by Sumon Corraya

The celebration is a national holiday in Bangladesh and has no religious connotation. Mogul Emperor Akbar introduced it to celebrate the end of tax collection. This year, the event is dedicated to the memory of bloggers killed by Islamic radicals.

Dhaka (AsiaNews) – Bangladeshi Muslims, Hindus, Christians and Buddhists today celebrated Bengali New Year. For many, it was an opportunity to continue the fight against religious fanaticism and violence in the country.

The main celebration began this morning with a big event at Dhaka’s Ramna Batamul. However, every community celebrated the holiday across the nation.

In the capital, celebrations included the Mangal Shobhajatra, a traditional colourful procession that sets off from the Bangla Academy.

This year’s theme – ‘Onek Alo Jaalte Hobe Moner Ondhokare’ (Many lights in the darkness of hearts) – was chosen following the murder of blogger and writer Avijit Roy and online activist Oyasiqur Rahman for being “atheists”.

Bengali New Year celebrations began under Mughal Emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar (16th century) to mark the end of the annual tax collection.

According to tradition, on this day traders and shopkeepers open the halkhata (new account register) and serve sweetmeats to their customers.

Over time, the celebration, which had no religious connotation from the start, became an integral part of Bengali culture.

The event is celebrated on 14 April in Bangladesh and April 15 in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Ramna neighbourhood and the area around the campus were pedestrianised for the occasion.

Across the country, small markets are set up for the occasion, with vendors selling sweets, cakes, panta bhat (a dish made of rice) and hilsha (Bangladesh’s national fish).

To mark the occasion, people wear traditional clothes.

Fine Arts Faculty Dean Prof Nisar Hossain said that Bengali culture offers space for the peaceful co-existence of religions. “Religious fanaticism,” he noted, “only strengthens our stand [against it]. We believe, the fight is very important, given recent events”.

“It is our great tradition that people of every faith gather together to celebrate Bangla New Year with harmony. It is our universal celebration,” said Moumita Gomes, a Catholic youth.

"We, people of all religions, want to live together and be real Bengalis," a young Muslim, Pintu Islam, told AsiaNews.

• bangladesh
• bengali
• new
• year
• celebrations