Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla New Year, is knocking at the door. Mangal Shobhajatra, an integral part of the largest festival in Bangladesh, is widely recognised by all. The vibrant and colourful procession also got recognition from UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage in 2016.

Preparations are going on in full swing on the premises of Faculty of Fine Art popularly known as Charukala, Dhaka University (DU), for bringing out Mangal Shobhajatra.

Every year on April 14, the Faculty of Fine Arts of the university brings out the Mangal Shobhajatra on the campus which is graced by people from all walks of life.

But due to the Covid-19, the Shobhajatra was not organised in 2020 while a token Shobhajatra was held in the last year on a limited scale.

As the situation has improved this time, the Mangal Shobhajatra is returning in its familiar form. This year, the organisers have decided to hold the Shobhajatra as like pre-pandemic times in a festive mood.

The theme for this year’s Mangal Shobhajatra is ‘Nirmol Koro Mangal Koro Molin Mormo Muchaye’.

While visiting the Faculty of Fine Arts premises on Wednesday, this correspondent found that the students were busy making different colourful paintings, artworks, replicas and masks which represent the tradition of the country.

The students of 22nd and 23rd batches of the faculty are in charge of organising Shobhajatra this year.

Renowned artist Shahabuddin Ahmed inaugurated the preparation work on March 31.

“There are still some obstacles this year. This is why, we can’t organise it in a larger scale. We usually make six artworks but this time, we are making four,” said Prof Nisar Hossain, Dean of Faculty of Fine Arts.

Earlier on April 3, the DU authorities at a press release said that the Shobhajatra will be brought out from the road island of Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) on the university campus, as the road in front of Charukala has been narrowed due to the ongoing construction work of Metro Rail.

After parading the Memory Eternal premises of the university, the Shobhajatra will end at TSC premises on the campus. No one will be allowed to wear or carry any kind of masks except the masks, made by Charukala, on the campus on that day.

Besides, no organisation or institution will be allowed to continue their programme and no individual will be allowed to enter the campus after 5:00pm on the day, the press release said.

In addition, private transports without carrying the stickers of the university will not be allowed inside the campus from 7:00pm considering the security issues. Everyone has been requested to minimise gatherings on the day, considering the health guidelines.