Poush
Poush (Bengali: পৌষ; Nepali: पौष) is the 9th month of both the Bengali calendar[1] and the Nepali calendar. It overlaps December and January of the Gregorian calendar. It is the first month of the winter season. This month marks the start of Winter (শীত, Sheat) in the Bengali calendar.
| Poush | |
|---|---|
 Morning dew drops signal the arrival of Poush - the beginning of winter | |
| Native name | পৌষ (Bengali) |
| Calendar | |
| Month number |
|
| Number of days |
|
| Season | Winter |
| Gregorian equivalent | December-January |
| Significant days | Poush 31 - Poush Sankranti |
Etymology
This month is named after the star Pushya (পুষ্যা).
Culture
During Poush crops are harvested and farmers often have ample food and income. Bengali people celebrate Poush Sankranti as one of their festival on the last day of Poush.[2] They make Pitha at their homes and share those among each others.[3] Bangladesh Poush Mela Udjapon Parishad organises a three-day fair in Dhaka, Bangladesh.[4][5]
In his novel Ganadevata, the noted Bengali writer Tarashankar Bandopadhyay quotes a rural rhyme:
- Poush-Poush, golden Poush,
- Come Poush but don't go away, don't ever leave,
- Don't leave Poush, don't,
- The husband and son will eat a full bowl of rice.[6]
Observances marked (per official use in Bangladesh)
- Poush 1 - Victory day of Bangladesh
- Poush 9 - Christmas Eve
- Poush 10 - Christmas
- Poush 11 - Boxing Day
- Poush 17 - New Year's Day
- Poush 22 - Traditional Epiphany and Armenian Christmas
- Poush 23 - Christmas according to the Julian Calendar
- Poush 31 - Poush Sankranti
References
- "Bangabda - Banglapedia". en.banglapedia.org. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
- "Poush sankranti recipes". The Daily Star. 2016-01-05. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
- "Poush mela and pitha utshab held". The Daily Star. 2015-01-15. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
- "Winter melodies around Poush". The Daily Star. 2011-01-09. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
- "Poush Mela held at Ramna". The Daily Star. 2015-01-09. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
- Mukhopadhyay, Manabendra, Tarashankar's Birbhum , Paschim Banga , Birbhum Special Issue, February 2006, (in Bengali), pp. 259-68, Information & Cultural Department, Government of West Bengal.