Today is the beginning of the Bengali New Year (শুভ নববর্ষ) or Poila Boishakh – the first day of the month of Baisakh – celebrated on the 14th or the 15th of April annually. It is also the day when a new business account or Haal Khata is opened.
We bow down for divine blessings early in the morning. Then touch the feet of the elders at home, in the family and in the neighborhood seeking their blessings.
We happily greet friends and juniors saying, “Shubho Naboborsho”. Shubho means auspicious and Naboborsho means new year.
This is also the day when sweets typical of this celebration and season are made at home like Paatishapta, Puli Peetha, Paayesh etc. followed by an elaborate feast.
As now we are separated from our elderly aunt’s and uncles by distance we make it a point to wish them over the phone and say, “Pronam niyo” which means accept our pronaam.
That is how the traditional way of celebrating the new year goes. Families may have their own rituals of the day and reunions. Some, like ours, have a simpler way of celebrating.
Preceding the day homes are spring cleaned. New linens are spread. Aalpona (rangoli) are drawn in the doorway. New dresses are worn, especially, the traditional dhuti and panjaabi for men and saree for women. It is a major cultural festival marked by music, dance, processions or Mongol Shobha Jatra, highlighting the Bengali cultural heritage.
Along with decorating the house and decking up our own selves we also deck up our favourite fictional characters the way we want to see them. So Tintin becomes a Bangaali Babu arriving with a big fish in hand in a yellow taxi with dear little Snowy on the banks of river Ganges while the Howrah Bridge gleams in the backdrop. And seeing him we lovingly holler, “Tintinda, Shubho Naboborsho.”
😁😁😁😁
Wishing you all my dear friends in the blogging community
“Shubho Naboborsho!!!”
Trivia:
It is a public holiday in Bangladesh and West Bengal. It coincides with other regional New Year celebrations in India such as Bihu, Vishu, and Puthandu.
awesome GC! I hope you enjoy it all!
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Thank you and a very happy new year to you too
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Shubho Nabobarsho,Geeta Ji
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Thank you so much and wish you the same to you and your family 😘😘
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Happy new year Geeta
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Happy New Year to you two Sadje
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Thank you dear friend. I hope the celebrations are going well.
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🙏🙏🙏🙏
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What a large canvass, almost 75 mm of Bengalis, India Pakistan Bangladesh and everywhere else (ToI Pune today told me of Shubho Naboborsho in the morning, I liked what Bipasha said, Bengalis love food) in our 35 mm small world. Of course Chh Shivaji, Peshva took Marathi people in all parts of India but cultural resemblance between Bengal & all other parts which you have is rare. Reading ToI supplement I missed you. Shubho Naboborsho Didi 🙏
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Shubho Naboborsho Professor Sahab
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Dhonyabad 🙏🌹
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Two failed attempts later, my oven finally cooperated, and I managed fresh Paatishapta (my son and his father’s favourite), generously stuffed with kheer and dry fruits. Clearly, Poila Boishakh comes with a persistence test 😄.
Tintin-da, of course, looks like the perfect bhadralok! And he’s been comfortably speaking Bengali for almost 50 years now, thanks to Anandamela.
Wonderful featured image, Geeta ji. শুভ নববর্ষ to you and everyone around you!
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Wow!!
Congratulations!!
Shubho Naboborsho to you and your family 😘
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Shubho Naboborsho, Geeta ji! Wishing you a beautiful year ahead ✨
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Thank you so much Rajeshwari
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Shubho Naboborsho!
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Same to you and your family
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Shubho Nabobarsho, Geetaji 🙏.
What did you cook today?
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Shubho Naboborsho Rupali
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Distance forces adaptation
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True, Derrick. Thank you so much.
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Happy New Year, Geeta! Also, it was lovely to see Tintin and Snowy 😊
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Happy New Year to you too Chris. May the new year be blessed for you and your family.
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Shubho naboborsho, gc! It sounds so interesting new year!
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Thank you and wish you the same
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My pleasure, and gratitude, gc
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Geeta ji Shubo Nababhirsho! Love Tintin’s greetings.
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Thank you Ganga. Isn’t Tintin cute ?
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Yes of course!😊
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Shubho Naboborsho, Ma’am! Wishing you a fulfilling and creative year ahead.
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Thank you and same to you too
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