Boishakh is the first month of the Bengali calendar. Pohela Boishakh, the first day of the Bengali New Year, is a joyous occasion celebrated with new hopes, vivacity, and well-being in Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, and in Bengali communities in the other Indian states, including Assam, Tripura, Jharkhand, Odisha and all Bengalis worldwide.
Nobo Borsho, the Bengali New Year, is one of the joyful occasions for all the Bangladeshis regardless of religion, status, location that brings the entire country together in celebrations and festivities. Colorful parades, traditional and classical music and dance performances are a big part of the celebrations. Pohela Boishakh celebrations also mark the beginning of business activities or the start of the fiscal year for businesses. The Bengali calendar was revised to account for leap year in 1966 and in the Gregorian calendar; it is celebrated on April 14th each year in Bangladesh. India still follows the old calendar and the celebrations take place either on the 14th or 15th of April.
Traditionally, panta – Ilish bhaaja with different kinds of bhorta has been the food of choice to mark the festivities in Bangladesh. Panta is leftover rice soaked in water and is very popular in the rural areas. Due to the fact that rural Bangladeshis do not own refrigerators, water is poured on left over rice to keep the rice cool and prevent spoiling during the hot summer months. It is often the most common breakfast for rural people served with salt, onion and chili to fill themselves up for the entire workday. In current days, it has become a trend to eat panta by the urban people to celebrate Nobo Borsho.
Hilsa, or Ilish as it is known amongst Bengali, is an immensely popular fish in Bangladesh. Flavorful, crispy, delicious Ilish bhaaja or fried Hilsa is another item of choice to celebrate Pohela Boishakh. I wrote about Ilish on my Shorshe Salmon post earlier. We have few big Bangladeshi and Indian stores in the area who carry the Padma Ilish which is the tastiest of all Ilish. Though it is frozen, I find it better than no Ilish at all. Recently, I found out there is a fish called American Shad, which tastes similar to Ilish and available in North America. I have yet to try. If Hilsa is not available in your area, you may try Shad.
The day is really about celebrating the simpler, rural roots of the Bengal. Salt, lemon, roasted red chili or green chili and different kinds of bhorta accompany the Nobo Borsho feast. If you are a Bengali, I hope you will take some time or just few minutes to celebrate the day with or without panta. If you are non-Bengali, I hope you enjoyed learning a bit about Bengali New year and I haven’t bored you too much.
Last but not least, wishing all my Bengali and non-Bengali friends Shuvo Nobo Borsho (Happy Bengali New Year).
“Let go old memories, let go forgotten melodies
Let teardrops vaporize and fade into the distant skies.Wipe away weariness, eradicate infirmity
Bathed in fire, may the earth gain purity.”– Tagore, translated by Rumela Sengupta
এসো, এসো, এসো হে বৈশাখ।
তাপসনিশ্বাসবায়ে মুমূর্ষুরে দাও উড়ায়ে,
বৎসরের আবর্জনা দূর হয়ে যাক॥যাক পুরাতন স্মৃতি, যাক ভুলে-যাওয়া গীতি,
অশ্রুবাষ্প সুদূরে মিলাক॥
মুছে যাক গ্লানি, ঘুচে যাক জরা,
অগ্নিস্নানে শুচি হোক ধরা।– রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর
- 2 cups rice
- Water
- Cook rice in normal way.
- Cool rice completely.
- Add water to submerge cooked rice. Set aside overnight.
Leftover rice works best for panta.
- 6 Ilish pieces
- ½ teaspoon red chili powder
- ½ teaspoon tarmeric
- Salt, according to taste
- Oil, for frying
- Clean fish pieces.
- Rub chili powder, turmeric and salt generously on the fish pieces.
- Heat oil in medium high.
- Fry until golden and crispy.
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রেসিপি: পান্তা ভাত
উপকরন:
২ কাপ চাল
পানি
প্রণালী:
১. স্বাভাবিক উপায়ে ভাত রান্না করুন।
২. ভাত ঠান্ডা করুন।
৩. ঠান্ডা ভাতে পানি দিয়ে সারারাত রেখে দিন।
প্রয়োজনিও কিছু টিপস্ এর জনে্য দয়াকরে আটির্কেল অথবা ইংরেজি রেসিপির নোট সেকশনটা একটু দেখে নেবেন।
রেসিপি: ইলিশ ভাজা 
উপকরন:
৬ টুকরা ইলিশ
১/২ চা চামচ শুকনা মরিচ গুঁড়া
১/২ চা চামচ হলুদ
লবণ, স্বাদ অনুযায়ী
তেল, ভাজার জন্য
প্রণালী:
১. মােছর টুকরা পরিষ্কার করুন।
২. মরিচ গুঁড়া, হলুদ এবং লবণ মােছর উপর ছিটিয়ে দিন।
৩. মাঝারি উচ্চ তােপ তেল গরম করুন।
৪. মচমচে করে ভেজে নিন।
প্রয়োজনিও কিছু টিপস্ এর জনে্য দয়াকরে আটির্কেল অথবা ইংরেজি রেসিপির নোট সেকশনটা একটু দেখে নেবেন।
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How interesting, Lail! I had no idea that the new year was celebrated in a different date by y’all too. It seems not uncommon in Asian culture (e.g. Chinese New year). Well, wishing you a very happy new year, filled with blessings and new hopes…With such a feast, its beginning will be quite awesome!
Thank you, Denise, for your wish. I agree, there are many calendars out there that we may not know about.
Happy New Year to you, Lail..I love reading the Bengali culture in this post, so much history and food related!
Thanks, Jehanne.
I have been wanting to have panto for so long … but this bad throat has everything held up.
So loved your post. Subho nobo borsho tomakeo. 🙂
Thank you, Sharmila. Hope you recovered from the bad throat situation.
Panta ilish.. wow I had forgotten about this until now. I don’t get Ilish here and have to wait for a year to once again relish it 🙂 Shubo Nobo Borsho girl and hope you are all set for the trip!
Thanks Kankana. Hope you had a great start of the Nobo Borsho. And yes, the trip was great and just got back last night.
It sounds delicious.
And happy new year!
Thank you, Joyti.
Happy New Year to you! I learned something fascinating and new today! That fish looks delicious…just the way I like it fried and crispy!
Nazneen
Thank you, Nazneen. I am glad you found the Bengali new tradition fascinating.
Happy New Year! Now this is a feast I would love to enjoy on any special occasion. Everything looks scrumptious. Thanks for sharing, and lovely photos too!:)
Thank you, Nancy.
Happy New Year! Wow, that food looks mighty scrumptious.
Cheers,
Rosa
Thanks, Rosa.
Happy new year, Lail! What a beautiful spread. Wish I were there for dinner.
Thank you. Would love to have you as a guest, Colette.
I think it’s so interesting how different cultures have a unique way of celebrating the New Year and it was really neat to read about the Bengali new year traditions. I’m a huge fan of spicy fried fish so in turn, am a fan of Bengali new year 😉
Thank you, my friend.
Happy new year to you!!! I love the look of your crispy fish…I’ll have to try it with shad 🙂
Thanks, Liz. I have not tried shad yet, let me know how you like it.
Happy New Year my friend what a beautiful spread!
Cheers
CCU
Thank you, Uru.
Happy New Year! What a nice feast to welcome a new year! 🙂 I love looking at the traditional trays and food. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you, Nami.
Happy New Year! Very informative post, and everything looks so interesting! Great recipes – thanks so much.
Thank you, John.
Happy New Year!! And I can’t resist a good fish fry!! Love Bengali seafood feasts 😀
Thank you, Kiran. Glad to know you love Bengali seafood.
Happy new year !
The food looks absolutely breathtaking
Your recipe is a mind blowing in one word. Its so much delicious and your Recipe brings the touch of late. Mother. Thank you very much.keep it up.
its really a nice dish.i like it so much.keep upgrading like this type of recipe