DHAKA, April 10 (Xinhua) -- With the approaching of Bengali New Year of 1426, which falls on April 14, preparations are underway across Bangladesh specially in capital Dhaka to celebrate the special day in a befitting manner.
Like previous years, scores of artists at Dhaka University's Faculty of Fine Arts, which is responsible to bring out the country's main colorful new year procession, have been passing busy time putting final touches to paper masks and large symbolic figures of birds and animals all made of bamboo.
Senior faculty members and ex-students are also seen Tuesday to join the massive efforts in finishing the large symbolic figures of birds and animals chasing evil spirits.
Celebration of the Bengali New Year begins in Bangladesh with the sunrise when hundreds of thousands of people irrespective of cast, color, sex and religion join the main procession, Mangal Shobha Jatra, to welcome the new year with good spirits.
In Bangladesh, Pohela Boishakh, or the first day of the New Year, is a national holiday.
Bengalis usually start the day with the traditional simple breakfast of panta-bhat (leftover rice soaked in water), fried fish and traditional curries.
Stringent measures have also been reportedly put in place to prevent any disturbance in the festivities of the New Year.
Emperor Akbar of the Mughal Dynasty introduced the Bangli calendar year and the celebration of Pohela Boishakh, marking the advent of Bengali New Year, which is now considered as an integral part of the Bengalis cultural heritage and tradition and a day of merriment.
