Colours, clay and chaos: What’s new in this year’s procession
This year, Pohela Boishakh returns not just with colour and festivity, but with a quiet transformation—a celebration reimagined to embrace inclusivity, cultural healing, and a renewed sense of national unity
This Pohela Boishakh, the first day of the Bangla calendar, arrives with the promise of a new dawn—one that embraces the nation's full spectrum of cultural richness and diversity.
As always, the grand procession that floods the streets of Dhaka with colour, rhythm, and symbolism will be at the heart of this celebration.
Towering masks, handcrafted puppets, and vivid depictions of animals and folklore will once again bring to life the country's cultural heritage.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
However, in a move described by Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan as an effort to "return to the roots," this year's procession will not bear the name Mongol Shobhajatra.
Instead, it will be officially referred to as Borsho Boron Anondo Shobhajatra—a change that has already sparked criticism from sections of the public and cultural commentators alike.
Originally launched in 1989 as Ananda Shobhajatra, the procession was renamed Mongol Shobhajatra in 1996 by its organisers—the students and faculty of Dhaka University's Faculty of Fine Arts.
At the time, emerging from the backdrop of the anti-autocracy movement, the new name was chosen to symbolise a collective call for good over evil, for hope and well-being amid national unrest.
Since then, Mongol Shobhajatra has become one of Bangladesh's most beloved cultural expressions, recognised globally when UNESCO inscribed it in 2016 as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
While the renaming has sparked debate and divided public opinion, what remains undeniable is that this year's procession carries significance like never before, as it marks the first Bangla New Year since the fall of the Hasina regime last August.
In what organisers are calling a landmark shift, 27 indigenous communities from across the country—alongside Bangalis—will take part in this year's procession, each showcasing their unique cultural attire, performances, and traditions.
Organisers stress that this gesture is more than symbolic; it is a meaningful step toward long-overdue national inclusivity.
"Sincere efforts are being made to bridge the distance that emerged among different ethnic communities due to years of divisive politics—through cultural healing and the promotion of an inclusive cultural identity," said cultural affairs adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki a few days ago in a press conference.
A central theme of this year's procession is also the figure of the farmer—an effort to honour the resilience, struggles, and quiet strength of those whose labour sustains the nation.
As in previous years, cultural institutions like Chhayanaut and Shurer Dhara will host New Year celebrations. Notably, Shurer Dhara's performance will be held at the Rabindra Sarobar stage in Dhanmondi, according to the cultural affairs adviser.
In addition, the Folk Art and Crafts Foundation and Bangla Academy will host Baishakhi fairs and folk theatre festivals across 30 districts nationwide.
Additional events are being organised by the Bulbul Academy of Fine Arts, Dhaka University's Department of Theatre and Performance Studies, and various cultural groups representing Garo and other indigenous communities.
As the sun sets, the festivities will move into the evening—a departure from recent years, when authorities placed restrictions on after-dark gatherings. This year, with clearance from law enforcement, celebrations will continue well into the night.
A large concert at Manik Mia Avenue will bring together some of the country's leading musical acts. Several performers have announced plans to dedicate parts of their setlists to the people of Palestine, introducing a global political dimension to what has traditionally been a national celebration.
In another high-profile event, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, in collaboration with the Shilpakala Academy, will host a drone show and cultural programme at the South Plaza of the National Parliament.
With its mix of tradition, reinvention, and quiet political messaging, this year's Pohela Boishakh offers more than a new year. It offers a new narrative—one that seeks not only to celebrate Bangladesh's cultural diversity but to reclaim its unity.
