As the month of Chaitra draws to a close, a vibrant festive atmosphere has taken hold of the Dhaka University (DU) campus, where teachers and students are working around the clock to welcome the Bengali New Year 1433.

With the theme "Harmony of the New Year, Revival of Democracy," this year’s celebration aims to spread a message of national unity and the restoration of democratic values.

At the Faculty of Fine Arts, students are busy transforming bamboo and wood into large symbolic structures, while others paint intricate alpana on earthen pots and craft traditional masks of tigers and owls to give the first morning of Baishakh its iconic, colorful look.

This year's Mangal Shobhajatra will feature five central motifs inspired by folk traditions: a red-crested rooster, a dotara, a wooden elephant from Sonargaon, a dove symbolizing peace, and the traditional clay horse of Kishoreganj.

Highlighting the significance of these choices, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts Professor Dr. Md. Azharul Islam Sheikh stated, “Everyone must come forward collectively to rediscover and preserve the historical and traditional elements connected to our roots.”

He further explained that the motifs reflect contemporary social messages, noting that just as a rooster's crow signals a new dawn, the preparations symbolize a "new awakening."

He added that the inclusion of the dotara serves "to protest the recent marginalization of Baul artists and to honor folk culture," while the horse and elephant represent the dynamism of life.

The preparations have drawn large crowds of visitors eager to witness the artistic process.

Didarul Islam, a student at the faculty, remarked that for them, Pahela Baishakh is more than just a festival; "it is part of their identity and culture."

Visitors like Mallik Wasi Uddin expressed hope that the celebration will serve as a reflection of a "rainbow nation," a vision of diversity and heritage.

Following UNESCO's recognition of the procession as intangible cultural heritage, the prestige of the event continues to grow globally.

As the countdown to the new year begins, the entire country prepares to celebrate with traditional fairs, the melodies of Baul and Bhatiyali songs, and the customary serving of panta-ilish and pithas.