wearing boishakh

POHELA Boishakh- a day we Bangladeshis all love to turn ourselves into khati bangali; a day dedicated to the celebration of the essence of being Bangali and basking in the spirit of Bangalipona. We love to usher in the Bangla New Year adorned in colourful traditional ensembles and flaunt ourselves through our attire. Fashion houses of the city have been quick to track this trend and have religiously been coming up with exclusive collections for the occasion of Pohela Boishakh for the past few years. This year is no exception. Boutiques around Dhaka have already come out with exclusive collections for the upcoming Pohela Boishakh.

Aarong has included bright eye-catching colours in their Boishakhi shalwar kameez collection. Parrot green, candy pink, magenta and lilac are some of the shades adorning the shelves of Aarong right now. Fabrics like endi silk, taat and cotton have been used and beads, mirrors and shells have been used as embellishments. Prices are in the slightly high range and start from Tk 1350. Men's panjabi are available in neutral colours with maroon and mustard used for the embroidery and appliqué. Two-tone silk has also been used in some exclusive panjabi and colours like aquamarine, purple, indigo and green have been used for these.

Aranya welcomes Boishakh with an exciting collection of calligraphy in handblock and screen prints, in joyous splashes of the traditional red and white or red and gold colour combinations. Each sari creates an immediate impression of welcoming the New Year while remaining immensely wearable

for all seasons. Menswear in similar prints and cotton kantha fabrics are accessorised with festive scarves. The collection includes handwoven Tangail cottons and half-silks as well as pure Rajshahi silks, the price of which ranges from Tk 600 to Tk 4,500. Aranya, which is popularly known for its use of natural dyes and fabrics has some really beautiful silk saris with excerpts of patriotic poems printed on them. Prices, however, are in the higher range and can be a little taxing on pockets with limited budgets. If you would like saris more suited to the Boishakh heat, you can opt for their taat saris instead, which are widely available in Aranya.

White is the symbol of tranquility and purity, while red sheds off all evil. These timeless beliefs form the basis of the colour schemes of Dressydale's Boishakh collection for Bangla 1415. Other colours have been mixed along, creating the various motifs of traditional Bengal; works of collage, hand and machine embroidery have been artfully blended with transparent and opaque prints.

Jatra, a well-known name in Dhaka by now, has launched some exquisite shalwar kameez sets exclusively for the occasion. Bangladeshi taat and raw silk have been used along with tie-dye and appliqué work to give the apparel a deshi look. Animal prints and embroidery have also been generously used. Bright colours like yellow, orange and maroon have been given priority, keeping the vibrancy of Pohela Boishakh in mind. Prices range from Tk 1250-3000, which seem justified for the brilliant work done on the kameez sets. Panjabi in raw silk are available for men. Prices start from Tk 1300. Earthy tones like rust, beige and olive have been used for the panjabi collection.

Noborupa in Banani has dressed itself in the traditional red and white colours of Pohela Boishakh. These two colours have been used predominantly in all its saris and shalwar kameez sets. Appliqué, hand and machine embroidery, block and screen prints have all been used generously in the Pohela Boishakh collection of Noborupa. Prices range from Tk 550-1500. Kota and taat saris with khari work and zari borders are also available here within Tk 2000. Fatuas for men with appliqué and embroidery are available within Tk 450-650.

Kay Kraft has introduced a breath of fresh air in their Boishakh collection with plain white shalwar kameez sets with thin red printed borders. These cotton kameez suits will add comfort as well as sophistication to your Pohela Boishakh look. Colours like orange, magenta and purple have also been used generously. Cotton saris in light, soothing colours are also available within reasonable prices.

Bibiana has dedicatedly made preparations for celebrating the Bengali New Year. In light of Pohela Boishakh, their latest collection is based on the colours white and red as the theme because of what they represent and their association with this festival. Bibiana is also known for their emphasis on hand embroidery and this year, it is no different. The collection includes a variety of batik, chundri, tie-dye, needlework, etc. The saris, which are the highlights of the collection, include hand painted calligraphy and block print done on cotton kota, endi cotton, etc. Also available are skirts, tops, fotuas, scarves, and kurti.

Pidimm introduces their latest collection in an array of colours, celebrating the festival of the Bengali New Year. The collection includes saris, shalwar kameez, fatua, tunic, skirts, as well as children's wear, such as saris for the kids, making your toddler's Boishakh extra special. The mode of design used for the collection are, embroidery, appliqué, block, sequins, etc, etc.

Apart from the clothes section, Pidimm also offers traditional jewellery made from, clay and a variety of different metals, such as copper, silver, etc.

So, there you go. A mind-boggling array of Boishakhi attire awaits you to choose from and flaunt along with your ethnic spirit on Pohela Boishakh. Happy shopping!

By Wasia Mehnaz

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