Pohela Boishakh — Bengali New Year (Nababarsha)
Pohela Boishakh (also spelled Poyla Boishakh / Pôhela Boishakh) is the first day of the Bengali calendar year and one of the most widely celebrated festivals across West Bengal, Tripura, Assam and Bangladesh.
Pohela Boishakh dates
| Bengali Year | Pohela Boishakh date | Day of week |
|---|---|---|
| 1433 BS | April 15, 2026 | Wednesday |
| 1434 BS | April 14, 2027 | Wednesday |
| 1435 BS | April 15, 2028 | Saturday |
What is Pohela Boishakh?
Pohela Boishakh — literally "the first of Boishakh" — marks the first day of the Bengali year (Nababarsha, নববর্ষ). It is celebrated on 14 April in Bangladesh and on 14 or 15 April in West Bengal, Tripura and Assam, depending on the traditional panjika calculation. It is a public holiday in West Bengal, Tripura, Assam and Bangladesh.
History & origin
The Bengali calendar is widely credited to Mughal Emperor Akbar, who introduced the Tarikh-e-Ilahi in the late 16th century to align tax collection with the harvest season. The era was set to begin from his accession year, with the starting epoch back-dated to 593 CE. Some historians attribute earlier Bengali calendar reforms to King Shashanka of Gauda (early 7th century).
How it is celebrated
- Subho Nababarsha (শুভ নববর্ষ) — "Happy New Year" greetings exchanged among family and friends.
- Halkhata (হালখাতা) — Bengali traders and shopkeepers open new account books for the new year and offer sweets to their customers.
- Mangal Shobhajatra — the iconic colourful procession in Dhaka, recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016.
- Prabhat Pheri — early morning processions featuring Rabindra Sangeet performances, especially "Esho hey Boishakh".
- Boishakhi Mela — fairs, food stalls, music and cultural programmes across cities and villages.
- Traditional food — panta bhat (fermented rice) with hilsa fish, alur bhorta, and seasonal sweets.