As the Bengali New Year arrives, four prominent cultural figures—Abul Hayat, Tariq Anam Khan, Fazlur Rahman Babu, and Fahmida Nabi— have shared their cherished memories of the cherished Bangladeshi festival with The Daily Star.

Abul Hayat recalls his childhood in Chattogram, where a modest Baishakhi fair near his home left a lasting impression. "The fairs were simple back then, but filled with joy. I remember the hal khata rituals when shopkeepers opened new account books," he shared. Later, while studying at BUET in Dhaka, he visited the Azimpur fair during Chaitra Sankranti, memories that still live on in his "diary of life."

Tariq Anam Khan remembers eagerly awaiting hal khata events for one sweet reason—mishti (sweets). "We used to wait for it all year long. Hal khata was very exciting for us because sweets were distributed on that day. We'd get to eat sweets! I would take money from my father and go to buy sweets—something that brought me immense joy. She further shares, "My elder brother-in-law was a prominent businessman—he ran a clothing store. On the first day of the year, I'd visit his shop for the hal khata event. I'd eat sweets to my heart's content there. After the hal khata was over, I'd help him tally the accounts."

Fazlur Rahman Babu, raised in Faridpur, said the excitement of the Baishakhi fair was unforgettable. "We'd rush to the fair early in the morning to eat sweets, chhana, and buy toys. Later in Dhaka, I became involved in theatre and regularly attended TSC and Charukola events, as well as the iconic Chhayanaut celebration. Pahela Baishakh is deeply rooted in my life."

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Fahmida Nabi reminisces about family outings from Mohammadpur to Bangla Academy and Ramna Park. "We were too young to wear sarees, but we tried to dress in red-and-white. The food, the fairs, and the cultural pride—it's all unforgettable," she said, adding, "Pahela Baishakh is a symbol of our heritage, and its memories truly stay forever."

As Bangladesh welcomes another new year, these stars remind us that Pahela Baishakh is more than a festival, it's a thread connecting our past and present with fond memories.