Poila Baisakh (পয়লা বৈশাখ)

The Bengali New Year is marked on the 14th of April and this auspiscious day is known as the Poila Baishakh or the first day of the summer. This day comes with celebration, celebrating the commencement of a new year with new hopes of happiness, success and good health for all. This day is celebrated by all Bengalis with a lot of enthusiasm.

Just a few days before Poila Baishakh one gets to know about its arrival from the crowds in various markets and shopping malls. It is a custom to wear new clothes on that day and hence all women especially are seen to enjoy the shopping spree during this time. Since it is one of the most auspiscious days of Bengali Calender, one can easily make out its importance in various temples like Dakhshineswar, Kalighat to name a few. People especially the ones who own business, are seen with special "dalas"(offerings) including a new book signifying the book of accounts to be placed before God for worship. A special puja is done wishing that the rest of the year will be profitable for them.The occassion is called"Halkhatha".

Poila Baishakh once again pulls out the "Bangalis" from their busy routine life to some traditional rituals which means paying special respect to the elders by touching their feet and wishing one another saying"Shubho Nababorsho". This is a day of happiness and enjoyment and wishing good for oneself and the same for others. Everyone knows about the special fetish of Bengalis for sweet dishes and hence Poila Baishakh means a long queu or a heavy crowd buzzing near the sweet shops and butcher's shop for either mutton or chicken. The day marks special dishes to be prepared in each houses. To name a few the typical Bengali dishes of "luchi", "alur dom" , "mangsho", "polau", "chatni", "payesh" and of course special "Sandesh" or sweet meat sets the note of the day. Previously these dishes used to be made at home but nowadys the change in life style leads a lot of families straight to restaurants to enjoy the age old traditional Bengali cuisines. "Aheli", "Oh calcutta" are few of such restaurants who specialize in Bengali dishes, but many other outlets also introduce Bengali food especially for this occassion.

Even today in a lot of well known families (Banedi Bari), men and women wear typical traditional clothes including Dhakkapar Dhuti, Punjabi for men and Dhakai or Tant sarees for women. It often becomes an occasion for family get together for them as all the members take part in the puja and a grand luncheon in tradional "kashar" or brass utensils occur . In all, although during most of the times we get detatched with our traditinal norms in order to keep ourselves alive in the race of the contemporary jet set lifestyle, Poila Baishakh brings us close to our roots, reminding us of our traditions and culture which we all Bindaas Bengalis are proud to inherit by birth.