DHAKA: People from all stratums of the country celebrated Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bengali New Year 1421, on Monday amid much traditional gaiety and enthusiasm.

The day was a public holiday.

Millions of people from all walks of life joined the Nabo Barsho celebration across the country.

To welcome the Bengali New Year, different socio-cultural organizations and government institutions chalked out various programmes like musical functions, colourful processions and street side Baishakhi fairs in the capital Dhaka as elsewhere across the country.

Meanwhile, businesspeople especially in the rural areas got ready with their traditional Halkhata to welcome the Bengali New Year.

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted the nation in separate messages on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh.

In his message, President said, “Pahela Baishakh will strengthen our national unity and the message of joy leaving past behind.”

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her messages greeted the countrymen saying, “Nabo Barsho will empower us to prevent communality, fanaticism and ill power against country.”

The Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Bangla Academy published colourful supplements at the different national dailies, upholding the significance of the Pahela Baishakh.

Besides, Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar began airing special programmes highlighting the significance of the Bengali New Year, Pahela Baishakh.

The programmes of the day began in the city with the musical soiree of Chhayanat, a leading cultural organization of the country at Ramna Batamul at the crack of dawn.

Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and other private TV channels telecasted live programmes of "Chhayanat".

Chhayanat artists opened the function with Rabindranath Tagore’s famous song---Eso Hey Baishakh Eso Eso, welcoming Baishakh. Noted artists also rendered solo and chorus songs at the function.

City people started the day with the traditional breakfast of `panta bhat` (soaked rice), green chilies, onion, and Hilsha fish at Ramna Park, Suhrawardy Udyan, Dhaka University (DU) Campus, Rabindra Sarobor at Dhanmondi and other amusement places.

The Institute of Fine Arts of DU brought out a colourful procession from campus with decorative replicas of animals as well as elements of Bengali culture.

According the government programmes, local administrations have organized different programmes including discussions, cultural functions and "Rural Boishakhi Mela" at all the upazilas and divisional cities and fifty-seven district sadars across the country.

Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy has organized three-day long function to mark the day while Bangladesh Shishu Academy, Bangla Academy, Public Library, Bangladesh National Museum, Dhaka University, cultural institutes of different indigenous people will organize different functions.

Bangladesh Lok and Karu Shilpa Foundation organized traditional `Baishaki Mela` to celebrate the Bengali New Year Pahela Baishakh.

To mark the Bengali New Year, improved diets were supplied to all the central jails, Hospitals and orphanages.

All museums will remain open tomorrow so that students and disabled children could visit there without tickets. All the educational institutions across the country celebrated the Bengali New Year with their own arrangement.

Bangladesh missions abroad organized separate programmes to mark the day.

Meanwhile, authorities had taken intensified security vigil across the country as thousands of revelers joined Nabo Barsho celebrations in the city’s strategic points as well as other parts of the country.

The elite anti-crime force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police installed close circuit cameras and security arches while plain clothes security personnel remained posted alongside the street patrols at the main festival venues including the Ramna Batamul here.

Celebrations of Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla Calendar Year, started from Mughal Emperor Akbar’s reign when it was customary to clear up all dues on the last day of Bengali month Chaitra with businessmen opening halkhata or new book of accounts in their shops.

On the second day the Bengalee New Year, President Advocate Abdul Hamid will accord reception to the leading writers, poets, litterateurs, cultural personalities and taught persons who were conferred with the Ekushey and Independence awards at Bangabhaban.

BDST: 1841 HRS, APR 14, 2014