Today, the central celebration of Borshoboron Anondo Shovajatra began at Dhaka University in the morning. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, April 14, 2025 (BSS) – With participation of over twenty-eight communities, the first day of Bangla New Year 1432 ushered in an unprecedented wave of enthusiastic celebration across the nation.

The central celebration of Borshoboron Anondo Shovajatra began at Dhaka University in the morning.

People, regardless of age, class, or caste, spontaneously gathered at Dhaka University in groups, wearing festive costumes and dresses to take part in the Pahela Baishakh celebration procession at the Faculty of Fine Arts from the early morning.

The Noboborsho Anondo Shovajatra began right at 9 am in front of the fine arts faculty, unifying people from top government officials to the root level, including farmers, rickshaw pullers, blacksmiths and ethnic communities with the slogan ‘Noboborsher Slogan, Fascibader Oboshan’.

The Noboborsho celebration procession was arranged inclusively, maintaining tight security and spontaneity as well.

The procession featured a vibrant array of motifs, including the fascist’s face, a peace pigeon, a watermelon slice, Hilsha fish, a tiger, 36th July, and the water bottle of martyr Meer Mugdho.

The fascist face motif, symbolising the long-standing fascist rule in Bangladesh, was reconstructed within a day after it was burnt to ashes by a miscreant on Saturday morning.

A convoy of 18 well-equipped police horses led the procession. Following them, people from twenty-eight ethnic communities — including the Mro, Marma, Lusai, Bam, Khyang, Chakma, Tripura, Tanchangya, Pankhoya, Santal, Mahali, Kol, Malpahari, and Hajong — joined in, singing and dancing to the rhythms of their own cultural traditions.

Dhaka University students, members of the Bangladesh women's football team, and common people also took part in the procession afterwards.

The main banner of the Pahela Baishakh celebration was carried by DU Vice Chancellor Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan, Pro Vice Chancellor (Education) Professor Mamun Ahmed, Pro Vice Chancellor (Administration) Professor Sayema Haque Bidisha, Proctor Professor Saifuddin Ahmed and Registrar Munshi Shams Uddin Ahmed, along with other teachers, students, officials and employees of the university.

There were horse troupes, band groups, groups portraying farmers of our country and horse carriages followed the main section of the procession.

While talking to BSS, people said this year’s celebration is inimitable, as it represents all kinds of Bangladeshi people and revives the country’s cultural heritages.

Asifur Rahama, one of the participants of the procession, told the BSS that he came with his friends from Mirpur 2 to attend the Pahela Baishakh celebration.

“This year we are observing the new year depicting our own heritages and contributions. We came here spontaneously to be a part of this post-revolution celebration of the Bangla new year,” he said, expressing hope for the continuation of such cultural traditions.

Another participant, Wasi Tahmid, said, “The culture we had been following was not truly Bangladeshi—it was a Bengali culture influenced by Kolkata. But this year, we are reconnecting with our roots. The festivals are being revived, and people are participating with renewed enthusiasm.”

Referring to this year’s Eid celebration where people spontaneously joined, he said the celebration of Pahela Baishakh is similar to Eid to him.

To mark this first day of the Bangla calendar, the music department of Dhaka University arranged a Bangla classical song exhibition at the historic Bot Tola of the university, while the Fine Arts faculty ground has also been decorated accordingly for the Zatra Pala show, song, and music performances.