Millions rang in Pahela Baishakh, the
Bengali New Year 1416, on Tuesday in the capital Dhaka and across the country
with color and verve despite a heat wave.
Men in traditional punjabi and pyjama, women in white and
red sari and children dressed in all hues thronged Ramna Batamul and the
traditional Baishakhi Mela from dawn in celebration of the biggest Bengali
carnival.
Crowds streamed through the city streets under scorching
sun, making for the leafy shade of Ramna Batamul.
The traditional New Year platter of panta ilish ,
fried hilsa fish, lightly fermented rice, lentil and smoked chilli was all the
rage.