There is a line from Rabindranath Tagore's song, ''Esho hey Boishakh esho esho. . . '' This line of the Poem- Maestro gives an impression of the society and further culture which is affluent, cohesive and joyful.
It further reveals that the older society of Bengal had been featured by an intense cultural atmosphere and resulting social euphoria. Tje biggest festival of Bangla culture, undoubtedly, is the “Pahela Boishakh”. Nobody can measure the credence of joy. Everybody leave their crashes and sadness behind and move leave ahead with the delight of the New Year.
The first day of the Hindu solar calendar is based on the 'Surya Siddhanta', which commences in mid-April of the Gregorian year. The first day of this calendar is celebrated as the traditional New Year in various parts of South Asia, Including Assam, Bengal, Kerala, Manipur, Nepal, Orissa, Punjab, Tamil jade and Tripura.
It is also celebrated as the traditional New Year across Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand. Under the Mughals, agricultural taxes were collected according to the Hijri calender. However, as the Hijri calendar is a purely lunar calendar, it does not coincide with the 'harvest. As a result farmers were hard-pressed to pay taxes out of season.
In order to streamline tax collection, the Mughal Emperor Akbar ordered a reform of the calendar. Accor -dangle, Fatehullah Shirazgi a renowned scholar and astronomer, formulated the Bengali year op the basis of the Hllri lunar and solar Hindu solar calendars.
The new Fasli San (agricultural year) was introduced on 10/1 1 March 158$ but was dated from Akbar's ascension to the throne In 1556.The NewYear subsequently became known as 'Bongaabdo' or Bengali year. Celebratlons of 'Pohela Bolshakh/started from Akbar's reign. The first day of the newYear, landlords would entertain their tenants with sweets.
On this occasion, there used to be fairs and other festivitles. In due course, the occasion became part of domestic and social life, and turned into a day of merriment.