Pohela Boishakh 2025: Date, History, Significance & How Bengalis Celebrate Their New Year

Pohela Boishakh, also known as the Bengali New Year, is a vibrant cultural festival celebrated with immense joy in West Bengal, Tripura, and Bangladesh.

It marks the first day of the Bengali calendar month Boishakh and symbolizes new beginnings, prosperity, and cultural pride. In 2025, Pohela Boishakh falls on Tuesday, April 15.

Pohela Boishakh is celebrated in West Bengal, Tripura, Bangladesh, and among Bengali communities worldwide. From Kolkata to Dhaka, and from London to New York, Bengali communities across the world come together to celebrate Pohela Boishakh with unity, pride, and festivity.

Calendar Start: Beginning of Boishakh, the first month of the Bengali calendar

Historical Background of Pohela Boishakh
The origins of Pohela Boishakh date back to the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1584. To streamline agricultural tax collection, a new calendar—combining the lunar Islamic Hijri calendar and the solar Hindu calendar—was introduced. Over time, this evolved into the Bengali calendar we follow today, making Pohela Boishakh a historical blend of cultures and administration.

Cultural Significance and Celebrations
Pohela Boishakh isn’t just a New Year celebration; it’s a symbol of Bengali identity, unity, and hope. The day begins with Shubho Noboborsho (Happy New Year) greetings and is filled with:

1. Traditional Music & Dance

• Rabindra Sangeet performances
• Cultural programs featuring Tagore’s songs and poems
• Folk dance and theater

2. Delicious Bengali Cuisine
Special dishes like ilish maach (hilsa fish), panta bhaat, sweets like rasgulla and sandesh are prepared and shared with loved ones.

3. Haal Khata (New Account Book Tradition)

• A special ritual by Bengali traders where new ledger books are inaugurated for fresh business dealings.
• Customers are invited to stores, treated with sweets, and their accounts are renewed—a practice rooted in both spirituality and commerce.

4. Wearing New Clothes
Men often wear kurta-pajamas, while women don red-and-white sarees, symbolizing purity and celebration.

5. Shobhajatra Processions (Recognized by UNESCO)
In Bangladesh, colorful processions called Mangal Shobhajatra are carried out—featuring masks, large replicas of animals, and cultural motifs—recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Published date : 15 Apr 2025 10:38AM