While nothing much has changed since yesterday (except possibly the update on the West-Asia conflict and downward march of the stock markets), but for Bengalis, it is ‘Polia Boishakh’ today and marks the beginning of another ‘Bengali’ year. Coming on the heels of the new financial year and the colourful North-Indian ‘Baisakhi’ festival, its traditionally a festive occasion of Bengal but people all over also celebrate with fervour.
The iconic song by Gurudev Tagore – ‘Esho hey Boishakh, esho esho sho..’ ushering in the Bengali New Year, reverberates during the day with different cultural flavours in homes and social gatherings. People send messages or call out each other to exchange a hearty ‘Shubho Naboborsho’ ! Sharing warm wishes, lively songs and pics in colourful kurtas and red-bordered ‘tat’sarees and partaking ‘Bong’ sweets and delicacies, spirits are auto-lifted and smiles restored even if for a day !
Apart from the festivities, another way of looking at the ‘New Year’ is like opening a brand new book whose pages are as yet blank or a new innings where every player starts with a zero on the scoreboard. We all, irrespective of our form of expression, can put inspiring and heart-warming words and life stories and lessons in them ourselves and share them with others with whom we come in contact with. We can fill the book with tales and memoirs of real life heroes who overcame adversities and innovators who thought of ways of tackling unprecedented new problems as per the need of the hour.
‘There is always light at the end of the tunnel’ can be an overriding thought. The geo-political scenario may be tough and unpredictable but the resolve to ‘resolve’ must be high. ‘Poila Boisakh’ can revive spirits – ‘It’s start of a New Day and another New Year’ !
Working on Living 