Dhaka, April 14: Boishakh breaks up a scorching day with a sudden gust laden with cool petrichor. Boishakh beckons ominous clouds before unleashing the thunderstorm. Boishakh is a burst of sour fruits that turn honey sweet as they ripen in a month’s time.
The first day of the year — Pahela Boishakh — has literally hundreds of thousands in kurtas and sarees ranging from carmine to crimson welcoming another on the streets around Dhaka University. The Bengali New Year is fast turning into the biggest festival of Dhaka’s cultural calendar.
The girls of Bangladesh under-16 national team are also excited to celebrate the advent of 1424, which is the Bengali year, their own way. Being part of a residential training programme at the Bangladesh Football Federation headquarters, the girls are seldom allowed out and will celebrate the day their own way.
Right winger Sanjida Akter said that the team will have a programme at the U16 girls’ camp. “We’ll celebrate singing and dancing. We are very excited to celebrate it together,” she said.
Asked about what she plans to wear, she said that though the dress code at the camp is very specific, she likes to wear saree or shalwar-kameez on Pahela Boishakh.
Krishna Rani Sarkar, captain of the team, said the whole group is looking forward to celebrate their first Pahela Boishakh together.
Though she does not have any specific preference about clothes, Krishna does fancy ‘Panta-Ilish’ on first day of the year.
Central midfielder Mishrat Jahan Mousumi said the team celebrates all festivals together at the camp just like a team.
“We are staying as a team for a very long time now. We have become family. And we’ll celebrate Pahela Boishakh like a family,” she said.
“Celebrating Pahela Boishakh at home and here is completely different. But both the places have their own flavours,” Mousumi added.
Akhi Khatun, midfield partner of Mousumi, said, “We get to choose the menu on Pahela Boishakh. All of us eat our favourite food, which is ‘Panta-Ilish’ in most cases.”
Almost echoing her teammates’ words, defender Nazma said, “We celebrate the best way we can. We eat our favourite foods and hang out almost the whole day.”
Nazma’s partner at the back of the field, Masura Parveen said, “We are all eagerly waiting for Pahela Boishakh. We have practiced songs and dance moves to perform on the day.”
“We’ll eat ‘Panta-Ilish’ and have lots of fun.”
Shopna, Tohura, Shamsunnahar and other members of the team were also excited about the Bengali New Year.
The U16 girls hope the rest of the country has a festive new year’s day too and wish everyone a very festive day.
“Shubho Noboborsho!”
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