Tagore song heralds new year in Bangladesh

Dhaka, April 14 (IANS) Hundreds of Bangladeshis gathered in the capital Saturday to sing "Esho hey Baishakh esho esho", a traditional song written by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, to welcome the Bangla new year.

The revellers thronged the capital at dawn to greet the New Year 1419, the Daily Star reported.

Artistes from cultural organisation Chhayanaut led the festivities by singing the traditional "Pahela Baishakh" song by Tagore. Women wearing colourful saris and men in kurta-pyjamas also joined in.

The Institute of Fine Arts of Dhaka University brought out a Mangal Shobhajatra, a colourful procession.

People from all walks of life gathered at a Baishakhi Mela, a fair, where they gorged on traditional Bengali dishes -- "Panta Bhat" and fried hilsha fish with onions and green chillies.