Mangal Shobhajatra Returns to Dhanmondi in a Festive Atmosphere

In the capital’s Dhanmondi 27 area, the Mangal Shobhajatra 1433 was held in a festive atmosphere with the participation of people from all walks of life. On Tuesday, the first day of the Bengali New Year, the procession began at 10 AM, and the area became vibrant with the presence of artists, poets, rhymers, and cultural activists.

This year’s event was organized by the Borshoboron Parishad. The theme of the procession was “Awaken, O traveler, you who are unconscious in sleep.” The streets of Dhanmondi turned colorful with drum beats, participants dressed as horses, vibrant festoons, and red, white, and yellow attire.

Earlier, the interim government had renamed the procession “Anondo Shobhajatra” (Joyful Procession). This year, the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Dhaka named their event “Boishakhi Shobhajatra.” In response, the organizers stated that they aimed to retain the traditional name “Mangal Shobhajatra,” which is recognized by UNESCO.

A cultural activist participating in the procession said, “Pohela Boishakh is an important day in the lives of Bengalis. This event brings everyone together, and the festival should be celebrated without any division.”

One of the key organizers of Mangal Shobhajatra, filmmaker Fazlul Kabir Tuhin, said, “This is a symbol of our culture. We are organizing this to pass on the tradition to the new generation.”

Poet Shapla Shahriar said, “It feels great to organize Mangal Shobhajatra after many years. It has been held under different names, but bringing back ‘Mangal Shobhajatra’ is joyful.”

After the procession, a day-long cultural program was arranged at the Mina Bazar premises in Dhanmondi 27.

It is worth mentioning that the procession began in 1989 under the initiative of the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Dhaka. It started in the context of the anti-military autocracy movement, aiming to unite people through folk traditions. In 1990, it was officially named “Mangal Shobhajatra,” which later gained international recognition.

On November 30, 2016, UNESCO recognized this event as an “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.”