Bengali New Year Celebrated with Cultural Fervour in Visakhapatnam

The Bengali community in the city celebrated Poila Baisakh, the Bengali New Year, with cultural programmes and traditional rituals across Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.

Under the aegis of Waltair Kalibari, the celebrations began with a Prabhat Pheri along Beach Road. The procession started from the Kali Mandir at RK Beach and concluded at the Aqua Sports Complex. Around 80 participants took part in the early morning walk.

Dressed in traditional attire—women in white sarees with red borders and men in kurtas—the participants sang Rabindra Sangeet throughout the procession.

Visakhapatnam City Police Commissioner Shanka Brata Bagchi attended the event and interacted with members of the community. He extended his greetings on the occasion and appreciated the effort to preserve cultural traditions. He also distributed around 250 saplings as part of an environmental awareness drive.

The initiative was well received by participants, who said it added a meaningful dimension to the celebrations. “It was a wonderful way to combine cultural celebration with environmental responsibility,” said a participant.

The event also reflected the city’s cultural diversity, with residents from different communities joining the celebrations.

Community members said Poila Baisakh is not only a cultural milestone but also a reminder of Visakhapatnam’s inclusive social fabric. At noon, buttermilk was distributed at the Kalibari premises in Railway New Colony.

The celebrations concluded in the evening with puja rituals followed by cultural performances. Waltair Kalibari general secretary Joydeep Chakraborty, along with other members, coordinated the arrangements.