As the first light of dawn broke on Monday (April 14), the melodies of the flutes and songs filled the air at Ramna Batamul, marking the beginning of the Bengali New Year 1432.
In a tradition now spanning decades, cultural organisation Chhayanaut welcomed Pahela Baishakh with a vibrant musical celebration beneath the ancient banyan tree.
This year’s theme, “Amar Mukti Aloy Aloy” (My freedom in the light), echoed through the two-hour programme that opened at 6:15 am.
Around 150 male and female performers clad in maroon and white graced the semicircular stage — 72 feet long and 30 feet wide — singing of light, nature, patriotism and humanity.
The celebration featured 24 performances, including nine group songs, 12 solo renditions and three recitations.
Baisakhi melodies and Rabindra Sangeet were performed, with artists calling for a renewal of compassion, solidarity, and hope in a world increasingly consumed by materialism.
Executive President of Chhayanaut, Sarwar Ali, delivered the New Year’s speech, calling for unity in the face of a global values crisis.
Preparations for the event had been ongoing for three months at Chhayanaut Bhaban in Dhanmondi. Alongside veteran performers, hundreds of young artists—many of whom trained for two and a half months—took part.
The event was broadcast live by Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar, and streamed on Chhayanaut’s YouTube and Facebook platforms.
Pahela Baishakh holds deep cultural and emotional significance for Bengalis, symbolising the spirit of renewal and unity. “Let all that is old and worn be washed away,” say many on this day, as they look to the future with hope.
Chhayanaut first began its New Year concert tradition at Ramna Batamul in 1967. It was only disrupted in 1971 during the Liberation War. Even a deadly militant bomb attack in 2001 failed to halt its momentum.
Beyond Chhayanaut’s programme, the day also features Ananda Shobhajatra—a vibrant procession organised by Dhaka University’s Faculty of Fine Arts—and a Baisakhi Mela at Bangla Academy celebrating traditional crafts and community spirit.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
