A tempestuous storm, the mouth-watering aroma of Ilish mach bhaja, the beautiful melodies of Tagore’s songs – c’mon Boishakh, what’s taking you so long?
As the Nobel laureate has so eloquently put it, as soon as April arrives, us impatient Bengalis begin to implore to the heavens to pour and wash away the residues of the year past. It is no wonder that Pohela Boishakh is met with so much anticipation; it’s a celebration of a new beginning complete with food, music and mingling – all the things we love. However, the thing that we here at ICE like best about Boishakh is the merriment it brings with it. And, yes, while some cynics may argue that the age-old festival has become more of a fashion event in Dhaka, we feel that there is still plenty of room for those of us who wish to stick to the traditional ways of celebration.
So while you are humming to Esho he Boishakh, peruse thorough the exclusive Boishakh issue we have put together for you in hopes of making the wait less agonising. As with most of our celebrations, this one also revolves around food too. As a result, this month our Cover Focus features celebrity chef Nahid Osman who dishes out some lip-smacking, traditional recipes for you to try out this year. Moreover, as fashion is a concern this season, we have showcased the brand-new Boishakh collections of the best fashion houses. In case you ever wondered how our stars celebrate the holiday, take a sneak peek into the life of the beautiful Moushumi. Bangladesh is a hotbed for emerging talent and lately young filmmaker Aung Rakhine has been creating ripples in our entertainment industry. And speaking of talent, last month we saw the first ever comedy festival hosted in Dhaka by local comedians. For a nation that loves to joke around and poke fun at itself, this was a much awaited event. Also featured in this issue is an interview with founders of Aurveda Wellness Centre, Zahida Ispahani and
Sarwat Abed. Be sure to check that out, especially if you are keen on de-stressing yourself.
To sum up, we have a wonderful issue prepared for you. All you have to do is dive in.