Pahela Baishakh: Google Doodle celebrates Bengali New Year ‘Bangla Noboborsho’

Google Doodle celebrates Pahela Baishakh (পহেলা বৈশাখ) or Bangla Noboborsho (বাংলা নববর্ষ), the first day of the Bengali calendar which is the official calendar of Bangladesh, on April 14, 2021. Regardless of whether at home or abroad, Bengali the world heartily welcome each other with, Shubho Noboborsho (শুভ নববর্ষ), the standard method to wish each other a prosperous and happy Bengali New Year.

This celebration is celebrated on 14 April in Bangladesh and on 15 April in the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, and Assam (Barak Valley)by individuals of Bengali PAHELA heritage, regardless of their religious faith.

In Bengali, the word Poila (পহেলা) signifies ‘first’ and Boishakh (বৈশাখ) is the first month of the Bengali calendar (পহেলা বৈশাখ Poila Boishakh). Bengali New Year is referred to in Bengali as Nobo Borsho (নববর্ষ), where ‘Nobo’ signifies new and ‘Borsho’ signifies year.

The festival of Pahela Baishakh follows its roots during the Mughal rule in the region with the decree of tax collection changes by Emperor Akbar. The celebration date is set by the lunisolar Bengali calendar as the first day of its first month Boishakh. It hence quite often falls approximately 14 April every year on the Gregorian calendar.

The celebration is celebrated with parades, fairs, and family time. The traditional greeting for Hindu new year by Bengalis is শুভ নববর্ষ “Shubho Noboborsho” which is literally “Happy New Year”. The festive Mangal Shobhajatra is coordinated in Bangladesh. In 2016, UNESCO proclaimed this festivity coordinated by the Faculty of Fine Arts, the University of Dhaka as a cultural heritage of humankind.

The Bengali New Year is seen as a public holiday in Bangladesh. It is celebrated across religious boundaries by its Muslim majority and Hindu minority. As indicated by Willem van Schendel and Henk Schulte Nordholt, the celebration became a well-known method for expressing cultural pride and heritage among the Bangladeshi as they opposed Pakistani rule during the 1950s and 1960s.

The day is set apart with singing, parades, and fairs. Generally, businesses start this day with a new ledger, getting out the old. Singers perform traditional songs welcoming the new year. Individuals appreciate traditional Jatra plays. Individuals wear a festive dress with women desking their hair with flowers. White-red color combinations are especially famous.

Bangladeshis plan and appreciate a variety of customary festive food varieties on Pohela Boishakh. These incorporate panta bhat (watered rice), ilish bhaji (fried hilsa fish), and numerous special bhartas (pastes).

Bengali individuals of India have historically observed Poyla Boishakh, and it is an official regional holiday in its states of West Bengal and Tripura. The day is likewise called Nabo Barsho.

Bangladesh Heritage and Ethnic Society of Alberta in Canada celebrates its Heritage Festival (Bengali New Year) colorfully alongside different associations. Bengali individuals in Calgary celebrate the day with traditional food, dress, and Bengali culture. The Bangabandhu Council of Australia likewise hosts a Pohela Boishakh event at the Sydney Olympic Park.

On April 14th, 2021, Google celebrates Pohela Boishakh with an animated Doodle.