Today, Pahela Baishakh celebrated in Rajshahi with festivity. Photo : BSS

RAJSHAHI, April 14, 2025 (BSS) - Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bengali New Year-1432, was celebrated in the city and its adjacent areas with a festive mood and enthusiasm coupled with vowing to build a discrimination-free, happy and prosperous Bangladesh today.
 
Children, youths, men, women and activists of the socio-cultural, voluntary and professional organisations wearing traditional dresses came out on the streets after sunrise to welcome the Bengali New Year.

Besides, hundreds of men, women and children, in traditional colourful clothes, thronged Rajshahi College playground, Fudkipara open stage, Shishu Academy, Riverview Collect-orate School playground and other venues especially the bank of the river Padma for celebrations of the occasion.

Pahela Baishakh celebrations involve Baishakhi processions with colorful festoons and songs, cultural functions, drama staging, doll dances, kite flying competitions and Baishakhi melas (fairs).

People wear traditional attire, attend amusement gatherings and celebrate with family and friends.

The programmes of the day heralded the city by inaugurating a colourful "Barsabaran Ananda Shobhajatra" on C&B Crossing. Rajshahi district administration arranged the rally.

After parading some of the city streets, the rally ended at the Shishu Academy compound where a discussion and cultural function programme were formally opened.

Subsequently, the National Anthem and the song "Esho He Boishakh Esho Esho" were performed, followed by a discussion and cultural programme organized by the district administration and various cultural groups.

Commissioner of Rajshahi division Khndaker Azim Ahmed, Deputy Inspector General of Police of Rajshahi Range Muhammad Shahjahan, Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Muhammad Abu Sufiyan and Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi Afiya Akhter addressed the discussion.
 
A daylong Baishakhi Fair also took place at the premises.
 
Additionally, cultural programmes, colorful rallies and roadside Baishakhi fairs were organized across different parts of the district.

Various educational institutions including Rajshahi University, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, Rajshahi College and Rajshahi
Medical College have celebrated the festival inclusively through various programmes.
 
The Faculty of Fine Arts of Rajshahi University, in association with the university administration, brought out a colorful 'Barshabaran Ananda Shovajatra' rally from the front of the faculty building.

Besides, Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) also arranged a daylong celebration programme.
 
Baishakhi Melas, cultural functions, staging of dramas, doll-dances, Nagor Dola, kite flying competitions and discussion meetings were also arranged throughout the day.

To mark the celebration, special meals were served to inmates of hospitals, jails, safe homes, and SOS Shishu Pally.
 
Amusement places like zoos and parks remained open for the visitors throughout the day.
 
Meanwhile, the law enforcement agencies adopted all-out tightened security measures to make the daylong celebration a total success.