‘Mongol Shuvajatra’-Pahela Baishakh being celebrated

Staff Correspondent :  People of all walks of life gathered at different popular spots at

dawn in capital Dhaka and elsewhere to welcome the Bangla New Year, 1424.The day is a public holiday.

Thousands of people, especially the youths wearing traditional dresses, have thronged traditional venues at different parts of the capital, including Ramna Park, Suhrawardy Udyan, Central Shaheed Minar, Dhaka University, Shahbagh, Dhanmondi Lake and Hatirjheel, and different spots to celebrate the day.

Students of the Institute of Fine Arts of Dhaka University brought out a ‘Mongol Shuvajatra (the procession of good wishes)’ in the morning. However, this time around, there is a ban on wearing masks during ‘Mongol Shovajatra’, carrying matches, lighters, handbags and vuvuzelas.

Mughal Emperor Akbar started the Bangla calendar year in 1556 and the celebration of Pahela Baishakh began during his rule. Now it has become an integral part of the Bangali’s cultural heritage and tradition and turned into a day of merriment.

Around 11,000 uniformed policemen along with plainclothes ones have been deployed for ensuring security during the celebrations though there is no specific security alert.

However, the programmes to be held at open spaces in Dhaka University area have been asked to shut by 6:00pm. “Elsewhere in Dhaka, those will have to be shut by 5:00pm.”