Dhaka, April 15 -- On Sunday, Bangladesh joyously welcomed Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla calendar, marked by vibrant traditional festivities and widespread enthusiasm.

The celebrations commenced at dawn as artistes from Chhayanaut serenaded the arrival of the new year under Ramna Park's banyan tree with Rabindranath Tagore's iconic song "Esho hey Baishakh, esho, esho".

Across the nation, people from diverse backgrounds gathered at various historic and popular locations to celebrate the onset of the Bangla year 1431, filled with renewed hopes for peace and prosperity.

In Dhaka, the day's highlight was the Mangal Shobhajatra procession, which began at 9:18 am from the Faculty of Fine Arts at Dhaka University. This processi...