DHAKA, April 12, 2021 (BSS) – Bangalee nation will celebrate
traditional Chaitra Sankranti festival tomorrow marking the last day
of the Bangla year.
Chaitra is the last month of Basanta Kal (Spring Season) in Bangla calendar.
It is celebrated more in rural areas than in urban, where it has
celebrated for hundreds of years. It is the day before Pohela Boishakh
and more popular than Pohela Boishakh in rural areas.
In recent years it has also been adopted into the urban lifestyle.
On Chaitra Sankranti, Bangalees usually say goodbye to the Bangla
year and welcome the Nababarsho (New Year) on Pohela Boishakh through
different festivities.
In many places across the country including Dhaka, Chaitra
Sankranti is celebrated through arranging fairs, pitha melas, musical
events and other festivities.
In view of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, the
government has imposed restrictions on all kinds of public gatherings
while complete lockdown will be enforced from April 14 to contain the
virus transmission.
Under the circumstances, no festivity or formal programmes will be
arranged to say good bye the Bangla year 1427 and welcome the
Nababarsho (New Year) 1428.
Cultural Affairs Ministry called for arranging virtual programme to
welcome Bangla Nababarsho on the day of Pohela Boishakh, the first day
of Bangla calendar.
In the previous year, the Pohela Boishakh celebration was not
arranged at Ramna Batamul in the dawn due to coronavirus outbreak.
Since 1971 Liberation War, this was first time when the Chhayanaut’s
programme did not take place at the Ramna Batamul on the day of Pohela
Boishakh.
The celebration will not be held this year too. But some new songs
have been recorded to welcome the Bangla New Year which will be aired
on state-run Bangladesh Television (BTV) in the morning on Pohela
Boishakh.
BTV will also broadcast Chhayanaut president and musicologist
Sanjida Khatun’s talks (Sanjida Khatuner Kathon) along with the songs.