AGARTALA, April 13 (TIWN): Just when counting hours are left for the people to celebrate their Bengali New Year, people all across the state are busy in decorating their houses.

Shopkeepers are busy in buying Ganesh idol, aiming to perform puja in their shop.

It is to be mentioned here that Bengalis of all religious persuasions celebrate this secular holiday with music, song and, of course, plenty of good food. It's only appropriate to go all out, food-wise, on naba barsha, as Bengalis call the holiday.

Food in Bengali is synonymous with all events and happenings. But for festivals like the one for the New Year, Bengalis go the whole nine yards on the dinner table.

People also decorate their houses with alpanas and rangoli.

The first day of the Bengali year therefore coincides with the mid-April New Year in Mithila, Assam, Burma, Cambodia, Kerala, Manipur, Nepal, Odisha, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu and Thailand.

However, people also exchange gifts with families and friends and with their close one. People prepare sweets visits the houses of the relatives and greet them. Children take blessings from the elder’s in their houses.

On the other hand, though the price hike in the market area has upset the people but yet they are managing to celebrate the day.

However, to welcome the New Year with enthusiasm people clean up their houses and decorate it with various colourful items including rangolis and alpanas in front of their houses.

People are managing their pockets by deducting the monthly budget.