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Context

The celebration of Pohela Boishakh marks first day of Boishakh in Bengali calendar with differences in its observance between Bangladesh & India due to historical calendar reforms.

Key Highlights

The Bengali Calendar also known as Bangabda or Bengali Era is a lunisolar calendar used in Bengal region of South Asia particularly in Bangladesh & West Bengal.

It is official calendar in Bangladesh & widely used in India for cultural & religious purposes.

Era Start (594 CE)

The Bengali calendar epoch (starting year) is set to 594 CE marking beginning of Bangabda (Bengali Era). This is based on a historical assumption that calendar was introduced in Hindu Solar Calendar system around 6th century CE.

Historically it is debated whether calendar was introduced by King Shashanka of Gaur (reigned 590-625 CE) or evolved under subsequent rulers. However Bangabda epoch started by 594 CE & has remained consistent.

King Shashanka of Gaur (590-625 CE) widely credited with creating Bengali calendar is said to have initiated a system based on Sanskrit Surya Siddhanta treatise a Hindu astronomical text.

The earliest references to Bengali calendar are found in two ancient Shiva temples in Bankura district West Bengal which are more than a thousand years old. This establishes use of Bengali era around 6th-7th century CE.

The Bengali calendar underwent major reform under Mughal emperor Akbar (1542-1605). Akbar asked his court astronomer Amir Fatehullah Shirazi to create a more practical calendar based on lunar Hijri calendar & solar Hindu calendar.

The Fasholi Shan or Harvest Calendar was introduced which is a lunisolar calendar that began in mid-April after harvesting season. This calendar was officially recognized by Mughal court & became integral to administration & agrarian practices of region.

The Bengali calendar retained Sanskrit month names but system was adapted for agrarian purposes. This made calendar different from Islamic Hijri system as it incorporated solar calculations for year starting year at Boishakh.

In 1966, Bangla Academy in Dhaka under Muhammad Shahidullah initiated a reform committee to improve precision of Bengali calendar.

The months were structured as 31 days for first five months & 30 days for remaining months except Falgun which was assigned an extra day every Gregorian leap year.

Leap Year Adjustment This adjustment allowed calendar to remain synchronized with solar year preventing drift that had occurred previously.

These reforms were officially adopted in Bangladesh in 1987 which standardized Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year) on April 14 each year.

Pohela Boishakh in Bangladesh is celebrated on April 14 due to adoption of precise calendar system in 1987.

In India however due to use of traditional system Pohela Boishakh can fall on either April 14 or 15 depending on lunar & solar positions in that year.

Bengali New Year is both a secular & religious celebration marked by rituals & traditions that align with both Hindu & Muslim communities.

Special foods such as Panta Bhat (fermented rice) & Mishti (sweets) are an essential part of celebration.

In many households day begins with creation of Alpona, traditional floor art drawn with rice paste.

Bengali Calendar Months

Comparison of Bengali Calendar in Bangladesh & India

For more information, please refer to IAS GYAN

Sources:

INDIAN EXPRESS