Ring in the new year Bengali style this weekend, with song dance and food. Utsab, the Lower Mainland's Bengali cultural society, is hosting a celebration on Saturday April 28 at Bonsor Recreation Complex.
"On this day, people wear new clothes to welcome the first day of the year, and go about socializing," said one of the event organizers Leena Roy in an email to the NOW. "It is an integral part of the people's cultural heritage."
The "Pohela Boishakh" celebration features food stalls and display stands with Bengali art and crafts. There will also be cultural activities and performances.
Bengal, roughly a quarter of the size of B.C., is a region split between India and Bangladesh. According to Roy, the Bengali new year falls on the first day of the Baisakh month, which starts mid-April on the Gregorian calendar.
It runs from 6 to 10 p.m. Admission is $5, or free for children under five. The Bonsor Recreation Complex is at 6550 Bonsor Ave.
