Category: Blog

Stichting Kolorob was conceptualized on a bright May evening in 2022, when a group of friends discussed a topic completelyunrelated to cultural exchange – nostalgia. Many of us call this beautiful country our home, but none of us can forget our rootsand the culture in which we were brought up. Out came the idea of organizing a Durga Puja for the first time in Almere. For therecords, Durga Puja, which is the most important cultural icon of the Indian city of Kolkata, is listed under UNESCO IntangibleCultural Heritage List of Humanity as the ‘best instance of the public performance of religion and art, and as a thriving ground forcollaborative artists and designers.’

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.  

Stichting Kolorob was conceptualized on a bright May evening in 2022, when a group of friends discussed a topic completelyunrelated to cultural exchange – nostalgia. Many of us call this beautiful country our home, but none of us can forget our rootsand the culture in which we were brought up. Out came the idea of organizing a Durga Puja for the first time in Almere. For therecords, Durga Puja, which is the most important cultural icon of the Indian city of Kolkata, is listed under UNESCO IntangibleCultural Heritage List of Humanity as the ‘best instance of the public performance of religion and art, and as a thriving ground forcollaborative artists and designers.’

Stichting Kolorob was conceptualized on a bright May evening in 2022, when a group of friends discussed a topic completelyunrelated to cultural exchange – nostalgia. Many of us call this beautiful country our home, but none of us can forget our rootsand the culture in which we were brought up. Out came the idea of organizing a Durga Puja for the first time in Almere. For therecords, Durga Puja, which is the most important cultural icon of the Indian city of Kolkata, is listed under UNESCO IntangibleCultural Heritage List of Humanity as the ‘best instance of the public performance of religion and art, and as a thriving ground forcollaborative artists and designers.’