Saturday, April 26, 2014

Dhaka celebrates Bangla New Year's Day 1421 on 14 April 2014



'Alponai Bangladesh'- largest street painting, 326,000 sft stretching across Manik Miah Avenue, Dhaka (designed by artist Moniruzzaman) to celebrate Bangla New Year Day 1421 sponsored jointly by Airtel (Bang), daily Prothom Alo and Bergers Paint.
 

Bangla saal/shon (both Arabic word) prepared by Shirazi was introduced by Mughal emperor of India Akbar commemorating the date of his ascension of throne in 1556 AD (963 AH) to facilitate revenue collection during harvest. It became the day of rural festival, fair and book keeping (haal khata) for trade and commerce.

Morning song under at Ramna Botomul by 'Chhayanat' since 1965.

Other musical functions, narrative folk songs, murshidi, marfati and jari (band song recently included in cities) were held at national parade square Agargaon, ShowrawardyUddan, Rabindra sorobar Dhanmandi and Versity area, Dhaka.

Thousands turned out on the streets, parks and open spaces in colourful dress since morning. Millions joined the New Year festivities across the country.






A musk procession (mongol shobhajatra) organized by the Institute of Fine Arts, Dhaka since independence in the 1980s.






street-side fairs and entertainments





Sale of bangles, cosmetics, handicrafts and toys





Menu for morning feast:

Middle and upper class people:  rice/bhuna kichuri,  fried Hilsha fish, meat, salad, pickles and dessert.

People on the street: Soaked rice (panta), 'bhorta', sutki (sun dried fish), green chillies and onion.

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Dhaka traffic unusually light on the eve of Bengali New Year 1421


Karwanbazar area




Near Birshrestho Jahangir gate

Airport Road, Banani

waiting for bus passengers

Gulshan 2- view from Kamal Ataturk Ave

Baridhara lake, view from north

Shubastu Nazar Valley Tower, Badda

Gulshan 2


Pragoti Sarani

Jamuna Future Park, Progoto sarani


Jamuna Future park

Bashudhara road, Bashundhara

Apollo hospital, Basundhara res area, Dhaka


Bashundhara res area


International school, Bashundhara- view from Apollo hospital.

view from Apollo hospital, Bashundhara res area

Entrance- Apollo hospital

Private university, Bashundhara res area

Commercial bldg, Bashundhara res area

Unimpressive approach road to Bashudhara area



Gulshan


Grameen Phone bldg, Bashundhara res area

Afternoon rush- Hatirjheel central bridge

Sunset from Tejgaon Industrial-Farmgate diversion link road