Mangal Shobhajatra

Mangal Shobhajatra, officially titled as Barshabaran Ananda Shobhajatra, is a mass procession that takes place at dawn on the first day of the Bengali New Year in Bangladesh. The procession is organised by the teachers and students of the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Dhaka. The festival is considered an expression of the secular identity of the Bangladeshi people and as a way to promote unity. It was declared an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2016, categorised on the representative list as a heritage of humanity.

History

The procession of the festival was first observed in 1989, when the autocratic ruler Hussain Muhammad Ershad was the president of the country. He became the president of the country through a bloodless coup d'état. At that time, the country was under a military dictatorship and was suffering from floods. A mass uprising took place in Dhaka during which many people, including Noor Hossain, died. The students of the Dhaka University (DU) Faculty of Fine Arts decided to demonstrate against the regime by arranging the "Ananda Shobhajatra" on Pahela Baishakh. It was renamed "Mangal Shobhajatra" in 1996.

In March 2025, Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki proposed rebranding the historic Mangal Shobhajatra for "inclusivity", but later clarified that no decision was made facing backlash from cultural figures like Mamunur Rashid and Aminul Hasan Litu. Critics argue that the name, deeply rooted in Bangali heritage and recognized by UNESCO, should remain unchanged, questioning the government's motive and possible fundamentalist influence. In the same time, the 26th batch of the Faculty of Fine Arts boycotted the upcoming Shobhajatra, claiming the event to be "politicalized", which was denied by Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts Azharul Islam Sheikh. Convener of the Pohela Boishakh celebration central committee and Pro-Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University Sayema Haque Bidisha noted that indigenous peoples of Bangladesh will feature alongside Bengalis in 2025 Shobhajatra.

On 11 April 2025, the Pohela Boishakh celebration central committee of DU officially decided to return to the original name "Barshabaran Ananda Shobhajatra". DU authorities claim that the renaming "represents a break from the legacy" of Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule. However, several centre-left and left-wing organisations slammed the decision, arguing that "it risks erasing a symbol of Bangladesh's pluralistic tradition". Bangladesh Students' Union denounced the decision, calling it "surrender to the fascist communal mob".

Celebrations

Every year, thousands of people take part in the procession that features gigantic replicas of birds, fish, animals, folk tale and other motifs. The rally symbolizes unity, peace, and the driving away of evil to allow progress of country and humanity. It is considered as an expression of the secular identity of all the Bangladeshi people, uniting the country irrespective of class, age, religious faith, ethnicity or gender.

2025 Ananda Shobhajatra included many motifs related to the July Revolution, among them most important was the "Face of Fascism", a large demonic motif of the face of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Also, a motif of a slice of watermelon was included keeping solidarity with Palestine symbol. The Shobhajatra was led by 18-decorated police horse reflecting the Sultanate and the Mughal heritage. Apart from Bengalis, 28 ethnic groups of Bangladesh also joined the 2025 Shobhajatra for first time.

File:PoheLaBoishakMongolSovaJatra3.JPG, Elephant motif in the Mangal Shobhajatra, 2007
File:Mongol Shobhajatra, Pohela Boishakh (29).jpg, Horse motif in the Mangal Shobhajatra, 2015
File:Mongol Shobhajatra, Pohela Boishakh (11).jpg, Sun motifs in the Mangal Shobhajatra, 2015
File:Mongol Shobhajatra, Pohela Boishakh (19).jpg, Elephant motif in the Mangal Shobhajatra, 2015
File:Mongol Shobhajatra, Pohela Boishakh (34).jpg, Youths dressed as farmers in the Mangal Shobhajatra, 2015
File:Watermelon in 2025 Anada Shobhajatra.jpg, Palestinian solidarity symbol watermelon motif in the Ananda Shobhajatra, 2025

UNESCO recognition

In 2014 the Bangla Academy compiled a nomination file that was approved by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs of Bangladesh and submitted to UNESCO. On 30 November 2016 the Mangal Shobhajatra festival was selected as an intangible cultural heritage by the Inter-governmental Committee on Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO at its 11thsession, which was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Controversy

In April 2023, Supreme Court lawyer Mahmudul Hasan sent a legal notice to the government arguing that the word ''mangal'' has connections to Hinduism as the word has Sanskrit roots. He also argued that the event's motifs offended Muslim religious sentiments, citing a part of the Bangladesh Penal Code that criminalize deliberate insult of the religious beliefs of the citizens. Following this notice, then Awami League government withdrew the mandatory Shobhajatra celebration for universities.

Outside Bangladesh

India

In 2017, following the footsteps of Bangladesh, the festive Mangal Shobhajatra was brought out in West Bengal.

See also

*Culture of Bangladesh
* List of festivals of Bangladesh
*Boishakhi Mela
* Haal Khata
*Boli Khela
* Nouka Baich
* Pohela Falgun

Citations

Notes

References

External links

*

{{UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity/APA

Annual events in Bangladesh
Culture in Dhaka
Events in Bangladesh
Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
April observances
University of Dhaka