Bengali considered the sweetest language in the world, is spoken by those originating from India (specifically West Bengal, Assam, Tripura) and Bangladesh. Bengali culture is rich, ancient, and welcoming, with Kolkata known as the cultural capital of India. “noboborsho”, Bengali New Year is a cultural festival of Bengali spoken people. Bengali people delight in sharing their culture, embodying the saying “bangalir baro mase tero parbon” (13 festivals in 12 months), making every season a festive one.
"Noboborsho" Celebration: Bengali New Year's Joyful Delights
The Bengali New Year, celebrated on the first day of the Hindu calendar’s Boishakh month(14th April 2024, in this year), is marked by joy, well-wishes, and, of course, sweets. Bengali festivities are incomplete without an array of delectable dishes, reflecting the food-loving nature of Bengali culture. The air was filled with excitement and anticipation as the Bengali New Year, known as “Noboborsho,” approached. The streets were adorned with colorful decorations and the aroma of delicious traditional Bengali sweets filled the air.
Morning Celebrations: Tradition and Blessings, Cultural Performances
The morning of the new year begins early, with Bengalis rising for the celebration. Men don panjabis with pajamas or dhutis, while women drape themselves in sarees—the traditional Bengali attire. Family members gather in the puja room to wish each other “Subho Noboborsho” and seek blessings. Younger members receive blessings from elders, and many family perform a Laxmi-Ganesh puja for business prosperity.
Breakfast features classic Bengali dishes like begun bhaja (fried eggplant), luchi (deep-fried bread), alur dum (spicy potato curry), cholar dal (Bengali-style chana dal), kumror chokka (pumpkin curry), and desserts like payesh (rice pudding) and rosogolla (a famous sweet).
After breakfast, families enjoy cultural performances—singing Rabindra Sangeet (songs by famous poet Rabindranath Tagore), traditional dances, and poetry recitals.
Authentic Lunch: A Taste of Bengal's Finest Dishes
In the lunch, there must be an assortment of authentic Bengali dishes from both India and Bangladesh, including beguni (batter-fried eggplant), alu bhaja (fried potatoes), shak bhaja (fried leafy greens), potol bhaja (fried pointed gourd), and ilish mach bhaja (fried hilsa fish).
The main course features sada bhaat (steamed rice), macher matha diye dal (lentils with fish head), alu posto (potatoes cooked with poppy seeds), daab chingri (prawns cooked and served in green coconut), macher kalia (river fish particularly Katla or Catla are cooked in an onion-based coarse gravy with various spices.), shorshe ilish (hilsa fish In spicy mustard gravy), bhetki macher paturi (barramundi fish wrapped in banana leaf), pabdar jhal (butterfish with spicy gravy ), murgir laal jhol (a fiery red Bengali chicken curry with potato), khasir mangsho (mutton curry) and various fish, meat preparations.
Desserts include aamer chutney (mango chutney), papor (thin crispy crackers), rosogolla, mishti doi (sweet yogurt), sondesh (sweets), and comchom (chhana, milk-based sweets), along with drinks like aam porar sherbet (mango drink) and dhoier ghol (yougart lassi).
Afternoon Delights and Nighttime Festivities
After a hearty lunch, Bengalis take a rest called “vat ghum.” In the afternoon, they visit relatives and friends, exchanging delicious sweets, gifts and blessings. Enjoying fish, vegetables, chicken, mutton chop (boiled potatoes and various spices) and fish fry (fried bhetki or barramundi fish, marinated in spices and coated with breadcrumbs and egg) in the evening with tea and spend quality time with friends, family, loved ones — a gathering tradition known as “adda.”
At night, after having a light dinner with sada bhaat, roti, fish curry, and meat dishes, followed by more Bengali sweets. As the night went on the celebration continued with music, dance, and laughter late into the night.
This is how Bengali people celebrate their New Year, where food and culture are intertwined, and dishes and sweets play a significant role in welcoming “Noboborsho.”
Noboborsho was not just a celebration of a new year, it was a celebration of Bengali food, culture, and the timeless bonds that connected families and communities together. So let’s come together and say “Eso He Boishakh Esho Esho!”
Read the related post – https://therecipestuff.in/payesh-recipe-bengali-chaler-payesh-recipe/
