DHAKA, April 17, 2023 (BSS) - The two-day Boishakhi festival in New York was ended with participation of a large number of artists and visitors from Holland, Germany, Canada and various states of the United States (US).
 
On the second day of the festival on April 15, New York City Mayor Eric Adams inaugurated 'Mangal Shobhayatra', a colorful procession, as the chief guest at Diversity Plaza in Jackson Heights, said a press release.
 
While inaugurating the procession, he lauded Bangladeshis and said, "I am overwhelmed to see the spontaneous participation of thousands of people."
 
The role that expatriate Bangladeshis are playing in various sectors in the progress of the USA is incomparable, he added.
 
At this time, NRB World Wide President Biswajit Saha and Tofazzal Liton gifted Uttariya and Punjabi to Eric Adams as a festive souvenir.
 
Chief Editor Nurul Baten handed over the Bangla New Year 1430 commemorative book to the mayor.
 
On the occasion, Consul General of Bangladesh Dr Mohammad Monirul Islam spoke about the beauty of the history and tradition of Bangladesh and informed Eric Adams that the biggest festival of Bangladesh is Pohela Boishakh.
 
He expressed his gratitude to Adams for being on the side of Bangladeshi people in New York.
 
Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Mayor's Office Dililp Chauhan took part in the dance with a song of 100-voice for welcoming Bengali New Year.
 
In his speech, he said Bangladeshis are hospitable and cultured.
 
Convener of the Bengali New Year celebrations in song of 100-voice Laila Hasan said that the communal and fundamentalist groups wanted to stop the spontaneous participation of at least ten thousand people.
 
This festival will be held in every part of the world where there are Bangladeshis, she added.
 
President of NRB World Wide Biswajit Saha said that various stalls with various elements of the Barwari Mela of Bengal were set up.
 
Spontaneously painting of children, hot Hilsa fried with panta rice, Bengali dance songs, poetry and drama were held all day long, he added.
 
The premises have become a piece of Bangladesh, he added.
 
On the first day of the festival, Mangal Shobhayatra was held in New York's Times Square for the first time.
 
At the procession, hundreds of people who love Bengali culture gathered and welcomed the Bengali New Year with songs at sunrise.
 
Bangladeshi immigrants from different states of the United States have joined this event. Everyone had a spontaneous attempt to make themselves a part of history.