Bangladesh

As the sun rises on Pohela Boishakh , the Bengali New Year, Dhaka undergoes a sensory transformation. The city becomes a canvas of red and white, filled with the rhythmic beat of Dhol drums and the irresistible aroma of traditional spices. While this festival finds its origins in the historical tax reforms of the Mughal era, it has evolved into a magnificent celebration of identity. Today, this cultural legacy is being kept alive through a unique collaboration between history and the modern hospitality industry. For those exploring the city, the most remarkable feature of the modern New Year is the rise of the "Boishakhi Buffet." Dhaka’s luxury hotels have turned the act of dining into a cultural tour, made even more enticing by the widespread availability of Buy One Get One (B1G1) and Buy One Get Three (B1G3) offers. Bridging the Past and Present The hospitality landscape in Dhaka, featuring iconic landmarks like the InterContinental and Pan Pacific Sonargaon , serve...

The Bengali year was introduced during the regime of Emperor Akbar to facilitate revenue collection in the 16th century. Ameer Fateh Ullah Sirajee, member of Akbar's Nabaratna initiated the "crop year" by mixing the solar year with lunar year. It was Sirajee who began counting Bengali Nababarsha from Baishakh after combining Hizri with Bengali year. The name Baishakh was derived from a heavenly body named 'Bishakha.' Prospects of material folk culture studies and folklife museums in Bangladesh However, in Bangladesh, the celebration was first shifted in 1988, following a coordinating committee recommendation. It suggested to observe the day on Apr 14, saying that it would be scientific, instead of following 'panjika'. The committee was formed under the supervision of the Bangla Academy in 1963. Veteran academician Dr Muhammad Shahidullah and Dr Meghnad Saha were among the top members. But, the West Bengal government did not accept that. The citizens ...