Photo: BSS

KHULNA, April 12, 2026 (BSS) - Khulna is fully prepared to welcome Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla New Year 1433, with colourful festivities and traditional enthusiasm.

The district administration, alongside various socio-cultural organisations, political parties and educational institutions, has undertaken comprehensive programmes to mark the occasion.

The Khulna District Administration will begin the celebrations with a vibrant 'Colourful Ananda Shobhajatra' at 8:00 am on Tuesday, starting from the Khulna Railway Station and concluding at Shaheed Hadis Park.

Following the procession, a discussion meeting, cultural event, prize distribution ceremony and a daylong traditional 'Lokoj Mela' will be held.

Marking the occasion, Bangladesh Shishu Academy, the district Shilpakala Academy and the Department of Archaeology will organise drawing and essay competitions for children. 

The Khulna Divisional Museum will remain open to visitors, while traditional food will be served in jails and government-run orphanages across the city.

Children from orphanages and inmates of jails will also take part in cultural programmes and drama performances.

As in previous years, the Fine Arts School of Khulna University has completed preparations to celebrate the Bangla New Year with its distinct cultural identity. 

Talking to BSS, a Fine Arts student, Al Amin, said they were working tirelessly to organize the most inclusive and non-communal folk festival of Bengali culture.

At Khulna University, the celebrations will begin with 'Borsho Abahon' at 7:15 am, followed by the inauguration of a traditional fair at 9:00 am and 'Ananda Shobhajatra' at 10:00am. Traditional performances, including lathikhela, magic shows and monkey shows, will be held throughout the day, concluding with a cultural programme at 8:00pm.

On the eve of Pahela Baishakh, Chaitra Sankranti will be observed on Monday with events at the university playground, including a kite festival, traditional games, Alpana Utsab, puppet shows and an evening cultural programme.

The Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET) has also taken elaborate preparations to celebrate Chaitra Sankranti and the Bangla New Year through a three-day programme on campus.

The program begins today with an ‘Alpana Utsab’ from 3:00pm to 6:00pm. On April 13, traditional games will be held at the central field, alongside a cultural programme and kite festival.

On April 14, a fair will be inaugurated at 9:00 am, followed by a colourful procession at 10:00 am that will parade across the campus. A cultural programme will also be held in the afternoon, with various events continuing throughout the day.

A traditional 'Boishakhi Mela' will be organised at the university playground from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm under the supervision of the Students' Welfare Department. A 'Borsoboron' musical programme featuring a hundred voices will be staged at 9:00 am, followed by a 'Boishakhi Shobhajatra' from the Students' Welfare Centre at 10:00 am.

The campus will also host a range of cultural and entertainment activities, including Baul songs, magic shows, treasure hunts, cockfights, circus performances and traditional rides such as Nagordola. An attractive cultural programme will be staged at the playground from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Additionally, cultural organisations, including Udichi Shilpigoshthi, will organise 'Bangla Borsoboron' programmes on Lower Jashore Road near the Khulna Circuit House.

Different political parties are also set to celebrate the day with cultural festivities.