the vibrant culture of Bangladesh is enjoyed by all communities

In honour of the Bangla New Year, Birmingham Town Hall presents a colourful celebration for Pohela Boishakh on Sunday 22nd April 2018.

This fantastic family event ties in with the official Bangla New Year which takes place on Saturday 14th April.

Marking a new calendar year, and the start of the harvest month, Baisakh, Pohela Boishakh is a wonderful time for the Bengali community to get together and bring in the new year.

As an integral part of the West Midlands and the rest of the UK, the vibrant culture of Bangladesh is enjoyed by all communities. And the iconic Town Hall is a perfect setting to celebrate the colours, music and food of the Desi nation.

Traditionally, the festival is celebrated with local fairs and all-day family events. It is also a public holiday in Bangladesh and singers will perform traditional songs.

The festival also welcomes ‘Mangal Shobhajatra’ or a mass procession. This begins at dawn and sees thousands of people take part. The spectacular carnival welcomes gigantic replicas of fish and animals carried through the streets.

Part of the joy of celebrating Pohela Boishakh is the vibrancy of colour. From bold colourful dresses and outfits matched with dazzling jewellery. The festival really is a cross-cultural celebration, bringing the different faiths and communities of Bengali society together.

Aside from dressing up, the day is also enjoyed with special delicacies such as panta bhat and ilish vaja.

Fatima from Birmingham tells DESIblitz:

Recognising Birmingham’s growing Bangladeshi community, the Town Hall Symphony Hall is proud to present a celebration in honour of Pohela Boishakh.

Members of the Bangladeshi community can celebrate the New Year with traditional food, music and fun for the entire family.

The event is presented in association Legacy WM, Community Connect Foundation and Purbanat. Tickets are priced at £3.

For more details about the celebratory event on Sunday 22nd April, or to book tickets, please visit the Town Hall Symphony Hall website here.