Devotee:
Greetings, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Greetings, my son.
Devotee:
Today is our Bengali New Year, Pohela Boishakh. Could you please share some of your thoughts on this occasion?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
We have become so accustomed to Western customs. We are used to thinking of December 31st as the last day of the year and January 1st as the first. But as Bengalis, we have a deep-rooted heritage. This Pohela Boishakh is part of that. From our childhood, we've seen the significance of this day—school children participating in parades, the joy, and the festivities.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Nowadays, many of us don't observe it as much; we celebrate January 1st instead, following the system the British left behind. However, today marks the start of our new traditional calendar. Whether you call it Halkhata (the traditional opening of new ledgers) or something else, there used to be so much enthusiasm. People would go to the cinema, and there was a unique spirit. Much of that has faded now.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Actually, originally, the month of Agrahayana was considered the first month of the year. But over time, through various influences—Muslim rule, British rule—the calendar changed. During the reign of Emperor Akbar, the calendar was adjusted to align with the harvest season, and that is when Pohela Boishakh became the first day of the year.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Bengalis used to celebrate this day wearing traditional Dhoti-Panjabi. Shopkeepers would celebrate Halkhata. Those days are mostly gone. Now, we prioritize January 1st over our own traditions. But for the Bengali people and the Bengali language, our year truly begins today.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Every culture has its own calendar year and its own way of celebrating the New Year. For us, it is Pohela Boishakh. It is unfortunate that our sense of culture, civility, and humility is declining. We are still under the influence of British mental slavery. We spent 200 years under their rule, and we still haven't been able to move past that mindset, which is why we hold January 1st in such high regard. For someone like me, I recognize Pohela Boishakh as the true beginning.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Today is a very special day for Bengalis. Even if traditions are fading, the heritage remains. We are entering the year 1428. I must mention that this will be a very eventful year—a year of many occurrences. I have said this before, and I will say it again: 1428 will be a significant and eventful year.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There is a gap of about three and a half to four months between the English New Year and ours. While we have largely forgotten our roots, there is a slow revival happening. However, the shadow of British influence is still very long.
Devotee:
Thank you, Gurudev. You've shared many insights today, including things many of us didn't know.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
It will be an eventful year, son. Many things will happen.
Devotee:
I wish all our viewers a very Happy Bengali New Year. We will conclude the video here. Greetings, Gurudev.
Narrator:
One final note: a new book titled The Bona Fide Spiritual Master was recently published by our Shantikunj. If you would like to obtain a copy or learn more about it, a contact number is provided at the end of this video. Please feel free to get in touch.
Devotee:
Greetings, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Greetings.
Spiritual Insight
Guru Shyama Khyapa reflects on the erosion of Bengali cultural identity under colonial influence, reminding us that Pohela Boishakh represents more than a date—it embodies the living heritage of a people. His prophetic words about year 1428 being "eventful" and filled with "many occurrences" serve as a reminder that spiritual masters often perceive the underlying currents of time that others miss. The Guru's message calls for a revival of indigenous wisdom while acknowledging the lingering shadows of historical domination.