Muted Pahela Baishakh amid lockdown
The first day of Baishakh has brought the Bengali New Year 1427 Bangabda according to natural process with bright blue of spring and the bright green nature. Yet the new year of corona hit days the color of the earth is gray. People look terrified, paranoid. In the pages of nature and in every courtyard of nature, 'Come on Baishakh, Come on’ vibrations, but this New Year, this first day of Baishakh, all the rudeness are locked.
This inevitable blockade has resulted in social distance and isolation. Living in a blocked world without human movement is a huge challenge. The context of the festival is unimaginable when it originates from corona infected suffering.
Nevertheless, the indescribable alterations of the ever-changing nature and seasons from the closed corners of the house cannot be ignored. Humen, even if they are far from the gloom of nature, cannot remain speechless. The Bengali-festive mood of the festival is invoked in the light and warmth of the New Year, on the first day of Baishakh.
The first day of Bengali life in the Bengali city brings the joy of the new Baishakh with the new spirit. Pahela Baishakh calls the flight of the ‘new banner’ leaving the old with a call for unity, development and prosperity of all Bengalis irrespective of race, religion, caste.
In the vast geographies of South Asia, in the vast and multifaceted Indian sub-continent Bengalis has its own and effective calendar which focuses on the economic, cultural and social life of the Bengalis in parallel with the seasonal diversity and escape, celebration and ceremony. Rude Baishakh brings the beginning of the year to a combination of soil and human beings.
In Baishak, there is a stir as the Bengali national cultural awakening. The whole of Bangladesh, including Dhaka leaves the house and comes out. Hundreds of voices say, ‘Come to the festival of life.’
In the new light of the dawn of the New Year is invoked in the rhythm under the traditional Banyan tree of Ramna. A colorful procession comes out of the Fine Arts faculty of the University. The acclaimed Bengali calls for light against evil, wrongdoing and darkness. On the first day of the New Year the whole country wakes up amid festive welcome music.
At the end of the difficult period of historical reality, the New Year 1427 has come into deep troubled at the end of the year 1426. Not only Bangladesh, but the whole world is shaken and distressed on the eve of this New Year. It is trembling with apprehension. Yet with the power of eternal struggle of human beings, the battle against crisis is underway. Every man in the world is a soldier today in this fierce dilemma of people with the new viral disease. Maybe someone is fighting outside, some from inside the room. Still the fight is on.
In this fight of human civilization, the life-consciousness of Baisakh further enriched Bengalis. Rude Baishakh is in full swing at the fierce glory of New Year, the first of the New Year to defeat the corona-created blockade. The touch is felt in every Bengali home. Realize the inspiration to fight out the danger in the light of life. Collective festivity is found in the personal and family environment.
The first festival of Bengali New Year is the eternal festival of Bengal in the face of nature, of life with human beings. In any case the Bengali will feel united with this universal welfare festival. Maybe all outside arrangements will be suspended in case of lockdown emergency. But in the new light of the New Year every corner and house of Bengal will be shining with radiant silver light. Life will awake in new light.
Not today the Bengalis will wake up after being locked by rude Baisakh. Even in the blocked rude Baisakha life will be awaken in the homes of the Bengalis, in the innermost corners of the heart.
Bengali news charioteer barta24.com sending best wishes of New Year to all Bengalis who are now locked in houses.