Bengal welcomes new year with Rabindra Sangeet, 'Bar Pujo'

'Polia Boisakh', Bengali new year 1423 was ushered in with pomp and gaiety today despite heatwave conditions prevailing across West Bengal, where the mercury rose to almost 43 degrees Celsius at some places.
The first day of Baisakh also marks the beginning of the new accounting year for traders who worshipped Godess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh after taking holy dip in rivers, including Ganga.
Thousands of devotees thronged the Kali temple at Kalighat in the metropolis, Dakshineswar and Adyapeeth temples.
As the day also marks the beginning of a new financial year, traders observed the 'haal khata' ceremony - a ritual closing their old account books and opening of new ones.

To mark the day, morning processions were taken out by children who danced to Rabindra Sangeet in many localities of north Kolkata.
The traditional 'Bar Pujo' was celebrated at Mohun Bagan and East Bengal football grounds in the presence of supporters, club officials and members.

This is a ritual worshiping the bar posts on either end, which earlier used to officially mark the starting of a new football season. However, nowadays the current season usually extends beyond this date but the tradition of 'Bar Pujo' continues in the Maidan.
Long queues were seen in front of restaurants serving Bengali delicacies like 'Bhetki Paturi', 'Gandhoraj Chicken' and 'Baked Rasogolla' to mark the day.

The metropolis and large parts of south Bengal are reeling under heatwave conditions for the past week with day temperatures soaring to above 45 degrees celsius at Bankura. There is no forecast of any respite in the next few days.