India is home to a variety of cultures and each of these has their own customs and traditions of welcoming the new year. The New Year celebrations mostly coincide with the harvest season or spring as it symbolizes prosperity and the beginning of the cycle of life. One such celebration is West Bengal’s Poila Boishakh.
This celebration marks the first day of the Bengali calendar, typically on 14 or 15 April, and the people greet each other by saying ‘Shubho Nabobarsho’ (Happy New Year). In 2025, the festival will be celebrated on 15th April.
Here’s all you need to know about Poila Boishakh – a festival of prosperity and new beginnings in Bengali culture.
Poila Boishakh In Kolkata: A Celebration Of New Beginnings
Origin Of Poila Boishakh
The origins of Poila Boishakh are related to the origin of the Hindu solar calendar in the Mughal era. During this period, Emperor Akbar relied on the Islamic Hijri Calendar for tax collection.
However, as it was a lunar calendar, the tax collection did not match with the harvest season efficiently.
As a result, the Hindu solar calendar became widely prominent and was used for tax collection. In the Bengal region, the Bengali calendar – a version of the Hindu solar calendar came into prominence.
Poila Boishakh is one of the many ‘New Years’ celebrated throughout India. During the same time, festivals like Vishu in Kerala and Baisakhi in North India are widely celebrated.
Celebration Of Poila Boishakh
Just like any other new year celebration in India, people celebrate the Bengali New Year by waking up early in the morning, mostly before sunrise. People take a dip in the holy Ganges or some other holy river and dress up in clean, traditional clothes. They also begin cleaning their homes in advance as a symbol of warding off evil spirits and decorate their homes with designs made with alpona (a rice slurry). They then visit holy temples and places of worship to pay respects to the deities. The temples at Kalighat, Belur, and Dakshineshwar are particularly renowned for hosting a large crowd of devotees that visit these places on the day of Poila Boishakh.
‘Poila Boishakh’ roughly translates to ‘First’ (Poila/Pahela) ‘Boishakh’ (month of Vaishakh). The Bengali Nobobarsho (New Year) marks the first day of the month of Vaishakh. Many shops hold grand year-end sales called ‘Chaitra Sale’ as Chaitra is considered to be the first (or sometimes last) month of the Hindu calendar.
On this day, Bengali people visit their relatives and friends and greet them with ‘Shubho Nobobarsho’, a traditional Bengali new year salutation. They organize lunch and dinner with family and friends and also participate in get-togethers. Not just that, but many cities host grand parades full of cultural celebrations, dance, folk music, and other performing arts. The cities of
Traditional Foods Made During Poila Boishakh
Bengalis make traditional dishes and sweetmeats and dine together with their loved ones. Main dishes include:
- Panta Bhat or Poita Bhat: Rice based dish made by soaking leftover rice in water and served with fish, chilli, onion, and potato side dishes.
- Radhaballabhi: A deep-fried kachori-like pastry filled with spices and urad dal.
- Shutki Chingri Bhorta: A spicy prawn paste served with steamed rice
- Doodh Maach: A fish curry made mostly with Rohu or Katla fish with a milk-based gravy
- Kosha Mangsho: Slow-cooked mutton curry made with a flavorful blend of spices
Traditional sweetmeats made on this day include the following:
- Basanti Pulao: A saffron-infused rice with dried nuts and raisins
- Mishti Doi: A fermented milk-based sweet dish
- Payesh: Rice-based pudding with dried nuts
- Malpua: Pancake-like sweet flatbread served with dried nuts and cardamom-infused milk
- Sandesh: A sweet treat made with condensed milk and cottage cheese
Best Places To Celebrate Poila Boishakh 2025
Kolkata
The capital city of West Bengal is home to some of the biggest Poila Boishakh celebrations in India. On this day, a variety of cultural events are organized throughout the city. Programs of Rabindra Sangeet as well as folk music and dances are organized in different universities, organizations, and neighborhoods.
Not just that, but the city drowns in the joy of the new year as people come together and celebrate the day. You’ll likely find considerable crowds in local temples on the day of Poila Boishakh.
Dhaka
Dhaka in Bangladesh is one of the major cities known for their vibrant Poila Boishakh celebrations. The city is known for its Barshabaran Ananda Shobhajatra. This event was organized by the students and faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Dhaka.
It began in 1989 and since then has been a significant event in the city. In this procession, you’ll spot giant replicas of brightly colored animals, fish, birds, and characters from folk tales. Locals dress up in bright, traditional attire and take part in the procession. In fact, in 2016, UNESCO declared the event as an intangible cultural heritage!
Assam
Although Assam has its own distinct language and cultural heritage, the state is home to a significant Bengali community. In fact, Assamese culture has many aspects similar to Bengali culture in terms of their food, traditions, and some aspects of their language.
Poila Boishakh celebrations are popular in Assam, especially in the cities of Guwahati, Dispur, and Dibrugarh. People follow traditional rituals like visiting temples and preparing traditional food and celebrate the festival with their friends and family.
Tripura
Tripura, just like Assam, is heavily influenced by Bengali culture. The Bengali New Year Poila Boishakh is celebrated here on a large scale. Many households in the state celebrate the day in the traditional way. They dress up in bright clothes and participate in spiritual cleansing. They invite friends over and have food together, rejoicing in the spirit of the new year.
Tripura’s major cities like Agartala, Dharampur, and Udaipur are some places where you can witness grand Subho Poila Boishakh celebrations.
Summing Up
The Bengali New Year is a celebration of new beginnings and is characterized by vibrant celebrations. It is a time for people to come together and celebrate their new year as a community. Marked with traditional food, music, dance, and spiritual practices, Poila Boishakh is a festival you must definitely experience once! Subho Poila Boishakh!
FAQs
How To Wish For Poila Baisakh?
You can wish someone a happy Poila Boishakh by greeting them with ‘Shubho Nabobarsho’ (Happy New Year).
Which God Is Worshipped On Poila Baisakh?
Mainly, Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi are worshipped on the day of Poila Boishakh. This is because the deities are considered to symbolize prosperity, wealth, and wisdom.
Why Is Poila Baisakh Celebrated?
Poila Boishakh is celebrated as it marks the beginning of the Bengali New Year.
