Pahela Boishakh is more than just a date on the calendar-it's a day that truly reflects who we are as a people. When the first sunrise of the Bengali year shines over the fields, it feels like a fresh beginning, reminding us that even after going through many dark chapters in history, we are still here-celebrating with light, colour, and joy.
In 2025, the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Dhaka renamed its traditional "Mangal Shobhajatra" to "Ananda Shovajatra"-a move said to make the event more inclusive for all communities. While this signals a cultural shift, it also raises an important question: in the name of inclusivity, are we drifting away from our roots?
Mangal Shobhajatra was never a religious ritual. It was a creative protest against authoritarian rule, born in the 1990s. To protest repression, students of Fine Arts marched with colour, imagination, and creation-as an expression of defiance. So this was not just a festive parade, but a symbolic statement of Bengali dignity and resistance.
The Bengali calendar itself dates back to 1556, during Emperor Akbar's reign. It was designed to simplify tax collection by blending the lunar and solar calendars. Over time, this fiscal event evolved into a social celebration, and eventually into a cultural festival embraced by all.
Yet, whatever the name, Pahela Boishakh remains true to its soul-it is the festival of the Bangalee heart. From tax records to royal courts, from feudal estates to folk traditions, the festival has withstood many changes while preserving its essence. Whether in villages or cities, among the rich or poor, its colours reach everyone.
Still, the question lingers: what will this year's celebration look like? A change in name-will it change the spirit too? As we walk this path of cultural evolution, we must remember: the beauty of a festival lies both in its freshness and in its loyalty to the roots. Let the joy be universal, let it reach every home-but let the seeds of history remain grounded.
Because Boishakh isn't just a new year-it's a reminder of those who came before us, of where we began, and a chance to ask again-who are we, where do we come from, and where are we going?
Fiad Nowshad Yeamin
Student
Department of Media Communication and Journalism,
Canadian University of Bangladesh
nowshadyeamin415@gmail.com
