Chattogram welcomed Bangla New Year 1433 on Tuesday with a vibrant and festive Baishakhi procession that filled the city with colour, masks, placards and traditional cultural symbols.
The celebrations created a festive atmosphere across the port city as people from all walks of life joined the event.
The procession began at 8:30am from the Circuit House premises on the initiative of the district administration. It moved through Kazir Dewri and Love Lane Mor before concluding at DC Hill.
Officials from government and private institutions, students, cultural activists and members of different professions took part in the procession. Participants carried rural symbolic items, colourful banners and traditional motifs highlighting Bangla heritage.
State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Mir Mohammed Helal Uddin, Chattogram-9 MP Abu Sufian and Deputy Commissioner Ziaul Islam Mian, along with senior administrative officials, attended the programme.
They said such initiatives play an important role in connecting the younger generation more closely with Bangla culture and heritage.
Chattogram Press Club has also started a day-long Pahela Baishakh celebration programme.
Recitation and music-based events are being held at different venues. Under the initiative of Bodhon Recitation Council, the “Bodhon Boishakh Festival 1433” is ongoing from morning to afternoon at JM Sen Hall premises. In addition, a cultural programme has been organised at the CSK Free Stage (Outer Stadium) in Kazir Dewri under the initiative of Naren Recitation Academy.
The National Rabindra Sangeet Sammiloni Parishad, Chattogram organised “Alpana-r Ronge Noboborsho Abahon” on 31 Chaitra night at Buddhist Temple Road and is also holding a day-long programme on Pahela Baishakh at Chattogram Women’s College premises.
Not only in the city centre, the Baishakhi spirit has spread across residential areas as well. A two-day Baishakhi fair and New Year celebration is being held at “July Smriti Udyan” (United Nations Park) in Pahartali Residential Area Welfare Association initiative, with support from P2P and WICON.
One of the biggest celebrations is taking place at Chittagong University. The university administration has organised cultural programmes and a folk fair there, along with traditional rural games such as puppet shows, bull fights, bouchi and kabaddi. Various programmes have also been arranged at Patiya Government College ground to mark the New Year celebrations.
