Kathmandu, April 18:Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu celebrated Pohela Boishakh, the first day of the Bangla New Year 1433, with great enthusiasm and festivity at the Embassy premises on 17 April.
Ambassadors and heads of mission of various regional countries and beyond, senior officials of the Government of Nepal, diplomats from various resident missions, prominent Nepali business leaders, Bangladeshi community in Nepal, and their families joined the celebration. The Secretary General of SAARC graced the event as the guest of honor. With the participation of country representatives from the region including, India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, the celebration of the Pohela Boishakh received a national and regional dimension.
In welcome remarks, Bangladesh Ambassador, Shafiqur Rahman, highlighted the origin and cultural heritage of Pohela Boishakh noting that the festival has become universal in Bangladesh capturing the distinct history, culture, tradition and heritage of Bengali national identity. The day returns to our societal life every year with a call for change and transformation throughout the centuries marked by hall khata and new beginning. He stated that this festival transcends the religious, societal and geographical boundaries reflecting the vibrant spirit of our age-old Bengali culture, customs and traditions. He applauds the commonality of the celebration embracing the region South Asia and South East Asia bridging the cultural bondage and harmony between the communities and nations across state boundaries, promoting mutual understanding and friendship. In this context, he recalled the role of the Charayapada, the mystical hymns of the Buddhist monks during the 6th-12th centuries in South Asia; locating it’s thousand-year-old identity as the earliest written form of vernacular Bengali dialect while terming them a shared cultural heritage of mankind. Referring to the civilizational linkages between Bangladesh and Nepal emanating from rich tradition, and heritage, the Ambassador noted that this cultural uniqueness provided a strong foundation for collaboration in the area of cultural exchange and tourism in our bilateral ties.
The guest of honor appreciated the rich cultural heritage and tradition of Bangladesh and stressed the importance of regional cultural exchanges in fostering closer ties among the peoples of South Asia. He termed the festival as the celebrations of harmony, and uniqueness amid diversity.
The program featured a cultural performance, including Bangla and Nepali songs, reflecting the deep-rooted cultural affinities between Bangladesh and Nepal. Nepali artist Sabu Lama and students from Nepali local school performed Bangla and Nepali songs along with the members of Bangladesh community. Fun-filled games for children and a prize distribution ceremony added extra festivity to the event.
People’s News Monitoring Service.
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