Khulna ready to celebrate Pahela Baishakh with colourful festivity

KHULNA, Apr 12: Khulna is all set to welcome the Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla New Year-1433, with colourful festivities and traditional fervour. 
The district administration, different socio-cultural, political parties and educational institutions have taken preparations to celebrate the day in a comprehensive manner.
Khulna District Administration will kick off the celebration through a vibrant 'Colourful Ananda Shovajatra' at 8am on Tuesday from the Khulna Railway Station premises and conclude at the Shaheed Hadis Park.
Following the procession, there will be a discussion meeting, cultural function, prize distribution and day long 'Lokoz Mela'.
On this occasion, the Bangladesh Shishu Academy, District Shilpakala Academy and Department of Archaeology will organize drawing and essay competitions for children. 
The Khulna Divisional Museum will be open to the public, and traditional foods will be served in jails and government-run orphanages across the city.
Besides, Children of Orphanage Centre, Inmates of Jail will arrange cultural programme and drama.
Deputy Commissioner Hoore Jannat has urged all to refrain from incorporating any elements in the 'Baishakhi Shovajatra' that may hurt religious sentiments.
As in previous years, the Fine Arts School of Khulna University (KU) has completed preparations to celebrate the Bangla New Year with its own unique cultural identity and distinct traditions.
During a visit on Sunday, students from different Disciplines of the School of Fine Arts of KU were seen putting final touch to various items of the Pahela Baishakh celebration.
They are crafting papier-mache figures of kings and queens, masks of tigers and owls, and traditional items such as horses, elephants, kulos, and dalas- reflecting Bangladeshi traditions.
Al Amin, a student of Fine Arts School of KU said, "We are working tirelessly to organize what is undoubtedly the most non-communal and inclusive folk festival of Bengali culture."
This year, KU will begin its Pahela Baishakh celebration with `Barsha Abahon' at 7:15am. This will be followed by the inauguration of a traditional fair at 9 am, the 'Anondo Shovajatra' at 10 am, and traditional performances including `Lathikhela' (stick fight), magic shows, monkey shows in the afternoon, and a concluding cultural programme at 8 pm.
On the eve of Pahela Baishakh, Chaitra Sankranti will be celebrated on Monday with various events on the university's playground. 
This includes a kite festival, traditional Bengali games, an Alpona Utsab (decorative street painting), puppet shows, and an evening cultural programme.
Khulna University of Engineering & Technology has taken elaborate programmes to celebrate Chaitra Sankranti and Bangla New Year-1433 with a three-day festivity on the campus.
The programme will begin today with an 'Alpana Utsab' to be held from 3 pm to 6 pm.
On April 13, marking Chaitra Sankranti, traditional Bangalee games will be held at the central maidan from 2 pm to 4 pm. 
A cultural programme is scheduled from 3 pm to 6 pm, while a kite festival will take place from 4 pm to 6 pm.
On April 14, the first day of the Bangla New Year, a fair will be inaugurated at 9  am, followed by a colourful procession from the central maidan at 10 am that will parade through different roads of the campus. 
A cultural function will also be held from 3pm to 6pm. various programme will continue throughout the day at the fair.
Under the supervision of the university's Students' Welfare Department, a traditional 'Baishakhi Mela' will be held on the university playground from 8am to 7pm on the day.
A 'Barshabaran musical programme by hundred voices' will be staged onthe auditorium premises at 9am.
Later, a colourful 'Baishakhi Shobhajatra' will start from the Students' Welfare Centre at 10 am and parade across the campus.
Besides the day-long fair, a variety of traditional cultural and entertainment events will be arranged on the campus, including Baul songs, magic show, treasure hunt, cockfight, circus show and traditional rides like 'Nagordola'.
An attractive cultural programme will also be staged on a temporary stage on the playground from 3 pm to 7pm, adding festivity to the celebration.
Cultural organizations, including Udichi, will host 'Bangla Barsabaran' programme on the Lower Jashore Road near Khulna Circuit House.
Different political parties, including Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), are preparing to celebrate the day with cultural festivities.