All About Poila Boishakh, The Bengali New Year

Bengali New Year, also known as Poila Boishakh, is a significant festival celebrated in April across West Bengal. The festival marks the beginning of the Bengali calendar, with Boishakh being the first month of the year. The word "Poila" or "Pohela" means "first" in Bengali, and "Boishakh" denotes the onset of the spring season. The festival falls on either the 14th or the 15th of April, based on the traditional Bengali calendar. During this time, people exchange greetings and wish each other a "Shubho Noboborsho," which translates to "Happy New Year" in English. The celebration includes traditional music, dance, and feasting, along with colourful processions. It is a time for new beginnings, and people adorn themselves in new clothes and visit their relatives and friends to seek blessings for the coming year.