The “Boishakhi Procession” began in front of the Faculty of Fine Arts at University of Dhaka.

On Tuesday morning, shortly after 9:00 AM, the procession started under the theme “Harmony of the New Year, Revival of Democracy.” It was led by the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor A B M Obaidul Islam.

The national anthem was performed at 9:03 AM, and the procession officially set off at 9:06 AM.

Teachers, students, officials, staff members, and people from all walks of life joined the celebration.

This year’s theme—“Harmony of the New Year, Revival of Democracy”—reflects a message of unity and renewal.

The procession started from Gate No. 3 (north) of the Faculty of Fine Arts. It will move toward the Shahbagh police station, take a U-turn, pass by the Raju Memorial Sculpture and Teacher-Student Centre (TSC), continue through Doel Chattar, pass in front of Bangla Academy, and finally return to the Faculty of Fine Arts.

Earlier in the morning, around 8:00 AM, various artistic displays were prepared for the procession. This year features five major motifs: a rooster, an elephant, a dove, a dotara, and a horse—each carrying symbolic meaning.

The rooster represents new beginnings, awakening, and the arrival of light, symbolizing the end of darkness. The dotara reflects the essence of Bengali folk music and highlights the importance of preserving cultural roots, while also drawing attention to the underappreciation of Baul artists. The wooden elephant, inspired by the folk art museum of Narayanganj, symbolizes heritage, strength, and dignity. The clay-style horse evokes rural simplicity and childhood memories, while the dove represents harmony, coexistence, and global peace.

Strict security measures have been put in place for the event.

In addition, wearing masks has been prohibited within the university area during this year’s Pohela Boishakh celebrations. Instead, participants were seen carrying handcrafted masks made by the Faculty of Fine Arts as part of the procession.