Happy New Year !

It's Poila Baishakh, being in the US, away from home - it's just another ordinary day with tons to do at work. But for a pseud Bengali like me, Poila Baisakh means a second take on new year. If I am behind on resolutions, this may be just another day to get a fresh start with resolutions that will be remembered again around 1st Jan 2011. So in essence it is New Year part deux. This day also means calls and wishes to and from all extended family and friends - people who touched my small world as a child, many with whom I would probably speak to or interact just twice a year (the other being in October during Bijoya time). If I would have been in India - I would have dropped the western attire to wear a new traditional Indian dress and ofcourse to keep my mom happy - made a made short trip to the temple. To sum up this day is not as eventful as it should be in eyes of a traditional "Bong".

But there is one new year celebration that I remember very distinctly - way back 15th April 1986, Dhaka - I was a part of the public new year celebrations at the Ramna Maidan, which starts from first rays of the new rising sun and continues till noon. There is a subtle difference between the way Bangladesh and West Bengal ring in New Year - Poila Baisakh is very much a part of the Hindu calendar, but this day is a national festival for the Islamic State of Bangladesh. But there is a much greater exuberance that marks the festivities in this part of Bengal on the 15th of April every year. The festival-goers were decked up predominantly in red and white, greetings of "Shubho Nobo Borsho" (Happy New Year) rang in the air. The ceremony starts with Tagore's musical invocation - Esho, he Boishakh, Esho Esho. It seemed like a day which marked the cultural unity without a distinction between class or religious affiliations. Today after so many years I can conclude that If you are in Ramna Maidan, on this day - you feel proud to be a Bengali - you forget whether you are a Hindu or a Muslim - you are a Benagli - it is an experience! I can still after so many years - the sweet fragrance of tuberose - the echo of Rabindra Sangeet and Nazrul geeti...

Like aroma of a hidden Rajanigandha wafting in the dreams of night -

You filled my heart with your melody,

You did not know, you did not know, you did not know that.

(Tagore)

To all my friends a Subho Naboborsho...may the year be full of joy and prosperity....