Boishaki Mela

Name: Boishaki Mela
Start: 2025-04-19T12:00:00-04:00
End: 2025-04-19T22:00:00-04:00
Location: Hungarian Canadian Cultural Centre - HCCC / Magyar Ház

Schedule

Sat Apr 19 2025 at 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

Hungarian Canadian Cultural Centre - HCCC / Magyar Ház | Toronto, ON

The Pohela Boishakh has its origins in the Mughal Empire, representing the proclamation of tax collection reforms under Akbar. Its celebration is rooted in the traditions of the Mahifarash community of Old Dhaka. Presently, it is largely a secular holiday for most celebrants and enjoyed by people of several different faiths and backgrounds.
The festival is celebrated with processions, fairs and family time. The traditional greeting for Bengalis in the new year is শুভ নববর্ষ "Shubho Noboborsho" which is literally "Happy New Year". The festive Mangal Shobhajatra is organised in Bangladesh. In 2016, the UNESCO declared this festivity organised by the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka as a cultural heritage of humanity.