Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year) 2027
The first day of the Bengali calendar, celebrated in Bangladesh and by Bengalis worldwide with processions, music, fairs and traditional food.
Quick facts
- Date
- April 14
- Day of the week
- Wednesday in 2027
- Type
- National, Celebration
- Observed in
- Bangladesh, India
- Also known as
- Pahela Baishakh, Bangla Noboborsho
- Public holiday
- Public holiday in Bangladesh
- Hashtag
- #PohelaBoishakh
Overview
Pohela Boishakh is the Bengali New Year, celebrated on April 14 in Bangladesh (and on April 14 or 15 in West Bengal). People wear red and white, enjoy panta bhat with hilsa fish, visit Boishakhi fairs and greet each other with "Shubho Noboborsho".
In Dhaka the day starts with Chhayanaut's songs at dawn under the banyan tree at Ramna Park, followed by a colourful procession organised by the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Dhaka.
History
The Bengali calendar is traditionally linked to the Mughal emperor Akbar, who aligned the harvest tax year with the solar calendar. Merchants opened new account books (halkhata) on the first day of the year. The Dhaka procession, started in 1989, was inscribed by UNESCO on its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016.
- 1967Chhayanaut begins its dawn musical programme at Ramna Batamul.
- 1989The first New Year procession is held by Dhaka University fine arts students.
- 2016UNESCO inscribes the procession as Intangible Cultural Heritage.
How to celebrate
Eat panta-ilish
Enjoy soaked rice with fried hilsa and mashed vegetables (bhorta).
Join the dawn songs
Attend a morning music programme in your community.
Visit a Boishakhi fair
Shop for clay toys, handicrafts and sweets.
Open a halkhata
Shops welcome customers with sweets as they start new account books.
Wishes and messages
Greeting card
A 1080 × 1080 image, ready for WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram.
Social media captions
Shubho Noboborsho! 🌺 #PohelaBoishakh
Red, white and full of joy.
Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year) dates
| Year | Date | Day of the week | Days from today |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | April 14 | Tuesday | Passed |
| 2027 | April 14 | Wednesday | 163 |
| 2028 | April 14 | Friday | 529 |
| 2029 | April 14 | Saturday | 894 |
| 2030 | April 14 | Sunday | 1,259 |
| 2031 | April 14 | Monday | 1,624 |
Frequently asked questions
When is Pohela Boishakh?
On April 14 in Bangladesh. In West Bengal, India, it falls on April 14 or 15.
What do people eat on Pohela Boishakh?
Panta bhat (soaked rice) with hilsa fish and various bhortas are traditional.
Last updated November 2, 2026