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Pahela Baishakh is a momentous occasion. To every Bangalee, irrespective of age, social strata and education, it is a time for joyous celebration. As in previous years, the colourful festival was celebrated in Dhaka with fervor through fairs, cultural programmes and concerts.
Here's a run down of the major events in the city to mark Pahela Baishakh:




Ramna Park
The 'Botomul' at Ramna Park is a popular venue for the celebration of Bangla New Year. Every year, Chhayanaut holds a cultural function here. This year too, the dawn of the first day of the Bangla New Year was ushered in with young students of Chhayanaut rendering the Tagore song that has become the "anthem of Pahela Baishakh" -- Esho hey Baishakh esho esho. Choral renditions of other songs followed. Men and women of all ages were clad in bright coloured attire, many were getting their faces painted with enthusiasm and singing along.


Dhaka University campus
Students of Dhaka University (DU) celebrated Pahela Baishakh, 1413 in style with a massive turnout. Students of the Institute of Fine Arts (IFA) brought out their rally from the IFA premises. The highlight of the rally was huge replicas of birds, horses, masks and more. Numerous other organisations went around Ramna Park and the DU area in a rally, holding banners and festoons. Programmes also included Baul songs, merry-go-round, puppet show and jatra among others. To mark the first day of the Bangla New Year Channel 1 organised a concert titled Borsho Boron Concert with leading bands, Souls, Feedback, Jonmobhumi, Miles and popular artiste Habib at DU gymnasium.

BUET campus
The students of Bangladesh University and Engineering Tecnology (BUET) celebrated Pahela Baishakh with zeal. The campus roads were intricately designed with Alpana. Groups of students, teachers and other people gathered at the BUET campus and brought out a rally. People had a feast of delicacies for breakfast and lunch free of cost that ranged from Panta Bhaat (rice soaked overnight in water), fried Hilsha fish, singara, bakorkhani and sugarcane juice. The food was provided by the students of the Department of Architecture. The cultural programme went on till the wee hours.

Dhaka Sheraton Hotel
To welcome the Bangla New Year Rupkotha Production organised a Baishakhi Fair at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel. The fair kicked off at Sheraton in the morning. The programme featured daylong performances of traditional Baul songs and puppet show.


Wonderland, Gulshan
Wonderland, a well-known amusement park celebrated the day with gaiety. To commemorate this day, a special concert titled Virgin-Arshee Baishakhi Matom Dola was held. The musical show included performances by Bappa Mazumder, Fahmida Nabi and musical bands, Face-to-Face, Obscure, Parthibo and Prohor.