‘Pahela Boishakh’ celebrated in Rangpur division

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RANGPUR, April 15, 2018 (BSS) – The ‘Pahela Boishakh’, first day of the Bengali New Year 1425, was celebrated on Saturday with huge enthusiasm and traditional festivities amid tight security measures everywhere in Rangpur division.

The district and upazila towns wore cheerful looks as the common people irrespective of caste, creed and religion welcomed ‘Pahela Boishakh’ with a vow to nurture rich Bangalee culture and heritage.

The district administrations, different government, non-government, socio- cultural and business organisations, educational institutions, chalked out colourful programmes.

Tens of thousands of adolescents, youths, students, children, men, women and activists of different organisations, wearing traditional dresses, brought out ‘Boishakhi’ processions and ‘Mangal Shobhayatra’ to welcome the Bengali New Year.

‘Pantha Bhat’ festival, kite flying, Ha-Du-Du, Kabadi and local sports competitions for women, ‘Boishakhi Melas’, cultural functions, doll- dances, ‘Nagor Dola’, traditional ‘Lathi Khela’ and discussions were arranged at different places in the division.

In Rangpur city, the district administration, Rangpur City Corporation, Sommilito Sangskritik Jote, socio-cultural, business and other organisations and educational institutions welcomed ‘Pahela Boishakh’ through colourful programmes.

The celebrations simultaneously began with traditional ‘Boishakhi’ programmes of Shishu Academy and Shilpokola Academy at Banyan Tree premises in Zila School and ‘Sommilito Sangskriti Jote’ on Central Shaheed Minar premises in the morning.

Mayor of Rangpur Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa and Divisional Commissioner Kazi Hassan Ahmed simultaneously inaugurated the celebrations at Central Shaheed Minar and Banyan Tree premises in the city.

The district administration in association with dozens of the other organisations brought out the main ‘Boishakhi’ procession from Zila School ground and returned there again after parading the city streets to welcome the Bengali New Year-1425.

Besides, the district unit of Sommilito Sangskriti Jote brought out the ‘Mongal Shobhayatra’ from the Public Library ground and retuned there after parading the main city streets.

Thousands of people irrespective of caste, creed and religion, wearing traditional dresses and carrying festoons, placards, banners and singing `Esho Hey Baishakh, Esho Esho’ participated in the main procession and ‘Mongal Shobhayatra’ to welcome ‘Pahela Boishakh.’

A number of traditional cow-driven carts, horse-driven carts and ‘palki’ paraded along with the events also participated by hundreds of the people of the ethnic minorities attired in their traditional dresses.

Zila Parishad Chairman Advocate Chhafia Khanom, Deputy Commissioner Enamul Habib, Police Super Mizanur Rahman, Commanding Officer of RAB-13 Md Mozammel Haque, Acting President of district Awami League Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed, among others, participated in the main procession and ‘Mongal Shobhajatra.’

Before bringing out of the main ‘Boishakhi’ procession, a discussion was arranged on the Banyan Tree premises with the Deputy Commissioner in the chair.

The Divisional Commissioner addressed the discussion as the chief guest.

The Banyan Tree premises and Central Shaheed Minar area turned into places of traditional festivities and heritages as thousands of people gathered there to enjoy the colourful ‘Boishakhi’ celebrations.

Artistes from different cultural organisations and institutions rendered ‘Polli Geeti’, ‘Jarigan’, ‘Bhatiali’, ‘Bhaoyaiya’, ‘Baul’, ‘Lalon Geeti’, ‘Nazrul Geeti’, ‘Rabindra Sangeet’ and folk songs there since the morning.

Improved diets were served to the inmates of all hospitals, Rangpur Central Jail, shishu paribars, vagabond centres and orphanages.

Similarly, the people of Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari and Gaibandha districts under Rangpur division welcomed ‘Pahela Boishakh’ through typical programmes in line with the rich Bangalee culture and heritage.