'All inclusive': Farooki vows a different Pahela Baishakh with participation from all

This year’s Pahela Baishakh celebrations will see participation from 27 ethnic communities alongside Bengali people, making it one of the most inclusive New Year festivities in recent memory, according to cultural adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki.

Speaking at a press conference held Wednesday at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, Farooki said the aim is to make this year’s celebrations a reflection of cultural unity across all groups in the country, UNB reports. 

The press conference was jointly organised by the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Adviser Supradip Chakma and Prime Adviser’s Office Assistant Press Secretary Suchismita Tithi were present at the press conference.

Farooki emphasised that the upcoming celebration would differ significantly from previous years in both content and execution. “The motto of the interim government is ‘Cultural Healing and Cultural Inclusiveness,” he said. “This year, we are celebrating not just one group’s festival but everyone’s.”

To ensure inclusivity, planning meetings have already been held with organisations such as Chhayanaut, Faculty of Fine Arts at Dhaka University, BAMBA, Saimum Shilpigosthi, and Surer Dhara. Representatives from political parties including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and NCPC were also engaged in meaningful conversations, according to Farooki.

Chhayanaut and Surer Dhara will host their traditional events, with Surer Dhara’s programme set to take place at Dhanmondi’s Rabindra Sarobar in an expanded format.

Twelve districts will host 'Sadhu Mela' festivals on the Chaitra Sangkranti, organised by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA). Earlier at a press conference on Wednesday at BSA, it was announced that a mega concert will be jointly hosted by BAMBA, BSA and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs at the Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital.

Artists will protest the ongoing genocide in Palestine during the Fine Arts faculty’s traditional procession, where 200 guitarists from BAMBA will join in singing “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

In another special feature, the Chinese Embassy will organise a special drone show on Pahela Baishakh evening at Manik Mia Avenue, focusing on themes including the student movement of July 2024 and the country's new beginning.

Pahela Baishakh fairs will be organised in 30 districts, with support from the Folk and Crafts Foundation and Bangla Academy, alongside a nationwide celebration of folk theatre featuring performers from diverse communities.

Farooki said a key theme of this year’s procession would be agriculture and the role of farmers. “While the middle class started this procession, it was once closely tied to harvest, agriculture and our farmers. We’ve often missed that connection, but this time, we’re bringing everything back,” he said.

The adviser also pointed out that Muslim participation in such festivals had previously been unfairly vilified. “That won’t happen anymore. This will be an all-inclusive celebration.”

Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Adviser Supradip Chakma highlighted the festivities in the hill regions, announcing that the government had declared April 13 as a public holiday for Chaitra Sankranti for the first time.

“Biju is one of the most important festivals for the Chakma community,” he said, adding that various traditional games and festivities are taking place across Rangamati, Khagrachari, and Bandarban.

He also mentioned that the ministry is providing assistance to ensure a successful and joyful celebration in the hill districts while thanking the government for declaring April 13 as a public holiday for Chaitra Sankranti celebrations.

Both advisers expressed optimism at the press conference that this year's stacked Pahela Baishakh celebration will not only amuse the netizens but also take the country to a new height.