Dhaka – The traditional procession brings out on Pohela Boishakh – the first day of the Bangla New year – has got recognition of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)’s as the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, official BSS news agency reeported on Thursday.
The recognition was given at the 11th session of the UNESCO’S Inter-governmental Committee on Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage being held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, according to a web-posting of the UN body.
The event, known as Mangal Shobhajatra, is organised every year by the students and teachers of Dhaka University’s Faculty of Fine Arts for celebrating the Bangla New Year Day.
“The Mangal Shobhajatra festival symbolizes the pride of the people of Bangladesh have in their folk heritage, as well as their strength and courage to fight against sinister forces, and their vindication of truth and justice,” the UNESCO noted.
The UN body also said that the New Year’s procession represents solidarity and a shared value for democracy, uniting people irrespective of caste, creed, religion, gender or age. Knowledge and skills are transmitted by students and teachers within the community.
The tradition of Mangal Shobhajatra began in 1989 when students, frustrated with having to live under military rule, wanted to bring people in the community hope for a better future, the UNESCO said while describing the background of the annual august event of the Bangla New Year.
Pahela Baishakh is one of half a dozen days in the year when the people of Bangladesh irrespecive of differences of social or economic status, differences of religion, caste or creed or age celebrate the advent of the Bangla New Year. This a day of universal celebration in the contry of 160 million wih people wearing tasteful dresses, taking special dishes and thronging fair of traditional handicraft and cultural programmes. The colourful procession brought out by the teachers and students of the Academy of Fine Arts of Dhaka University adds to festivities of the day. – News Desk
