‘Mangal Shobhajatra’ renamed ‘Borsho Boron Anondo Shobhajatra’

The iconic Bengali New Year procession, “Mangal Shobhajatra”, has been renamed “Borsho Boron Anondo Shobhajatra”.

The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Faculty of Fine Art of Dhaka University on Friday to brief the media on the upcoming Pahela Baishakh and Bengali New Year 1432 celebrations.

Prof Azharul Islam Sheikh, convener of the Nababorsho 1432 Celebration Committee, read out a written statement there.

He said, “The procession has been renamed ‘Borsho Boron Anondo Shobhajatra’ aiming to organise an inclusive event, which will reflect the country’s multidimensional cultural heritage.

“…From the mountains to the plains, we will all celebrate the New Year together. Through this event, we hope that we will be able to move beyond the narrowness of one-sided cultural practice and progress toward the liberal and pure practice of Bangladeshi culture,” he added.

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmed Khan clarified that the institution is not discarding the legacy of the procession, rather embracing its original roots.

“We are not changing the name. We are going back to the old name and tradition with which this fine arts programme started,” he said at the press conference.

Since 1989, the Faculty of Fine Art has been organising the procession – which was called “Anondo Shobhajatra”, marking the Bengali New Year.

Against the backdrop of the anti-autocracy movement in the 1990s, the procession was named Mangal Shobhajatra with the aspiration to dispel misfortune and invite prosperity.

The UNESCO in 2016 recognised Mangal Shobhajatra as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

The theme of this year’s procession is “New Year’s Harmony, End of Fascism”, which aims to reflect the cultural identity of Bengal while symbolically addressing political oppression.

The procession will also celebrate the mass uprising that took place last year, highlighting hopes of preventing any return to authoritarianism.

Motifs for the procession include a 20-foot portrait symbolising tyranny, a 16-foot hilsa fish, a traditional wooden Bengal tiger, a pigeon of peace, and potentially a water bottle in memory of Mir Mughdo. Additionally, large masks of elephants, owls, and tigers are being crafted, and the Faculty’s boundary wall is being adorned with colourful artwork inspired by Rajshahi’s traditional hobby pots.

Organisers hoped that the revival of its original name and spirit would make the celebration more inclusive and representative of all communities.

Borsho Boron Anondo Shobhajatra will begin on the morning of Pahela Baishakh, following the traditional Chhayanaut music festival at Ramna Batamul. The vibrant procession will then move through Shahbagh and end at the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) of Dhaka University.