Published: 08:28 AM, 18 April 2026
Invocation of Bengali New Year: Esho Hey Baishakh Esho Esho
Babul Chandra Sutradhar
The custom or formality of welcoming the new is celebrated as a common custom in all nations at all times. Although such formalities are expressed in various ways. In this regard, Bengalis seem to be a little ahead, because the people of this country are famous worldwide as a culture and ceremony-crazy nation.
Bengali New Year is a festival of all Bengalis, a universal festival. Not only those living in Bengal, but also race, religion, caste, tribe, geography, history, politics, economy all come together on this occasion. For many years, New Year has been celebrated completely in Bengali style in many cities/areas of many countries of the world. In countries where Bengalis are in large numbers, the splendor is also much greater. In many European countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, China, Ivory Coast, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia, Sweden and other countries, all the New Year's ceremonies, including the Mangal Shobhajatra (Rally for welfare), are celebrated with great pomp. Baisakhi fairs are organized in many cities of these countries, in which the presence of various types of goods and food and drinks attracts everyone's attention. The venue is decorated with attractive arts and festoons. Bengalis and local political and social personalities participate in songs, music and cultural programs. Some organize gatherings of Bengali musicians at these programs. In some places, local sports are also organized. In a word, Poyala Baishakh (1st Baishakh) is the only festival of Bengalis where everyone comes together in one row, forgetting all differences. Everyone joins hands in this one common song. In many countries of the world, Bengalis have been able to gain the respect of everyone as a festival-loving nation. Not only that, the natives are also enjoying the joy of dancing and singing in Bengali festivals today. Of course, the artistic qualities of Bengali songs are enough to attract any culture-minded person. The culture-loving and emotional Bengali nation, not only in its homeland, but also in all the places where Bengalis live in the world, there is an expression of Bengali culture. And the most widely celebrated event of these is the New Year.
The Poyala Baishakh program in Bangladesh has a particularly significant background. The New Year festival played a direct role in the emergence and development of Bengali non-communal nationalism. In 1965, the New Year program organized by the famous cultural organization 'Chayanaut' under the banyan tree of Ramna in Dhaka; the song ‘Eso hey Baishakh Eso Eso’ (Come, O Baishakh, come, come), which was sung and echoed by the people, shook the foundations of the authoritarian and communal Pakistan state. Since then, this New Year or Poyala Baishakh has been the festival of the life of all Bengalis. Rabindranath Tagore's sage words seem to have taken true form here: ‘‘Man's New Year is not a New Year of comfort, it is not a New Year of peace - the song of birds is not his song, the light of the sun is not his light. His New Year struggles to gain his rights; he tears away cover after cover, but then his emergence occurs. Every New Year brings us the call for that emergence. This emergence is the difficult pursuit of gaining humanity.” The influence of song or music in the national life of Bengalis did not stop here. Wise men comment that music played a magical role in the independence struggle of Bangladesh. ‘Aamar sonar Bangla’, ‘O aamar desher mati’, ‘Karar oi louhakapat’, ‘Durgom giri kantar moru’, ‘Mora ekti fulke banchabo boley’, ‘Jonmo aamar dhonno holo mago’, etc., added fuel in the fire of hearts of Bengalis. These songs served as weapons for the unprepared, unarmed and untrained Bengali warriors.
Music is also associated with the great language movement of 1952. The tune of Ekushey February (21st Febriary), which was painted with ‘Aamar bhaier rokte rangano’ makes the sound of the language movement vibrate in the arteries of Bengalis. Some other songs continue to represent our various festivals. For example, in ‘Ore Grihabasi Khol Dwar Khol’ in the Spring festival, ‘Durge Durge Durge Durgtinasini’ in Autumn festival, ‘Ramadaner oi rojar sheshe’ in Eid-ul-Fitr, etc.
Therefore, it can be seen that music is a special part of human life. Not only as a means of joy and entertainment, music is a creation intertwined with the human soul, in which people find the main elements of their individual life, group life and even national life. Achievements and failures, happiness and sorrow, praise and regret, excitement and pain - everything can be expressed and felt through music; And, the way music can stir and move people's minds, perhaps no other medium can do that. That's why particular music has become a symbol of particular events or festivals. Regarding the usefulness of music in festivals or events, folk culture expert Atwar Rahman writes in his book 'Utsav', “Music is also blessed in the inspiration of festivals - both instrumental and vocal. For the needs of festivals, people have practiced songs since ancient times and invented various musical instruments - including conch and bamboo flute to drum. Vocal and instrumental music was certainly not as refined and immature as it is today. But the needs of life have gradually improved them through festivals. Even today, any religious or folk festival without dance and music is lifeless. In modern times, the role of music festivals organized by Western institutions has become universally appreciated. In Britain and America - and in several countries of Europe, such festivals have now become a main stream of cultural development, a colorful hue of cultural life.”
The traditional Bengali people have been celebrating the New Year in various ways since the distant past, seeking material happiness and peace. Fairs and various types of entertainment were also prevalent on this occasion long ago. People used to collect essential goods throughout the year from the fairs. It is worth noting that a large part of these fairs consisted of daily necessities such as household goods, furniture, utensils, etc. Even today, Baisakhi fairs are still going on in many places. In some places, the fair continues for 10-15 days.
At different times, various types of discussions and criticisms can be heard about different songs or music. Our beloved national anthem ‘Aamar sonar Bangla’ has also had to go through criticism and is still going on. But we have not seen any criticism of the song ‘Eso Hey Baishakh’ till date. That is, this song has been able to create a strong seat in the hearts of all Bengalis. Apart from the big cities of the country, people from remote villages can also be heard singing the song. In this way, our beloved Bengali festival, Poyala Baishakh, has achieved global success. And, at the same time, this song unquestionably has become a global anthem in the hearts of all Bengalis.
This song, composed by poet Rabindranath Tagore, has become so intertwined with the Bengali New Year festival that one cannot exist without the other. The poet wrote the song in the month of Falgun in the year 1333 Bangla (1927) while sitting in Santiniketan. Of course, Rabindranath Tagore has a huge contribution in making Bengali New Year a universal festival. His birthday is on the 25th of Baishakh, the summer vacation in Santiniketan. He decided to do it on Poyala Baishakh. The poet's birthday was celebrated on the occasion of New Year for the first time on Poyala Baishakh in the year 1343 Bangla (1936). The formalities started from then on. Earlier, the first New Year or Poyala Baishakh was organized at the Ashram School in 1309 Bangla, where the poet delivered a speech.
Currently, our beloved festival Poyala Baishakh is moving towards world victory. May the journey of Bengali tradition be more beautiful and harmonious throughout the world for the happiness and peace of all people. May Bengal and Bengalis be victorious.
Babul Chandra Sutradhar is a researcher
and a human rights activist.
