Observing Pahela Baishakh

Pahela Baishakh (Baishakh 1 st) is the first day of the Bangla year. Pahela Baishakh is celebrated in a festive manner in both Bangladesh and West Bengal. In Bangladesh Pahela Baishakh is a national holiday. Pahela Baisakh falls on April 14. The main event of the day was to open a halkhata or new book of accounts. This was wholly a financial affair. In villages, towns and cities, traders and businessmen closed their old account books and opened new ones.

New year's festivities are closely linked with rural life in Bengal. Usually on the day everything is scrubbed and cleaned. People bathe early in the morning and dress in fine clothes and then go to visit relatives, friends and neighbours. Special foods are prepared to entertain guests. Baishakhi fairs are arranged in many parts of the country.

Observance of Pahela Baishakh has become popular in the cities. Early in the morning people gather under a big tree or on the bank of a lake to witness the sunrise. Artistes present songs to welcome the new year. People from all walks of life wear traditional Bengali dresses:
Young women wear white sarees with red borders and adorn themselves with bangles, flowers, and Tips (a spot on the forehead). Men wear white pajama (Loose Pant) and Panjabi. Many townspeople, start the day with the traditional breakfast of Panta vat (cooked rice soaked with water), green chillies, onion, and fried Hilsha fish.
Like millions of Bangladeshies, this year we also observed Pahela baishak in a field at Uttara in Dhaka. Early morning we gathers in the field, ate panta vat, fish & many other Bengali dishes. These are some photos of the festival.

Gretchen Beck, 65 Years Young Tourist

She was 65 years old. But who can guess to see her smiling face & her spirit to travel new places? I am telling about Gretchen Beck who came Dhaka 10 days ago from San Frnsisco. We met earlier on the web through some travel sites (Thorntree, Indiamike). Yesterdy, I received a phone call & she informed that she came Bangladesh & interested to meet me.

Today morning I went to Pacific Hotel lobby. We met, discused an hour about her trip to Bangladesh. I am happy to find that she liked Bangladesh very much. She is leaving tomorrow to India. So, could not make dinner/lunch together. But Gretchen assured me to come Dhaka again.

So, Gretchen hope to see you again in Dhaka.

Guorun' mail, my ignorance

Couple of days ago, I received an e-mil from Guorun Hulda, journalist of Morgunbldid (Iceland). He informed that he & his editor have been looking for a lady journalist of Bangladesh named Sumi Khan but could not trace. So, they requested for my help to trace Sumi Khan & let them know the contact details of her.

I started my journey. After couple of days, I became an expert on Sumi Khan. I came to know that this lay is famous Journalist & she was attacked by the criminals earlier for her writing (I did not know this matter!).

However, after several days checking, I found that Sumi Khan is working in a Television Channel now (Ekushe Television). I contacted her over phone & told the details. She gave her e-mail I.D & oteher address.

I provided all the details to Halda & hope he is happy now.

Long time, No see!

Last couple of months I could not write my blog as I was very busy with my IELTS Exam (Actully, I sid not study so much but I had tension about that Exam). Al last I got band core 7.0 which seems O.K for my applying to Australis for immegration.

During these days, I met some more Travellers liker Glen (Australia), Anj (Holland), Khair (U.K) & some others.

The Father & the Son

Chris Black & Neville Black- the father & the son. They came from Australia & enjoying Bangladesh. Chris, the 62 years old guy was surprise to me with his energy. In his age (If I alive), I am sure that I will not be able to show such energy. Naval, the nice looking guy was also enjoying the Bangladesh travel.

Last Friday, we went to visit Manikgonj to see Bangladesh countryside. On the way, we stopped National Martyrs' Memorial monument in Savar, around 35 Kilometer from Dhaka. It is the symbol of the valour and the sacrifice of those killed in the Bangladesh Liberation war of 1971, which brought the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistani rule.

From Savar we drive around 1 hour to Dhaka-Aricha highway & then turned left. After some time, we reached a local Bazar called : Dhankura, Under Manikgonj district. We stopped there & passed 2 hours through taking tea, buying vegetables (vegetable is cheap here, just one fifth price from Dhaka). We also entered some village houses to see their lifestyle.

After that we started to our journey to further east & through passing narrow road, we reached Baliati to see the Zamindarbari. Baliati Zamindarbari is one of the remarkable examples of the 19th century palaces of Zamindars in Bangladesh. A fascinating set of buildings of their Zamindarbari extended the reputation of the splendour and prosperity of the Saha family throughout undivided Bengal. We also took lunch in the village restaurants (Though Chris & Black took only some snakes & Green coconut).

In the afternoon, we went to Narayangonj to take a boat trip. We hired a boat for 2 hours & traveled through the Balu River. Around 7 p.m, we returned to the hotel.

By the way, last night both of them went to my house & took dinner. Do not know thether they liked Bangladeshi food or not. But I am sure they liked my wife’s hospitality.

Zoltan is coming.

Sometime some people ask me, you are doing many things for foreign tourists through spending money from your pocket. What is the benefit? I reply : Friends in whole world. Yes, this I the truth. Since last couple of years, I got some friends all over the world. I have friends in Germany, Australia, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Iceland, USA, U.K, Poland, Mauritius, Holland & many other countries. They always keep in touch with me. I think this is a great achievement for me which I could not attain with the money.

Zoltan (Ulric Johannesen. Zoltan is his nick name in Thorn Tree Form) is coming Bangladesh for 2 nd time. He end of 2006 & we passed nice time. He visited my home village in Barisal. He was so happy to visit Bangladesh that he assured me to come this beautiful country every here. Yesterday, I got an e-mail from him that he finalized his trip to Bangladesh this Nov. This time we will take Rocket Steamer Trip & try to visit Northern Bangladesh.

Zoltan, my friend, I am waiting to welcome you in Dhaka.

Kevin Bluer came yesterday

Kevin Bluer, the nice & smart guy (Kevin, you should be a Hiro, not IT professional!) reach Dhaka yesterdy. He mailed couple of dys ago & to arrange a 6 day long trip. I Decided to arrange a tour to Rangmti Hill District, Dhaka City, Historic Rocket steamer trip Bagerhat 60 Dome Mosque. He took dinner at my place & started the journey to Rangamati with mahmuz (My brother. He is also a guide).

He will return on Fridy & see Dhaka city.