A Pohela Boishakh procession and daylong cultural programme were held in Dhanmondi on Tuesday.
The event, organised by Barshoboron Parishad, was held under the theme “Jagao Pathike, O She Ghume Ocheton” (Awaken the traveller, who lies unconscious in sleep), marking the first day of the Bangali year 1433.
The procession took place along Road 27 in the capital, accompanied by a series of cultural performances aimed at introducing traditional heritage to the younger generation.
The program began at 9:30am with children leading a chorus performance. They performed the national anthem, “Dhono Dhanno Pushpe Bhora”, and “Esho He Boishakh.”
The procession started from Dhanmondi, Road 27 and moved through Rapa Plaza, Chhayanaut, and Star Kabab before returning to the venue.
Organizers said the afternoon session would resume after a lunch break from 1pm to 2pm, featuring performances by various cultural organisations, including Udichi Central Committee and its branches, Uthon, Tapoban, and Khelaghar.
Group recitations will be performed by artists from Muktodhara Cultural Practice Centre, Udichi, Srot, and Kotha Abritti Chakra.
Solo musical performances are scheduled by Makbul Ahmed, Sukumar Biswas, Narayan Chandra Shil, Piyush Barua, Monira Rownak Bubli, Akhi Halder, Shawon Roy, Arunima Ahmed Prothoma, and Shilpi Saha.
Solo recitations will be presented by Belayet Hossain, Laila Afroze, Nayla Tarannum Kakoli, Md Masud Uz Zaman, Shikha Sengupta, Aniket Rajesh, Shahadat Hossain Nipu, Iqbal Khorshed, Alok Basu, Shahida Falguni, Mostafizur Rahman Mamun, and Mehedi Hasan, among others.
Takshashila School will perform the Bratachari dance, while Rangan Ahmed will present a mime.
The program will conclude with Baul songs performed by Sardar Hirak Raja and his group.
Hundreds of people gathered along Dhanmondi Road 27 from morning to take part in the procession.
Kamal Pasha Chowdhury, a member of the organising committee, told Dhaka Tribune:
“The government has announced that the Mongal Shobhajatra cannot be held under the name ‘Mongal Shobhajatra’. The one at Charukola is being held under a different name. But culture is not determined by any organisation or institution; it belongs to the people. So we have organised it under the name ‘Mongal Shobhajatra’.”
Participant Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal said: “As a Bangali, it is important for us to take part in this effort to protect our heritage and culture. That is why I am here.”
Pohela Boishakh is widely regarded as a celebration of Bangladesh’s non-communal cultural spirit, with the Shobhajatra being one of its most iconic elements.
In November 2016, the procession initiated by the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Dhaka was recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage.
Although the tradition formally began in Dhaka in 1989 as “Anondo Shobhajatra,” it was renamed “Mongol Shobhajatra” in 1996.
Its roots trace back even earlier to Jessore, where a similar New Year procession was organised in the mid-1980s by an institution named Charupith, featuring puppets, animal motifs, and traditional musical elements.
Over the decades, the procession has been known by different names “Borshoboron Shobhajatra,” “Anondo Shobhajatra,” and more recently “Boishakhi Shobhajatra” but its festive spirit has remained unchanged.
