One of the country's luxury hotels, Sheraton Dhaka, will throw open its Grand Ballroom next week for a daylong Bengali New Year celebration, organisers announced Tuesday, promising an expanded edition of last year's event that drew hundreds of guests.

The Borshoboron Mela 2026, marking Pohela Boishakh — the first day of the Bengali calendar — will run from noon to 8:00 PM on April 14, offering a blend of traditional food, cultural performances, fairground attractions, and retail stalls under one roof.

Building on the momentum of last year's edition, which welcomed more than 400 guests, organisers say this year's mela has been scaled up with a wider lineup of activities and entertainment catering to all age groups.

Street Food Meets Grand Ballroom

Food coupons will cover a spread of beloved street food staples—chotpoti, jhalmuri, faluda, and gurer cha—alongside a live pitha station serving chitoi, bhapa, and teler pitha, the rice-based delicacies synonymous with Bengali festive culture.

Additional food stalls will offer fuchka, jilapi, roshogolla, raw mango juice, and heartier fare, including the quintessential Pohela Boishakh dish of panta-ilish—fermented rice served with hilsa fish—as well as khichuri with beef and fried rice with chicken.

A Mela in Every Sense

True to the spirit of a traditional village fair, the event will feature a train ride, merry-go-round, teacup ride, bubble house, ball pool, circus show, puppet show, bioscope, and a fortune teller, alongside modern additions such as VR and arcade games.

Competitions scheduled throughout the day include an art competition and fashion show for children, a biscuit race, balloon-popping contests, musical chairs for ladies, and what organisers describe as "many more exciting surprises."

Contemporary lifestyle stalls will offer clothing, handicrafts, jewellery, perfumes, and gifts, rounding out what the hotel describes as a "safe, premium, and festive environment" for families from Dhaka's upscale communities.

Sheraton Dhaka said the event reflects its commitment to celebrating Bengali heritage and community spirit in a setting that blends tradition with comfort.

Tickets are priced at BDT 2,500 per person, which includes entry and food coupons. Children under five will be admitted free of charge. Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1bqJZbGjyK/

Pohela Boishakh, which falls on April 14 this year, is one of the most widely celebrated occasions in Bangladesh, marked by colourful processions, traditional music, and festive gatherings across the country.