Poila Baisakh 2025: Bengali New Year date, timings, history, significance, traditions and all you need to know

Poila Baisakh 2025: Pohela Boishakh, also called Poila Baisakh or Noboborsho, signifies the beginning of the Bengali New Year. Celebrated on the first day of Boishakh in the Bengali solar calendar, this lively festival is embraced with great joy across Bangladesh and in Indian regions like West Bengal, Tripura, and parts of Assam. It represents a new beginning and carries rich cultural and traditional importance for Bengali communities. From date to history, here's all you need to know.

(Also read: Vishu 2025: Date, timings, history, significance, celebration and all about Malayalam New Year )

Poila Baisakh 2025 date and timings

As per Drik Panchang, the significant festival of Bengali New Year will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 15, this year. The Sankranti moment marking the transition will occur at 3:30 AM on Monday, April 14.

Poila Baisakh 2025 history and significance

The Bengali calendar commences with the month of Boishakh, which aligns with the harvest season. Hence, the New Year is known as Pohela Boishakh. As per Drik Panchang, the Bengali era is believed to have been initiated by King Shoshangko of ancient Bengal, dating back to around 594 CE in the Gregorian calendar.

On this auspicious day, people offer prayers for a bountiful harvest. It also holds great commercial significance as traders begin the new financial year by opening their fresh account books, known as Haal Khaata.

Poila Baisakh 2025 celebration

Pohela Boishakh is celebrated with much joy and enthusiasm as people spend quality time with their loved ones, visit festive fairs, and clean and decorate their homes. A key part of the celebrations includes wearing new clothes and adorning entrances with alpona, traditional rangoli-like patterns. To mark the New Year, families also prepare a spread of festive dishes such as ilish maach, dhokar dalna, rice, sweets, and chanar dal, adding flavour to the day’s cheer.

Traditional foods of Bengali New Year

The Bengali New Year, or Pohela Boishakh, is celebrated with a delicious spread of traditional foods that reflect the rich culinary heritage of Bengal. The feast typically includes panta bhat (fermented rice), served with ilish macher bhorta (mashed hilsa fish) and beguni (fried eggplant fritters).

Sweet treats like roshogolla, mishti doi (sweetened yoghurt), and sandesh are popular desserts that add a sugary touch to the celebrations. The meal is a perfect blend of savoury, spicy, and sweet, symbolizing a fresh start to the year and an abundance of flavours enjoyed by families and communities.

How to celebrate Poila Baisakh with friends and family

To celebrate Poila Baisakh with family, start by wearing traditional Bengali attire and offering prayers for blessings. Enjoy a festive meal with traditional dishes like panta bhat, ilish mach, and sweet treats such as mishti doi and roshogolla. Play lively Bengali music, share family stories, and exchange small gifts to mark the occasion. If possible, take a stroll or visit a local event, and end the day with a Bengali film for a relaxed, joyful celebration with your loved ones.

Festivals and events on Poila Baisakh

Poila Baisakh is marked by various vibrant festivals and events that bring communities together. In Bangladesh and West Bengal, colorful processions and cultural performances are common, with people participating in traditional dances like baul or Rabindra Sangeet performances.

Local fairs, known as Boishakhi melas, feature handicrafts, food stalls, and music, creating a lively atmosphere. In Kolkata, the day is often celebrated with grand processions and cultural programs at prominent venues. Businesses also open their new financial books with a ceremony called Hal Khata, where customers are greeted with sweets and new accounts are started. Poila Baisakh is also an occasion for various theatrical performances, art exhibitions, and literary events that celebrate Bengali heritage.