The Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Dhaka brought out Baishakhi Shobhajatra around 9:00am on Tuesday, marking the celebration of Pahela Baishakh.

The procession started from the north gate of the faculty, proceed towards Shahbag intersection, take a U-turn, and then pass Anti-Violence Raju Memorial Sculpture and the Teachers-Students Centre, moving through Doel Chattar and in front of Bangla Academy before ending at the faculty of fine arts.

This year’s procession, themed ‘Nababarsher Oikatan, Ganatantrer Punrutthan,’ featured five symbolic structures — a rooster, an elephant, a tepa putul (pressed doll), a pigeon and a dotara, a traditional folk musical instrument.

The University of Dhaka led the main New Year procession from its campus, which has recently been renamed ‘Baishakhi Shobhajatra.’ Last year, the event was renamed ‘Barshabaran Ananda Shobhajatra,’ replacing ‘Mangal Shobhajatra,’ the title under which it had been widely celebrated since 1989.

Originally known as ‘Ananda Shobhajatra,’ the procession was later renamed ‘Mangal Shobhajatra,’ which went on to be recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Cultural affairs minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury attended the rally alongside the Dhaka University vice-chancellor and deans.

Earlier in the morning, Pahela Baishakh celebrations began with Chhayanaut’s traditional cultural programme at Ramna Park in the capital.