Chhayanaut’s Baishakh Celebration at Ramna Batamul

Staff Correspondent

With hopes of liberation through light and calls for resistance against dark forces, the traditional Bengali New Year celebration began at Ramna Batamul in the capital. On Monday morning, Chhayanaut’s program commenced at sunrise with a rendition of Raag Bhairavi.

The central message of this year’s event was “My Liberation Lies in the Light.” The program featured songs about light, nature, humanity, and patriotism, presented by over 150 artists who welcomed the new year through music and melody, emphasizing the call to dispel darkness.

This year, criticism arose as the government replaced the Mongol Shobhajatra with what it termed “a procession for the Bangla calendar.” General students and faculty members of the Faculty of Fine Arts alleged in a press conference that the celebration of this timeless festival has been hijacked. Cultural activists and eminent figures also criticized the use of provocative motifs and masks during the Baishakh festivities. Despite these challenges, the progressive and secular cultural organization Chhayanaut successfully organized the celebration.

The program featured a total of 24 performances, including 9 choral pieces, 12 solo songs, and 3 recitations.

The attire for this year’s event included maroon panjabis with white pajamas for male performers and off-white sarees with maroon borders for female artists. The stage was decorated in harmony with the maroon color theme, marking a change from the light green decor used last year. While the stage structure remained the same, the colors were adapted to align with the performers’ attire.

It is noteworthy that Chhayanaut first organized a musical event in 1967 at Ramna Batamul to mark Bengali New Year. Over the years, this celebration has become a cherished tradition nationwide. This year, Chhayanaut extended its Baishakh festivities to various parts of the country.