New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended warm greetings to the nation for ‘Poila Boishakh’, which marks the beginning of the Bengali New Year 1432.
In a post on X, PM Modi expressed his wishes for prosperity and good health in the coming year, stating, “Best wishes on Poila Boishakh! I hope all your wishes are fulfilled this year. I pray for everyone’s success, happiness, prosperity, and good health. Shubho Nabo Barsho!”
Poila Boishakh signifies the start of the Bengali calendar and is celebrated by Bengali communities in various regions of India and around the world. The term “Poila” means “first,” while “Boishakh” is the first month of the lunisolar Bengali calendar. Today marks the commencement of the year 1432 for the community.
According to the Bengali Sakabdi, the first day of the year is considered the most auspicious. Poila Boishakh is observed globally by Bengalis, particularly holding special significance for those in Bangladesh and Bengali-speaking regions of India, including West Bengal, Tripura, and Assam.
To celebrate Noboborsho (New Year), families clean and decorate their homes to welcome Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha. The entrance of homes is adorned with alpana, a traditional painting made from a mixture of ground rice and flour.
On this day, people dress in new clothes, visit temples to pray, and seek blessings. Traditional Bengali dishes are prepared at home, and restaurants, especially those in Kolkata, offer authentic Bengali cuisine, providing a culinary delight.
Shopkeepers kick off the day with Lakshmi-Narayan and Ganesh pooja to wish for a prosperous year. They begin new business account books in God’s name, with priests drawing a Swastik symbol in vermilion on the traders’ account books to attract good fortune in business.