Mangal Shobhajatra, the traditional procession welcoming Bangla New Year which was started in 1989 by the students and teachers of the Faculty of Fine Art of Dhaka University (DU), will be brought out tomorrow with a different dimension because of its international recognition.

Mangal Shobhajatra is a pride for the Bangalee Nation as the traditional procession on Pahela Baishakh has got the recognition of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)’s as the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, reports the BSS.

The recognition was given at the 11th session of the UNESCO’S Inter-governmental Committee on Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage being held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in November, 2016.

With the theme ‘Manush Vojle Shonar Manush Hobi’, an excerpt from a popular Lalon song, the Dhaka University (DU) family is all set to bring out the traditional Mangal Shobhajatra from its premises at 9:00am on Saturday with a call to establish a non-communalism society.

Thousands of people from all strata of life wearing colourful traditional dresses will participate in the Mangal Shobhajatra on DU campus on Pahela Baishakh.

Students and teachers of the Faculty of Fine Art (FFA) popularly known as Charukola, have undertaken a month long preparation to bring out the Mangal Shobhajatra in a befitting manner.

All the students of the faculty’s eight departments- Drawing and Painting, Printmaking, Graphic Design, Oriental Art, Sculpture, Ceramics, Crafts and History of Art- are making their relentless efforts for the preparations of the Mangal Shobhajatra.

Large colourful masks, animal-shaped carnival floats, replicas of birds, butterflies, traditional dolls and other motifs of Bangladeshi culture that highlight the traditional folklore are the integral part of the Mangal Shobhajatra.

Dristy Dhar, a third year student of Drawing and Painting department, was seen very busy with her fellows in painting the traditional masks in her institute.

‘We represent the folklore of Bangladesh by designing the masks of owls, tigers, king-queen, birds and the other subjects of our environment,’ Drishty told BSS.

Arafat Hossain, a sophomore of FFA who was busy with painting Nakshi Katha on the wall, told BSS, ‘Our 20th batch students of FFA are in charge of organising the Mangal Shobhajatra for this year. They helped us in designing the colossal structures of the sun, water buffalo, tepa putul with bird, elephant, heron, king and queen, fish, birds and other folk motifs.’

FFA Dean Professor Nisar Hossain told BSS ‘It’s now the government’s duty to preserve the Magal Shobhajatra with due honour because it’s an inscription on the representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Extending greetings to the people on the occasion of Bengali New Year 1425, DU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman urged all to take part in tomorrow’s Mangal Shobhajatra, maintaining discipline.

‘We all will participate in the Mangal Shobhajatra in a disciplined way. Since UNESCO recognised the Mangal Shobhajatra, a different dimension has been added in the celebration of Bengali New Year. As a result, our responsibilities have been increased. I wish the New Year will bring happiness, peace and prosperity to all,’ said Prof Akhtaruzzaman.