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Fun buries frustration as Nababarsha begins

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
The nation yesterday celebrated Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla year 1410, with great enthusiasm and festivities marking the glorious Bengali culture and heritage.
The day once again expressed the nation's determination to move forward with a vision to build a prosperous future.
People from all walks of life irrespective of religion and age, attired in traditional dresses, thronged traditional Baishahi melas (fairs) in the capital and elsewhere in the country, joined festivities and exchanged new year greetings. Various handicrafts and artifacts depicting Bengali culture were the main attractions at the fairs.
Police maintained vigilance to avoid any untoward incident.
The indigenous people in Chittagong Hill Tracts and elsewhere observed the day through traditional festivities.
The day was a public holiday.
With daybreak, artists of Chhyanaut, a leading cultural organisation, organised a musical soiree welcoming the new year at the Ramana Batamul. As usual, the familiar Tagore song 'esho he baishakh esho esho', presented in chorus, enthralled the crowd.
Apart from the Ramna area, other parts of the city including Dhaka University campus wore a colourful look with men, women and children celebrating the new year amid jubilation.
At 9.30 am, students of Fine Arts Institute of Dhaka University, joined by people, brought out a colourful procession carrying multicoloured festoons, placards and posters, some of those expressing sentiments against the invasion of Iraq.
At the amphitheater in Dhanmondhi lake, Bulbul Fine Arts Academy oraginised a cultural progarmme in the morning, drawing a large crowd. The artistes presented Nazrul Geeti, Tagore song, folk song and dance.
The entire area wore a festive look.
Hotels, restaurants and fast food shops in the capital were crammed with customers enjoying the holiday with their dear and near ones.
To begin with public service, some organisations including ORCA, Red
Crescent Society and Rotaract Club oragnised blood donation programmes at the TSC and Bangla Academy on Dhaka University campus and at Shisu Park.
Various socio-cultural bodies organised painting competitions for children, recitation and baul song sessions at different places in the city.
The Bangla Year was introduced during the rule of emperor Akbar for convenience of tax collection. In keeping with the age old tradition, traders and shopkeepers opened hal khata (fresh account book) and offered sweets to their customers.
The Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Bangla Academy, Shilpakala Academy, Nazrul Institute, Archaeological Department and National Archive and National Folk Arts Foundation organised various programmes including cultural shows and exhibitions on historic documents.
In Chittagong, Pahela Baishakh was celebrated in the city and elsewhere in the district with enthusiasm and traditional festivity.
People wearing traditional dresses
came out in the streets of the port city and started gathering at different venues of fair and function from dawn.
The city turned vibrant as different socio-cultural bodies as well as public and private institutions organised attractive programmes to welcome the New Year.
The programmes include cultural functions, poetry recitation sessions, staging of dramas, holding discussions and rallies, bringing out processions and organising food festivals and painting competitions.
A number of big fairs of traditional handicrafts and food items in different parts of the city were the main attractions for the people.
Like every year, picturesque DC Hill Park was turned as the nerve centre of all festivities centring the Pahela Baishakh in the port city.
A stretch of about half a kilometre green slope surroundings of the DC Hill Park was vibrating with the presence of thousands of cultural-minded people from dawn.