Pohela Baisakh: From Prabhat Pheris to Haal Khata

Pohela Baisakh is a Bengali New Year. First refers to Pohela. On the other hand, Baisakh means the starting month of the Bengali Calendar. West Bengal, Tripura and Assam celebrate this festival with great joy. Saree, salvar kameez and dhoti kurta are worn by people residing in bengal. Special meals are prepared such as pointabhat. This is a dish made of soaked rice soaked overnight. Fish curries such as Hilsa fish are also made along with the rice.

Significance of Pohela Baisakh 2025 celebrations

During the Mughal rule, there was a custom of collecting taxes as per the Islamic Hijri calendar. However, this rule did not match up with the solar agricultural cycles. Hence, Bengalis gave birth to a new festival known which was known as Bangabda. This rule allowed taxation facilities nearly to the year of harvest. Nawab Murshid Quil Khan was the first governor who started Akbar’s fiscal policy to collect taxes as per the Bangla calendar. 

Few historians traced the Bengali Calendar back to the 7th century during the reign of King Shashanka. The Bengal New Year is also observed in two Shiva temples which are older than the Akbar era. This are some of the real evidences that shows Bengali New Year existed must before Akbar’s rule. 

This auspicious Bengali New Year eve started during the reign of King Shoshangko.  As per the Gregorian calendar, it is said to start about 594 years ago. Hence, it is said that Bengal calendar is 594 shorter than the Gregorian ones. While the Bengal year is 594 shorter than pohela baishakh. When calculated after Pohela Baishakh it is 593 shorter. 

Importance of Prabhat Pheris during the early hours of Pohela Bisakh

Every Bengali family gets up early morning during the Bangabda New Year day. Processions are carried out called Prabhat Pheris. Childrens dress up in colourful dresses and floats. They display their art and dance performance dedicated to Rabindranath Tagore songs.

Women wear adorable traditional red and white sarees. They wear flowers on their head in the form of a round bunch Adorned with shiny oversized gold jewellery and a cute pair of earrings. On the other hand, men wear traditional kurta pyjamas and a religious tikka on their foreheads. 

Men and women dance all along the procession and sing beautiful Bengali songs. Lavish meals prepared out of green chillies, onion, rice and fish are prepared in every Bengali home. Other sweet delicacies include pithe puli (rice cake-based dishes), Mishti dohi rasgulla, Chingri Malai curry, dhokar, sweets, ilish macch and chanar dal. 

People decorate their homes with beautiful adorable designs known as Alpona. People visit their friends and relatives, have leisure time, share sweets and make moments with them. Small children pose before their elders and seek blessings. 

Relevancy behind checking on Panjika before Nobo Varsha Celebrations

As per our Sanatan Dharma, every Hindu checks on an auspicious day before starting something good in their life. Likewise, panjika is checked by every Bengali before welcoming the new year. It is a year-long handbook similar to the Hindu panchag that checks on every auspicious date, timing, horoscopes and before starting any new business.

Everything about Haal Khata celebrations on the day of Pohela Baisakh

A festival dedicated to all Bengali businessmen, traders and shopkeepers. On this day, people close all the accounts of last year and start a new account. They ignore all the pending debts of shopkeepers and customers and instead open a new page for the current year. 

Enjoy moments of the famous Baisakh Mela at the Bangabda festival

Special fairs were organized in West Bengal. These melas were organised under a traditional banyan tree. People from all around the globe arrived to enjoy this beautiful fair. Small businessmen and traders sat with plenty of toys and goods under the banyan tree. Traditional food like Sandesh, Batasha, Kadma, Khoi, Soan Papdi and Jilipi were sold during this mela. 

Attractive Bengali books dedicated to veteran Bengali poets and special sweets were also sold at this amusement fair. People also enjoyed bioscope an older version of a movie projector during those days. Enjoyable rides such as Even a wooden Nagordola (Ferris wheel) were organised for small children during the festival.

Shubh Tithi of Pohela Baisakh Celebrations 2025

The Pohela Baisakh Celebrations 2025 starts on 15th April 2025. The auspicious moment of Sankranti Pohela Baisakh falls on 14th April around 3:30 pm.

Morning Rituals performed during the Pohela Baishakh Festival 2025 

1. Get up early and make sure to clean the house properly.
2. Take a bath and wear neat clothes.
3. Wear traditional clothes such as kurta pyjama, dhoti and kurta.
4. Create beautiful rangoli designs outside the house.
5. Pray homage and salutation to Lord Ganesha.
6.  Mata Lakshmi is also worshipped on this day.
7. Recite mantras and chants bowing down to the deities. 
8. Lit a ghee lamp in the pooja place and offer bhog to god.
9. Place a few flowers and lit diyas and lanterns outside the house.
10. Prepare sweets such as mishti dohi and rasgulla.
11. Participate in the early morning Prabhat Pheris.
12. Visit Maa Kali and Lord Shiva temples and pray for good fortune.
13.  Offer poojas and Havana in the house to bring prosperity, happiness, peace and good luck to the family. 
14. Visit Baisakh Melas and enjoy special dishes and buy new books.

Celebrations in Different Parts of the World

West Bengal – In the state of West Bengal, Pohela Baishak falls on the 14th and 15th of April. Prabhat Pheris are carried in the early hours. It is also known as Noboborsho. West Bengal observes this festival as on the Bengal Solar cycle calendar. Small children dress up as floats and perform plays and impressive arts during this auspicious day. 

Dhaka – People get up early in the morning and listen to the famous  “Esho he Boishakh” by Chhayanaut. Near a place named Ramna in Central Dhaka, this music is played traditionally under a banyan tree. A vibrant procession known as Mangal Shobhajatra is organised by Dhaka University. 

Three themes set up the overall festive atmosphere. Out of the three themes, the first one depicts evil, the second one is courage and the third highlights peace. Bull racing, boat racing (Nouka Beach), Pigeon racing, wrestling and cockfights are organised at various places. Bands with various cultural events play at melas.

Tripura – People of tripura visit various temples to pray for prosperity and happiness on this day and wear new traditional clothes. New accounts are opened by closing the old pending ones. Even delicacies prepared such as sweets and confectionery are given away to family members and friends. 

Chittagong – Places like CRB and DC Hill hold cultural programs along with Mangal Shobhajatra. Melodious Rabindranath Tagore pieces of music fill the air with melody. In the evening folk music, puppet shows and different folk dances are displayed at the Chaitra Sangkranti programme by the Chittagong Shilpakala Academy in Chittagong. 

Bangladesh – Bangladesh observes Pohela Baishakh as the Bengali New Year. It falls on 14th April 2025. People celebrate this day with a procession, fair and songs. Not only the Hindu community but even Muslim communities celebrate this festival with fun and excitement. Bangladeshis perform various sweet dishes on this day starting from panta bhat to preparing special bhartas. Special Jatra plays and pieces of music are organised at various places.

Conclusion

Nobo Borsho is not just a festival but a grand get-together that unites all Bengalis. People gather at close relatives’ and friends’ places and enjoy special delicacies. Foodies get a chance to explore different varieties of food at the fairs and melas organised by Bengali communities. Additionally, small children get a chance to wear floats and perform art and folk dances at Pohela Baisakh cultural events. This festival brings two different religions together showcasing a beautiful amalgamation of love and unity among people. In this way, the Bangabda festival is cherished with a lot of fun and joy.