Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended wishes on the occasion of ‘Poila Boishakh’ and wished happiness and good health to all. ‘Poila Boishakh’ marks the beginning of the traditional New Year for Bengali-speaking people across the world who celebrate the occasion with much fervour.
Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said, “Shubho Nabo Barsho! May the year ahead bring joy and exceptional health. The Bengali culture and heritage are admired all over. As a new year commences, I pray for everyone’s happiness and good health. Shubho Nabo Borsho.”
Shubho Nabo Barsho! May the year ahead bring joy and exceptional health. pic.twitter.com/xc6dnjzYYU
Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 15, 2023
‘Poila Boishakh,’ which falls on Saturday this year, marks the first day of the first month (Baishakh) of the lunisolar Bengali calendar. According to Bengali Sakabdi, the first day of the year is considered the most auspicious. ‘Poila Boishakh’ is observed by Bengalis all across the world irrespective of geographical location but the occasion has a special significance for Bengalis in Bangladesh and in Bengali-speaking areas of India including West Bengal, Tripura and Assam.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also greeted the people of the state and Bengalis around the world on the occasion of ‘Poila Boisakh’ (Bengali New Year) and urged them to commit to “inclusive welfare and development of society”.
On the occasion of Poila Boishakh, I extend my heartfelt greetings to all fellow residents.
I wish the dawn of New Year brings an abundance of hope, happiness, & health in your lives.
Today, let’s commit to the inclusive welfare & development of society.
Shubho Nobo Borsho!
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) April 15, 2023
She also wished that the new dawn of the new year brings loads of happiness and health to their lives. “On the occasion of Poila Boisakh, I extend my heartfelt greetings to all fellow residents,” Banerjee tweeted. “I wish the dawn of New Year brings an abundance of hope, happiness, & health in your lives. Today, let’s commit to the inclusive welfare & development of society. Shubho Nobo Borsho!,” she added. To celebrate ‘Noboborsho’ (New Year), homes are cleaned and decorated to welcome the Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha. The front door is decorated with alpana, which is a painting done with a mixture of rice and flour.
On the New Year, people wearing new dresses go to temples to pray and get blessings from God. The auspicious day is marked by various cultural and art performances. People visit their relatives and greet each other saying “Shubho Nobo Borsho” (Happy New Year).
Shopkeepers start the day by performing Lakshmi-Narayan and Ganesh pooja wishing for a prosperous year ahead. They start new account books of the business in the name of God. As a custom, priests draw a Swastik symbol with vermilion on trader’s accounts book to bring good fortune in business.