The youth of Barisal, under the banners of different social organisations, are in a festive mood – they are busy preparing for the Bangla New Year. The preparations for “Choitro Sangkranti” and “Pahela Boishakh”, to bid farewell to the outgoing year 1422 and welcome the Bangla New Year 1423 on April 13 and 14, respectively, are going on in full swing with various colourful programmes. Volunteers of Barisal Udichi, Barisal are organising the traditional “Mangol Shovajatra” (procession or well-being) at BM School Ground, along with “Rakhi Bandhan” (friendship ties) ceremony and motifs of Bangali life, on the morning of April 14.
They have planned a three-day-long “Boishakh Utsov” with “Boishakhi Mela” (the Bangla New Year fair) and cultural functions at the school ground focusing on regional life, folklore and heritage. There will also be an exhibition and sale of handicraft items. This year, the celebrations coincide with the 34th anniversary of “Baidhaki Uthsab”.
Meanwhile, the volunteers of Charukala have organised a separate two-day programme on City College premises, while Barisal University has organised a “Boishakhi Mela” on their campus. On the other hand, Chander Hut at Barisal T B Clinic Field, Planet World Children Park at Park Premises and local businessmen at Hatkhola will arrange “Choitra Sangkranti Utsav”, “Boishakhi Mela” and a cultural programme, respectively, in the city starting April 12.
Kheyali Group Theater’s “Sangskritik Adda” will present a cultural show on their office premises from the evening of April 13 until the early hours of April 14. Local businessmen will observe “Halkhata Utsov” on April 14.
B M School will organise a play, and cultural programmes have been scheduled for the “Pahela Boishakh” morning by Sur Lahori Songeet Biddayaloy, Parantik Songeet Biddayalaya, Anirban Shilpi Gosthi and Khelaghar at Aswani Kumar Hall premises to ring in the New Year.
Local administration and law enforcing agencies will oversee the security arrangements of the venues and ensure that there is no disruption of power supply. There will be mobile patrol teams in uniform and plain clothes, check-posts in sensitive areas and constant vigilance against theft and eve-teasers.