A grand celebration of tradition and culture
Pahela Baishakh, the Bengali New Year, is being celebrated today (April 14, 2026) across the country as the most significant cultural festival with great enthusiasm and vibrant mood.
It marks the first day of the Bengali first month. Today is a national holiday. Besides Bangladesh, the festival is also being celebrated in India’s West Bengal, Assam and Tripura, and worldwide by the Bengali community, irrespective of religions.
It is not merely a change in the calendar, but a profound cultural milestone that unites people beyond borders, religious beliefs, and social statuses, embodying the spirit of Bengali identity and resilience. The festival is a reminder to embrace unity in diversity, leaving behind prejudice.
It is truly inclusive, providing a space where people from all walks of life can participate without the burden of socioeconomic distinction.
Like the previous years, the festival begins with the traditional cultural programs at Ramna Batamul in the morning, organized by Chhayanaut, and the iconic Mangal Shobhajatra procession, a symbol of national heritage, is organized by the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka (Charukala) students.
It is, in fact, such a unique festival where people from all walks of life take part in this glorious event. This festival’s unique and artistic feature earned the recognition of a “Cultural heritage of humanity” by UNESCO in 2016.
These events showcase traditional attire—white sarees with red borders for women and punjabis for men—along with folk music, dance, and art, highlighting a deep connection to rural roots and cultural pride.
Meanwhile, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has rolled out multi-tier security measures to ensure that the public can celebrate the festival safely and peacefully.
The focus is on preserving the authenticity of the cultural events while ensuring a joyful experience for everyone.
As per the history of the festival, it started during the reign of the great Mughal Ruler, Emperor Akbar (1556-1609). The agricultural taxes were collected based on the Arabic or Hijri year.
Since the Hijri calendar was then lunar-based, it naturally did not match the agrarian solar year. Realizing this, Emperor Akbar changed the traditional tax collection system and formulated a new calendar so that taxpayers could pay their taxes smoothly in time.
Indeed, it was a great initiative that Emperor Akbar took for the taxpayers then.
Although things have changed over time, Pahela Baishakh still bears the testimony of our cultural heritage. Undoubtedly, Pahela Baishakh is one of those significant festivals that brings us a new dimension of joy and passion. At the same time, it unites everyone regardless of caste, creed, and community.
