Before the sun rises on Pahela Baishakh, people from all walks of life in Thakurgaon gather under a banyan tree at the judge court premises; drawn not by announcements or spectacle, but by a sound.

It begins with Raga Bhairavi.

Carried on the morning breeze, the melody signals the start of a ritual that has endured for more than five decades. Men, women and children -- dressed in vibrant reds, whites and yellows -- stand or sit in attentive silence as the first light of the Bangla New Year slowly spreads across the sky.

Then, just before sunrise, the music fades. A group of young voices takes its place.

“Aloy alokmoy kore he ele alor alo…

Amar noyon hote andhar milalo milalo…”

At that moment, the new year feels less like a date and more like a shared awakening.

In Thakurgaon, the first morning of the Bangla New Year is inseparable from this gathering.

From that opening chorus, the programme unfolds through different strands of Bangla musical heritage.

It features the works of the Panchakabi, including Kazi Nazrul Islam, Rabindranath Tagore, Dwijendralal Roy, Atul Prasad Sen and Rajanikanta Sen, alongside instrumental pieces on the tabla, sitar and sarod.

Lalon songs, folk music and Bhawaiya also find their place, before the morning draws to a close with the national anthem.

The tradition traces its formal beginnings to 1972 (1379 in the Bangla calendar), when a group of culturally inclined individuals in Thakurgaon including Mirza Ruhul Amin, Haridas Guha Thakurta, Balaram Guha Thakurta, Fazlul Karim and Akbar Hossain came together with the idea of creating an institution dedicated to the revival and promotion of Bangla cultural practices in the district.

This initiative led to the founding of Nikkon Sangeet Bidyaloy, and the Pahela Baishakh morning programme became its first public expression.

Even before that, however, a precursor known as Nikkon Cultural Centre had been organising similar celebrations as early as 1963 (1370 in the Bangla calendar), suggesting that the roots of this gathering stretch further back than the institution itself.

Over time, the programme grew beyond its original setting at a public club premises. As participation increased, it was eventually moved in 1998 to the court premises, under the banyan tree that now defines its identity, said Dipankar Bose Piyal, music teacher and acting principal of the school.

In the days leading up to Pahela Baishakh, this space is transformed with hand-painted motifs and colourful designs, often inspired by the aesthetic traditions of Chhayanaut, creating an atmosphere that feels both festive and familiar.

Today, more than a hundred learners are enrolled at Nikkon Sangeet Bidyaloy in music, dance, instrumental performance, recitation and painting, attending classes three days a week. For them, this morning is not just a performance, but a culmination of months of preparation, and a moment where they step into a tradition larger than themselves.

Over the years, 21 students from the institution have gone on to receive national awards in various fields of music, further extending its cultural footprint beyond the district.

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Photo: Star

Nishat Sharmin, a member of the school and a noted Rabindra Sangeet artiste of Bangladesh Betar, Thakurgaon, said the learners eagerly await the first morning of the Bangla New Year to perform under the banyan tree. “I have been performing at the programme since 1998,” she added.

Other students who have been participating in the programme for years echoed similar sentiments.

Regular attendee and cultural activist Amal Kumar Tikku said the programme plays a vital role in nurturing Bangla culture in the region. “At a time when society is increasingly fragmented, such collective celebrations of the New Year offer a sense of unity,” he said.

Artist Kadimul Islam Jadu, a well-wisher of the programme, noted that cultural activities remain limited in the district. “Despite various constraints, the organisers have sustained this tradition. It feels rewarding to stand beside them,” he said.

Deb Kumar Guha Thakurta, convenor of the programme, said such an arrangement is rare in a district town. “Despite limitations, we have continued this tradition, which has now taken on a universal character. When the audience enjoys and extends praise, it gives us immense satisfaction,” he added.

Following the programme, the district administration will bring out a colourful procession from the collectorate premises, with participation from various social and cultural organisations and the people from all walks of life.

The procession will end at the ground of Thakurgaon Government Boys’ High School, where a day-long fair will be held to mark the day.