Barak Valley celebrates Bengali New Year with gusto

From Our Correspondent

 Silchar, April 16: Along with other parts of the country, the people of Barak Valley celebrated Bengali New Year 1422 on Wednesday with fanfare and gaiety.

In the morning, a colourful rally under the aegis of Bangla Noboborsho Udjapan Committee was taken out in which the people from all walks life participated. It took festive look with the chanting of Bengali songs and the hymns of people who walked down to the streets of the town on the occasion.

Later, a cultural programme was organised at Silchar Satindra Mohan Dev Stadium where different cultural groups participated.

Barak Upothakya Banga Sahitya O Sanskritik Sammelan also celebrated the first day of Bengali New Year with gusto in Banga Bhawan. A wall magazine Manosheee was unveiled on the occasion, besides cultural extravaganza.

In the evening, Barak Kantha held a cultural programme in Gandhi Bhawan here. The artistes rendered Bengali songs ranging from Rabindra Sangeet to modern songs which set the perfect ambience of the celebrations.

Over the last few days, the people thronged the shops to buy clothes, shoes, utensils among others. It was crowd and crowd around every street and corner of the town. It was sprawling bazaar as if it were that made the count of both sellers and buyers difficult. The open space selling points along with the regular shops attract customers with all sorts of budgets to flock and had the best of time to buy the things of their choice. Cries of sellers with price tags down by 30 per cent to 50 per cent rent the air. With all sorts of items and articles laid down from a shoe wears, cosmetics, clothes, stationery goods to plastic made furniture and what not were available at affordable prices.

It was called Chaitra reduction sale which might be cause of joy for consumers, but for the pedestrians and vehicular traffic, it was hard time. Movement came to a halt. Normal life on the roads and streets got choked. But, this was the feature for long month of stock clearance ahead of Bengali New Year.

On the day, the shopkeepers offered prayers to Ganesh and performed puja in their respective shops. The people also distributed foods among the poorer section of the society. A long queue of devotees could be seen in various temples of the town in the evening where the revellers offered puja to mark the first day of the New Year.

In most of the homes, special and delicious dishes were prepared. Traditiolly, the festival is a day to be spent rejoicing with family and friends.

“Our main motive is to uphold unity and brotherhood among the people on the occasion. It is day when all of us come together to enjoy the occasion,” said a member of the Celebration Committee. A series of events held in both Karimganj and Hailakandi.