Shubho Noboborsho!

Today is Pohela Boishakh, the Bangla New Year. Today marks the beginning of the year 1414 in the Bangla calendar.

The Daily Star gives a bit of historical background to the modern celebration:

The start of Bangla year with Baishakh has its roots in the days of Mughal Emperor Akbar during 1556-1609. According to one of several opinions about the origin of Bangla year, this was the time when peasants used to pay their taxes to the emperor.

When Bangladesh came under the Mughal rule in 1576, Akbar decided to adopt the Hijri year and termed this season "Fasali" (crop). Thus, Pahela Baishakh marked the start of the crop season.

The present form of the Pahela Baishakh celebrations has some political significance and was introduced in 1965 when Chhayanaut organised its celebration programmes in protest against the suppression of Bangalee culture by the then Pakistan government.

After independence in 1971, the festival became a symbol of the country's nationalist movement as well as an integral part of the people's cultural heritage.

As for me, I'm headed out to get some Ilish bhaji and maybe a jilabi if I'm lucky.