The Bengali New Year 1433 has begun and Pohela Baishakh is being celebrated across the country with renewed festive spirit. Alongside the public festivities, actors and cultural figures are also marking the occasion in their own ways. Speaking to Page Three, celebrities recall their childhood memories of Baishakh and how they observe the day today.
Arifin Shuvoo
Recalling his childhood, actor Arifin Shuvoo said he and his friends used to set up small stalls at fairs in Mymensingh during school holidays. They would pool their savings, decorate the stalls and sell various items. Any small profit earned was shared among them. He also remembered enjoying panta-ilish mornings, walks at Bot Tola and Dhanmondi Lake, and afternoons spent at TSC with friends.
“Those days are still very close to my heart,” he said, adding that work and responsibilities now limit his celebrations, though he often misses the simplicity of the past.
Airin Sultana
To Actress and model Airin Sultana, Pohela Baishakh felt like Eid during her childhood. For her, the day still revolves around panta-ilish or bhorta if hilsa is unavailable. She continues the tradition of wearing white and red shari and partaking in cultural programmes, often at FDC.
While childhood celebrations were more carefree, she said she still enjoys the festive spirit each year with fellow artists.
Moutushi Biswas
Actress and model Moutushi Biswas described Pohela Baishakh as a unifying cultural festival that brings the nation together. She emphasised the importance of passing on values of humanity and non-communal harmony to the next generation.
As a parent, she is actively introducing her child to Bengali culture and considers it a shared responsibility to nurture love for the country and its traditions.
Nusraat Faria
Actress and model Nusraat Faria enjoy the traditional Baishakh attire, especially shari, though she also prefers cotton salwar kameez in the heat. She also enjoys panta-ilish beyond the festival itself and does not wait for Pohela Baishakh to have it.
Ziaul Roshan
Actor and model Ziaul Roshan described Pohela Baishakh as an essential part of Bengali tradition. He plans to wear a locally designed panjabi and spend time with friends. For him, panta-ilish is an inseparable part of his celebrations, which he enjoys as a “true Bengali” tradition.
Ahona Rahman
Actress and model Ahona Rahman recalled that an experience wearing a shari on Pahela Baishakh made her uncomfortable, which eventually led her to stop going out on the day. Now she prefers to celebrate the occasion quietly at home in the presence of family.
