Bangladesh, April 13 -- The craze for panta-elish (soaked rice and fried Hilsha) among the urbanites has subsided to some extent but not vanished altogether. There are still people who think without Hilsha, the celebration of the Pahela Baishakh loses all its lustre. Sure enough, this is a late addition. Even the celebration of the Bangla New Year remained a muted event in most cities and towns until the Chhayanaut's Midas touch to the occasion in the early 60's.
In fact, introduction of Hilsha with panta has eroded the aesthetic beauty and the quiet culture of a celebration. There was at no point in the celebration of the Bangalee's New Year any type of flaunting; rather there was an expression of the peaceful and refined cultural yearnin...