bangladesh4u

The day is looked upon as the harbinger of all that is pure and clean for the people of the land, hence it is called Shuva Nababarsha or happy New Year. Traditionally, it is considered that the rain and accompanying wind in the month of Baishakh would wash away the blemishes of the past year and usher in a new chapter in the lives of the people that would turn out to be happy and prosperous. No wonder, the day becomes an occasion of joy and merrymaking for Bengalees all over the world.
But Pahela Baishakh is much more than simply a day of merrymaking. We observe the day more as an occasion to uphold the Bengali culture, tradition and heritage so that the innate ethos can be carried down to our next generations. Through getting immersed in the traditional celebrations we look back at our roots and discover anew our pristine identity as Bengalees. And one of the most significant aspects of the day has been its secular character, as people belonging to different religious faiths and denominations take part in the celebrations with greater spontaneity than they do on any other occasion.

But lately, the essence of our culture that Baishakh embodies has come under threat from some religious bigots who are bent on destroying the history of tolerance and religious harmony in the country. These obscurantist elements are preaching their own brand of skewed philosophy to reap political benefits through creating anarchy in society. Therefore, on Pahela Baishakh it remains our solemn responsibility to stand up as a wall to thwart the machination of these elements.

On this day the nation takes a renewed pledge to march forward to build a happy and prosperous future for the people.

Shuvo Nababarsha to our readers.