Lesson: Pahela Boishakh

A. Picture Discussion (Picture not provided)

Look at the picture. Then ask and answer the questions about it:

1. What’s the picture about?
2. Where do you think the picture was taken?
3. What are the people doing?

B. Reading

The First Day of Spring

‘Pahela Boishakh’ is the first day of the Bangla new year. The day is a public holiday. This day has special significance for us as it is a part of Bangalee culture and tradition. People from all walks of life, irrespective of their ethnic identity or religious beliefs, celebrate the day with traditional festivities. On this day, the whole of Bangladesh is in a festive mood. The day inspires people to start life with renewed hopes and inspirations.

Every year the day is celebrated traditionally. People wake up early in the morning, bathe, and wear traditional clothes. Women wear white sarees with red borders and adorn themselves with colorful churis and flowers, while men dress themselves in pajamas and punjabis. It is a day when people love eating traditional food.

One of the most colorful events of the day is held in Dhaka. Early in the morning, hundreds and thousands of people pour in from all directions to attend the cultural function at Ramna Batamul organized by Chhayanaut. The cultural program begins just at sunrise, and renowned artists of the country take part in the program that starts with the famous Tagore song: “Esho he Boishakh, Esho Esho.” Artists also sing traditional folk songs and perform classical dances to the rhythm of musical instruments.

People also come to join the colorful processions, the biggest carnival in the country, organized by the Fine Arts students of Dhaka University. The procession usually displays the traditional practices of Bangalee culture. The masks and wreaths worn by the people are so fascinating! Often they symbolize contemporary worries or happiness in national life. It attracts an increasing number of foreign tourists every year.

The day is also observed all over the country. Different social and cultural organizations and educational institutions celebrate the day with their own cultural programs.

On this day, newspapers bring out special supplements. There are also special programs on the radio and television.

The celebration of Pahela Boishakh marks a day of cultural unity for the whole nation.

C. Discussion

Ask and answer these questions in pairs.

1. Do you go out in the morning of Pahela Boishakh? If you do, where do you go? If not, what do you do?
2. What kind of food do you eat in the morning of Pahela Boishakh?
3. Do you wear any special clothes on this occasion?

D. Gap Fill

Complete the passage with suitable words.

The word Pahela means the first, and Boishakh is the ______ month of the Bangla calendar. The day is observed not ______ in Bangladesh but ______ in some other parts of the world. It is celebrated in West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura. It is also ______ in Australia and the UK. In Australia, the largest ______ for the Bangla new year is the Sydney Boishakhi Mela held ______ Sydney Olympic Park. In England, the Bangalees ______ celebrate the day with a street ______ in London. It is the ______ Asian festival in Europe, ______ Bangladesh and West Bengal.

E. Writing

Describe your own cultural or religious festival that you celebrate. You can use the following words. You can also use other words relevant to the festival.

Word Bank: colorful, special, traditional, religious, dance, cultural, flowers, food, songs, festive