Bangla Noboborsha celebrations but not without politics

Tuesday marks Poila Boishakh, the first day of the Bengali New Year. As Bengal steps into the year 1432 of ‘Bongabdo’ of the Bengali calendar, the state government observes the day as ‘Paschim bongo Diwas’ (West Bengal Day). This is the second consecutive year the Mamata Banerjee’s government is commemorating the day to showcase Bengali pride and cultural glory ahead of the crucial 2026 assembly elections.

Like much else in the state, the observance of ‘Paschim bongo Diwas’ was steeped in political hues, with the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition BJP choosing to commemorate it on two different dates. In September 2023, the state government declared the first day of Boishakh as ‘Paschim bongo Diwas’ — an initiative spearheaded by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to counter the BJP’s narrative, which marks June 20 as West Bengal Day.

The Chief Minister’s move came in response to Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari and BJP MLAs observing June 20 as ‘Paschim bongo Diwas’ outside the Assembly in 2023. According to the BJP, June 20 holds historical significance for West Bengal. The saffron ecosystem claims that during the 1947 Partition, West Bengal was separated from East Pakistan largely due to the movement led by Syama Prasad Mookerjee of the Hindu Mahasabha. As the proposal to partition Bengal and retain West Bengal within India was passed on June 20, 1947, during a session of the Bengal Legislative Assembly (now the West Bengal Legislative Assembly) in Kolkata, the BJP commemorates the day as the moment of West Bengal’s emergence.

Although Mamata Banerjee had urged Raj Bhavan not to mark the occasion, Governor C.V. Ananda Bose went ahead with a programme at Raj Bhavan on the same day, prompting the chief minister to convene a state cabinet meeting, where it was decided to designate Poila Boishakh as the official ‘Paschim bongo Diwas.’ A special Assembly session later passed a resolution to this effect, although the BJP voted against it. Though, 2024 was the first year when the day was observed, the state government and the Trinamool Congress had to restrict it due to the Lok Sabha elections and the Model Code of Conduct.

Administratively designated as ‘Bangla Diwas’, the state government has planned a series of cultural programmes through the day at Rabindra Sadan’s Ektaara Open Stage to celebrate Bengali heritage. In the evening, a cultural event will be held at the Rabindra Sadan auditorium, featuring performances by popular artists and attended by Minister of State for Information and Culture, Indranil Sen. Similar celebrations will also be organised across districts by the Information and Cultural Affairs Department.

Notably, TMC’s state president Subrata Bakshi had issued a written directive long in advance instructing party leaders — from state to booth level — to observe West Bengal Day, emphasising the revival of Bengali pride following which the party has planned several cultural programmes at booth and block level across the state. This day will be observed to highlight the pride and cultural glory of the Bengalis. The party will organise several cultural programs to observe this day, a senior party leader said.

However, the BJP made it very clear that the party has no plans to observe this day as ‘Paschim bongo Diwas’. “The BJP government in Delhi doesn’t plan to celebrate Bengal Foundation Day on Noboborsha. It will be marked on 20th June,” the party posted on its X handle.

Team Maverick