The Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) has announced a grand celebration of the “Adi Noboborsho” (Original Bengali New Year) to mark the beginning of the Bengali month of Agrahayan.
The day-long festival will take place on Sunday at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University, according to Musaddiq Al Ibne Mohammad, Ducsu’s Secretary for Literature and Culture.
The programme is divided into four segments. The first segment, “Rongtuli te Nobanno” (Harvest in Colours), will begin at 10am, where prominent painters along with current and former Fine Arts students will create artworks inspired by the themes of July and Nobanno (new harvest).
The second segment, “Adi Noboborsho Ananda Jatra”, is expected to be the festival’s main attraction. In collaboration with the Faculty of Fine Arts, three thematic motifs, July, Fishermen’s Life, and Agricultural Life, have been prepared, depicting different aspects of rural life.
The third and fourth segments will feature cultural programmes and interactions with invited guests. During these sessions, member organisations of the Biplobi Sangskritik Okya will perform recitations, dance, music, and magic shows.
The day will conclude with performances by renowned artists, including traditional songs and folk music, running until 10pm.
Musaddiq highlighted the cultural significance of celebrating the New Year, stating, “Observing the New Year is an essential aspect of practicing native culture. While Pohela Boishakh is now widely recognised as the Bengali New Year, historically it was Pohela Agrahayan that marked the occasion.”
He expressed concern that younger generations are losing touch with this history. “To remind them that Pohela Agrahayan was once the original New Year for this region, we have decided to celebrate the Nobanno festival as the ‘Adi Noboborsho’ festival,” he said.
According to Musaddiq, the designation of Boishakh as the first month of the Bengali calendar was introduced during Emperor Akbar’s reign for revenue collection purposes.
“However, the Bengali people did not traditionally mark Boishakh or Pohela Boishakh as the start of the year,” he explained.
He added that Rabindranath Tagore initiated Pohela Boishakh celebrations in the early 19th century and later institutionalised them in Santiniketan.
The tradition gradually spread among educated Bengali families in Kolkata. The first organised Pohela Boishakh celebration in Bangladesh took place in 1967.
Opposition from Pakistani authorities helped the festival become a symbol of Bengali identity and anti-Pakistani sentiment.
Musaddiq also explained the historical and astronomical significance of the Bengali calendar. “Out of the twelve months, eleven are named after stars, such as Boishakh after Vishakha, Jyoishtho after Jyoishtho, and Asharh after Asharh. Agrahayan is the only month not linked to a star. Its name carries with it Bengali history, memories, and some forgotten truths,” he said.
