street.  

Earlier, a traditional 'Kabaddi' game was inaugurated on the Zilla School ground.

Later, Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation and National Association of Small and Cottage Industries of Bangladesh with assistance of the district administration organised a five-day 'Baishakhi Mela' on the Public Library ground.
 
The District Shilpokola Academy and District Shishu Academy organized essay writing and painting competitions, cultural programs, and award distribution ceremonies at the Town Hall premises.

Dozens of rural fairs, kite festivals, gathering festivals, painting exhibitions, 'Baishakhi' fairs, and sports events were organized in different areas of the city and the district on the occasion.
 
Chikley Water Park, 'Vinnojogot' entertainment centre, Hotel Grand Palace and elite hotels, amusement parks and clubs had taken extensive preparations to welcome the Bengali New Year 1432.

Improved traditional Bangalee diets were served to the inmates of all hospitals, Rangpur Central Jail and 'Shishu Paribars' on the occasion of the Bangla New Year.
 
Rangpur Metropolitan Police, District Police, RAB-13 and other law enforcement agencies had taken ample steps to ensure leak-proof security during celebrations of the 'Baishakhi' programs.
 
Since there is no authoritarian regime in the country, this year a new dimension has been added to the festivities of welcoming 'Pahela Baishakh', inspiring people to celebrate with enthusiasm in the city as elsewhere across the country.