POILA BAISHAKH

Apr 13, 2017 | 0 Views

  

 

 

                                                            

 

A festival celebrated extensively in West Bengal and marks the New Year for this community is very common among the Bengalis. The word “Poila” means ‘first’ and “Baishakh” is the first month in the Bengali calendar falls around mid-April as per the Gregorian calendar, the biggest festival of this State. The Bengalis greet each other with a hearty “Shubho Nabobarsho” in their native language and celebrate the occasion with families and friends.

The Bengali calendar came into existence in the 15^th century introduced by the Mughal emperor Akbar. Agriculture has been the mainstay of the Indian Economy for the longest time, especially in the rural areas of all states. According to the Hijri lunar calendar, the time of tax collection fell out of the harvest season, thereby, making it difficult to pay taxes. The Bengali calendar is unique in that it is a mix of both the Hindu solar and Hijri lunar calendars. This calendar was first launched in 1584.

The festival is celebrated with processions, fairs and family time. Like each New Year day in the rest of India, Bengali families clean their houses and decorate them with rangoli.in the centre, they place an earthen pot, filled with water, cropped with mango leaves and marked with auspicious Hindu red and white swastika sign. Ganesha – the God of auspicious beginnings and Lakshmi – the Goddess of prosperity and wealth are remembered. Many people visit the nearby river to offer their prayers and take a ritual bath.

 

                                                            

  

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