The nation welcomed the Bangla New Year 1422 today with its traditional fanfare and festivity.

Shedding the preceding year's glooms to oblivion, people from all walks of life celebrated the Pahela Baishakh, the biggest and most colourful festival to mark the first day of the Bangla year.

The festivity in the city began after sunrise with the gathering of thousands of people under the banyan tree at Ramna Udyan where artistes of cultural organisation Chhayanaut sang the traditional Pahela Baishakh song of Rabindranath Tagore--"Esho hey Baishakh"--to welcome the day.

Tight security measures were taken in and around the park.

The traditional colourful procession, known as Mongol Shobhajatra, organised by the students of the Institute of Fine Arts of Dhaka University, also began from its premises after 9:00am.

Thousands were seen turning out on the streets, parks and open spaces since morning as the day is a public holiday.

Many were eating traditional "panta bhat" (watered rice) with fried hilsa fish, lentil, green chilli and onion at home, restaurants and fairs.

Attired in traditional clothes, women clad in saris and men punjabi, they were thronging venues of cultural programmes and makeshift fairs which celebrate Bangla culture, entertainment, art and food and featured live music and performances in the capital and elsewhere in the country.

Many are seen their cheeks and parts of their body to paint with the country's map and other emblems, to celebrate the occasion aiming to add a special colour.

Different cultural organisations and popular bands were seen performing at the venues since the morning and more people are pouring in.

Dhanmondi, Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban and other city areas were seen swarming with people from early morning.

Different organisations have chalked out scores of cultural shows in the Dhaka University area. Visitors were seen buying traditional food, masks and toys at the fairs.

The state-owned BTV, Bangladesh Betar (radio), and private television channels are broadcasting special programmes and the newspapers have brought out special supplements marking the day.

Mughal Emperor Akbar introduced the tradition of celebrating the Bangla New Year in relation to closing of the annual tax collection. Traditionally, traders and shopkeepers open "halkhata" (new account register) on the day and serve sweetmeats to clients.

Slowly this non-communal festival became an integral part of the Bangalee culture with people irrespective of their religion, sect and creed celebrating the day as one nation.