The Pohela Boishakh has its origins in the Mughal Empire, representing the proclamation of tax collection reforms under Akbar.Its celebration is rooted in the traditions of the Mahifarash community of Old Dhaka.Presently, it is largely a secular holiday for most celebrants and enjoyed by people of several different faiths and backgrounds.
The festival is celebrated with processions, fairs and family time. The traditional greeting for Bengalis in the new year is শুভ নববর্ষ “Shubho Noboborsho” which is literally “Happy New Year”. The festive Mangal Shobhajatra is organised in Bangladesh. In 2016, the UNESCO declared this festivity organised by the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka as a cultural heritage of humanity.
Nomenclature
In Bengali, the word Pohela (or Pahela Bengali: পহেলা), alternatively Poila (Bengali: পয়লা), means ‘first’ and Boishakh (or Baishak Bengali: বৈশাখ) is the first month of the Bengali calendar (Bengali: পহেলা বৈশাখ Pohela Boishakh, Pahela Boishakh, Pahale Baishak or Bengali: পয়লা বৈশাখ Poila Boishakh).
Bengali New Year is referred to in Bengali as Nobo Borsho (Bengali: নববর্ষ), where ‘Nobo’ means new and ‘Borsho’ means year.