The cultural organisation Surer Dhara, in collaboration with the private television network Channel i, is set to host its traditional large-scale celebration to welcome the Bengali New Year, 1433. The event, titled “Hajar Kanthe Barshabaran” (Welcoming the Year in a Thousand Voices), will take place at the Rabindra Sarobar amphitheatre in Dhanmondi, Dhaka.
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Event Schedule and Format
The festivities are scheduled to commence at 05:30 on the morning of 1st Baisakh (14 April 2026) and will conclude at 09:00. This annual gathering has become a cornerstone of Dhaka’s New Year celebrations, renowned for its choral performances featuring hundreds of vocalists performing in unison.
The programme will be led by the students of Surer Dhara, an institution founded by the eminent Rabindra Sangeet exponent Rezwana Choudhury Bannya. They will be joined by a diverse group of performers travelling from various regions across Bangladesh to participate in the mass choir.
Featured Artistes and Presenters
In addition to the choral segments, the event will showcase solo and group performances by several distinguished figures in the Bangladeshi music industry. The lineup includes:
Rafiqul Alam: A veteran playback singer and classical vocalist.
Fahim Hossain Chowdhury: A noted exponent of Tagore songs.
Kiran Chandra Roy: A prominent folk singer.
Youth Ensemble: A selection of promising vocalists from the younger generation.
The proceedings will be hosted by television presenter Dipti Chowdhury, while the veteran actor and elocutionist Jayanta Chattopadhyay will provide recitations of Bengali poetry throughout the morning.
Chaitra Sangkranti Observance
As a prelude to the New Year celebrations, a Chaitra Sangkranti programme is scheduled for the preceding evening at the same venue. Starting at 17:30, this event marks the final day of the Bengali month of Chaitra and the conclusion of the outgoing year, featuring traditional rites and musical performances.
Event Summary Table
| Feature | Details |
| Main Event | Hajar Kanthe Barshabaran (New Year Welcome) |
| Date | 1st Baisakh (14 April) |
| Time | 05:30 – 09:00 |
| Location | Rabindra Sarobar, Dhanmondi, Dhaka |
| Organisers | Surer Dhara and Channel i |
| Lead Presenter | Dipti Chowdhury |
| Recitation | Jayanta Chattopadhyay |
| Prelude Event | Chaitra Sangkranti (13 April, 17:30) |
Cultural Context
The Rabindra Sarobar gathering is one of the three major hubs of New Year celebrations in Dhaka, alongside the Ramna Batamul event organised by Chhayanaut and the Mangal Shobhajatra procession hosted by the Faculty of Fine Arts at Dhaka University. While Chhayanaut focuses on classical traditions, the Surer Dhara event is specifically noted for its “Thousand Voices” concept, which aims to promote communal harmony and the collective heritage of Bengali music.
The broadcast of the event will be managed by Channel i, ensuring that the performances reach a global audience through satellite television and digital platforms. Security measures at the open-air theatre are expected to be stringent, following standard protocols for large public gatherings during national festivals.