It's the spring, the period of color and the king of the season. Now the nature is busy enough to show her demonstration with various color and fragrances. In everywhere a pretty new look is welcoming us to feel an ambrosia of life. It's like a new horizon, where life is experiencing freshness of color.
Often a colorful moment can bring some incomparable changes in our urban life. Have no doubt that day by day our life is going to be more busy. Moreover we are losing many emotions. And yes we are aware of that, that we are losing; so wherever and whenever we get a respite and opportunity we involve ourselves fully to gain serenity inside. Being Bangladeshi we are always fond of festivals. Most of the festivals are observing here to keep religious customs.
Like: Eid, Puja etc. along with these we have some common festivals, which are for every race and religions. All faiths and castes take pleasure in those: 'Bangla nababorsha' / 'Pohela Baishakh', 'Pohela Falgun', 'Valentine's Day' are remarkable here. All Bangladeshi of all age limits have relish this identical occasion. Every buddy from their own arrange enjoy these days happily.
'Pohela Falgun' is the very first day of the Spring. We have six seasons and Spring is the last season among them; but it's the king of all. Every season is counted with the sum of two months of span. Like that spring is also counted with sum of Falgun and Chaytra. It's a very natural question that why do we observe the first day of this season?
To me the answer is very simple and straight: From a pretty long time Bangladeshi people are observing this day- the Pohela falgun because, by passed the maximum part of year - along with tremendous heat of Summer, Rainy season's wetness and dryness of Autumn and Winter, whole nature got spick and span look. It's the motive from nature and the other reason is during the spring most of our rural harvesting has completed, farmers just celebrate the joy of their new grains, as the nature gains youthful and sprightly.
Whatever the cause, reason, motive, sake or base is we the Bangladeshi eagerly celebrate the Pohela Falgun. Yes, entire country celebrates it with a common festive mood. It's just like a part of our own culture. Though it is way of celebration is not like other common festivals, as the occasion of Eid, Durga Puja or Pohela Baishakh always brings some public holiday to the nation.
I mean, state never allows any day-off to celebrate this day. So what! We celebrate it in our own way; every buddy wears Basanty color's outfits, have some hangouts with friends and families after working engagements (after office and classes), have some traditional foods in restaurant or home and much-more. It's a bird's view of our beloved Dhaka. It's the real taste of Spring.
Young generations are always some steps ahead to celebrate Pohela Falgun. From morning to sunset, somewhere they enjoy the day in a group gathering; somewhere they celebrate within just the couple (just between lovers). As love is a heavenly feeling and emotion of affection, here color always keep it's important role. And by any means Basonty color carries some pleasing significance of love to lovers.
"There is no blue without yellow and without orange" as Vincent Van Gogh uttered. To me Van Gogh's words stand with a meaning like: without the sky's blue the nature always poor and pitiful. Along with this, lack of yellow and orange the sky's blue would never give any meaningful and celestial presentation.
Well, one thing I'm admitting once again; I'm trying to portray here a passionate scenario of Spring. And I started with the Pohela Falgun, which is observed on the 13th of February. Now let's have a look on the 14th of February: The Valentine's day.
It's also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine. In other part of the world this day has celebrated from long time ago. We got many deliberations regarding the first celebration of Valentine's Day in our country. According to many authentic sources this day has been celebrated here more than two and half decades ago. I can't stop myself from quoting Lord Byron, "Love will find a way through paths where wolves fear to prey."
Valentine's Day is lover's day and they observe it by sharing and offering their core words to one-another. Often lovers share flowers, candy, gifts and greetings card. Pass some moments together and have lunch. It's from the scenario of the lovers, who didn't have the social acceptance yet. But the other lovers, I mean the married couples are also celebrating the day. Though, nationwide public holiday is not permissive for Valentine's Day. So lovers celebrate it in their inherent style. Red is the right and only color for lovers, red shirt or panjabi for male and red sharee or salowar-kamij for female. And the very essential element of Valentine's Day: Red Rose.
Color-sense-affection all are perfectly combined, as Pohela Falgun and Valentine's Day is being celebrated back to back in the Spring. Being a Bangladeshi February is very remarkable month for us. It's the month, where great heroes of the nation spear their life to protect the mother tongue, our own language: Bengali. Based on this the International Mother Language Day is observed globally. It's the definite pride for us.
The writer is working with a multinational company
-Tanima Tashrin
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