The “Boishakhi Shobhajatra 1433”, organized by the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Dhaka, came to a vibrant and successful close with enthusiastic participation from people of all walks of life.
The procession kicked off at 9am on Tuesday — the first day of the Bengali New Year — winding through various roads across the university campus before returning to the Faculty of Fine Arts grounds around 10am.
The event drew an outpouring of spontaneous participation from state guests, university faculty and students, and ordinary people from all corners of society.
Initiated in front of the Faculty of Fine Arts, the procession featured scroll paintings and decorative motifs, with enthusiastic and spontaneous participation from members of the general public.
The procession has become an inseparable part of Bengali New Year celebrations over the decades. Though it has gone by different names over the years, it has always remained a vital expression of our cultural heritage. In 2016, Unesco recognized the procession as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
The procession has carried various names at various times — Barshabaran Shobhajatra in Jessore, Ananda Shobhajatra in Dhaka, then Mangal Shobhajatra for over three decades, and now Baishakhi Shobhajatra — yet its festive spirit has never dimmed.
This year's theme is "Harmony of the New Year, Revival of Democracy." The motifs include a Rooster, symbolizing the dawn of a democratic morning; an Elephant, referencing the iconic motif at Sonargaon; a Pigeon, representing peace; a Tepa Putul Horse, signifying rural tradition; and a Dotara, expressing solidarity with the Baul community and protesting the attacks against them.
Alongside the five motifs, five scroll paintings (potchitra) will also feature in this year's procession, crafted by scroll artist Tiger Nazir. These paintings depict the forest goddess Bonbibi, revered by those who make their living in the Sundarbans; Mughal Emperor Akbar, credited with introducing the Bengali calendar; the birth of Bangladesh and movements against autocracy; the folk art tradition of Gazi's scroll; and Behula, a character from the classical narrative poem Manasa Mangal.
This year's procession will open with a police cavalry, trailed by 200 Dhaka University students bearing the national flag. Journalists marched next, ahead of the main banner accompanied by state guests and senior university officials. Behind them were deans from various faculties and provosts from the residential halls, then chairmen of the various departments alongside university teachers and staff.
Further back, JASAS (Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha) and the Jatiya Kabita Parishad marched together, ahead of the five large motifs, drummers, and a 150-foot scroll painting. Saimum Shilpigoshthi and representatives from 115 indigenous communities will bring up the rear.
