Pohela Boishakh — Bengali New Year
Celebrating the first day of Baishakh, the Bengali New Year
When is Pohela Boishakh?
Pohela Boishakh falls on 1st Baishakh of the Bengali calendar, which corresponds to April 14 every year in the Gregorian calendar. It marks the beginning of the Bengali New Year and is a national holiday in Bangladesh.
This Year
Pohela Boishakh 1433 was celebrated on April 14, 2026.
History & Significance
The Bengali calendar was introduced by Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1584 CE to align tax collection with the harvest season. The word 'Boishakh' is derived from the star Vishakha. Over the centuries, Pohela Boishakh evolved from a fiscal occasion into the most vibrant cultural festival of the Bengali people.
In 1987, the Bangla Academy reformed the calendar to follow a fixed structure, and in 2019 the Bangladesh government revised it further: the first six months (Baishakh to Ashwin) have 31 days each, the next four months (Kartik to Magh) have 30 days each, and Falgun has 29 days (30 in leap years). Chaitra always has 30 days. This ensures Bengali New Year always falls on April 14 and national days fall on fixed Bengali dates.
How Pohela Boishakh is Celebrated
Mangal Shobhajatra
A colorful procession organized by the students of Dhaka University's Faculty of Fine Arts. Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016, this procession features large floats, masks, and vibrant artwork symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.
Halkhata — Opening New Accounts
Shopkeepers and business owners open new ledger books (Halkhata) on this day. Customers are invited to settle old dues, and sweets are distributed to mark the fresh beginning of the business year.
Boishakhi Mela (Fair)
Village and city fairs are held across Bangladesh featuring folk music, Baul songs, jatra (folk theater), puppet shows, traditional games, handicrafts, and food stalls. The Ramna Batamul program in Dhaka, organized by Chhayanaut, begins at dawn with Rabindranath Tagore's song 'Esho He Boishakh'.
Cultural Programs
Throughout the day, cultural organizations host music concerts, dance performances, poetry recitals, and art exhibitions. People wear traditional Bengali clothing — white and red sarees for women, punjabi-pajama for men.
Traditional Pohela Boishakh Foods
The dishes that show up on almost every Boishakhi table
Panta Bhat & Ilish
Fermented watered rice (Panta Bhat) served with fried Hilsa fish (Ilish Bhaja) is the signature dish of Pohela Boishakh. Accompanied by green chili, onion, and dried fish (shutki), this humble yet iconic meal represents Bengali identity.
Bhorta Platter
An assortment of mashed preparations — Begun Bhorta (eggplant), Aloo Bhorta (potato), Shutki Bhorta (dried fish), Dal Bhorta (lentil), and Chingri Bhorta (shrimp) — served alongside Panta Bhat.
Sweets & Desserts
Bengali sweets are central to the celebration — Roshogolla, Mishti Doi (sweet yogurt), Sandesh, Chomchom, Kalojam, and Payesh (rice pudding) are prepared at homes and distributed among neighbors.
Shutki & Vorta
Dried fish (Shutki) prepared in various styles — fried, mashed (bhorta), or cooked in mustard paste — is a staple accompaniment that adds a distinctive umami flavor to the Boishakhi feast.
Chaler Payesh
Rice pudding cooked with milk, sugar, and cardamom. Payesh is considered auspicious and is prepared in almost every Bengali household on New Year's day.
Patishapta & Pitha
Thin crepe-like rolls filled with coconut and jaggery (Patishapta), along with various pithas like Bhapa Pitha and Chitoi Pitha, are prepared to celebrate the new year.
Pohela Boishakh in Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, Pohela Boishakh is a national holiday and the largest secular festival. The day begins at dawn at Ramna Batamul in Dhaka, where thousands gather to welcome the new year with Tagore's song. The Mangal Shobhajatra procession winds through the streets of Dhaka University. Markets, shops, and restaurants offer special Boishakhi menus. In the Chittagong Hill Tracts, indigenous communities celebrate Biju and Sangrai festivals alongside Pohela Boishakh.
Pohela Boishakh in West Bengal
In West Bengal (India), Pohela Boishakh is known as Noboborsho or Poila Boishakh. Businesses perform Halkhata pujas, and families visit temples. In Kolkata and across Bengal, cultural programs, fairs, and community feasts mark the day. The date follows the Surya Siddhanta-based calendar and may fall on April 14 or 15.
What to Wear
The traditional dress code for Pohela Boishakh is white clothing with red or orange accents. Women typically wear white cotton sarees with red borders, while men wear white punjabi (kurta) with pajama. Young people also wear colorful churidar, fatua, or fusion Bengali outfits.