Pohela Boishakh: The Vibrant Celebration of Bengali New Year
Pohela Boishakh: The Vibrant Celebration of Bengali New Year Pohela Boishakh , also spelled Pohela Baishakh , is the first day of the Bengali calendar , celebrated with great enthusiasm and cultural pride in Bangladesh , the Indian state of West Bengal , and by Bengali communities across the world. It typically falls on April 14 or 15 , depending on the calendar system used. This day marks not only the beginning of a new year but also a new hope, a fresh start, and a reaffirmation of Bengali identity and culture. Origins and Historical Significance The origins of Pohela Boishakh can be traced back to the Mughal era , when Emperor Akbar the Great introduced a revised calendar to simplify tax collection in the Bengal region. The new calendar, known as the Bangla calendar , combined elements of the lunar Islamic calendar with the solar Hindu calendar. Farmers and peasants found it easier to align tax payments with the harvest seasons, which made the calendar both practical an...