Happy 1426! Last Sunday (14^th April) we celebrated the inauguration of the Bengali new year. This year it coincided with Palm Sunday. In the morning (at 7.30 am!) we had a procession with palm branches and sang ‘Hosanna, Hosanna, the Prince of Peace has come!’ Unfortunately, I don’t have any photos of this. Then there was a church service to celebrate Palm Sunday. Usually Sunday is a working day and the palm procession happens in the evening, but this time it was joined with the new year festivities.

The new year was originally celebrated with a procession. The colours people wear for the new year are red and white. Many people continue this tradition of clothing.

Little girls don’t normally wear saris, but they do for this occasion!

Lots of people on foot for the procession!

When we got back to the hospital grounds there was a dance, accompanied by a professional percussion band which was hired especially for the occasion.

If you look carefully you can spot me also dancing – the tallest person in the group

Then there was a ‘Pantha bhat’: a traditional meal. This originates from the time when people cooked rice once every day, before refrigerators. Rice was stored in a layer of water. By morning was it slightly fermented. Ours was not fermented and tasted better ;-). It was served with a piece of fish, spinach and seasoned mashed potato. As you can see, it was popular (and free!).

Serving the meal.

This is how it was eaten.

At the end of the day there was a three-hour cultural program in which children and adults could perform with singing and dancing. I made a short video of a group of our staff and student nurses who are descended from the Santal ethnic group and who performed a traditional dance. This dance is a little like the one I had taken part in earlier in the day.

I hope you had a very Happy Easter!!

Antje