Ranchi: Falling on Sunday, this year's Poila Baisakh was a relaxed treat for the capital's Bengalis who spent the day visiting temples, eating out and attending cultural events.

The day's first event, like in the previous years, was a cultural event of songs, dance and recitation atop Tagore Hill. Unlike other years that hardly saw 30 to 40 people turning up, attendance was around 150 this year as it was a Sunday.

"We have been organising the cultural function for the last two years to welcome the Bengali New Year. Attendance was surely much higher than in previous years as Poila Baisakh happened to fall on a Sunday," said Siddhartha Ghosh, president of Bangali Yuva Morcha that started the morning event two years ago.

Devotees who offered pujas at Kali Mandir on Church Road and Durga Bati at Albert Ekka Chowk in the morning also found it easy.

"Like every year, I wore a new pyjama-kurta. It is a part of Bangaliyana," said Aftab Ahmad, who owns an advertising firm here, referring to the quintessential Bengaliness.

"Since Poila Baisakh happened to be a Sunday, I was relaxed. There was no hurry to go to work and I spend the whole day lazing around," Aftab added.

Fish loving Anup Majumdar, who visited Lalpur market on Sunday morning, said he was also happy to see the variety on offer. Again, as it was a Sunday, he found the festive fish shopping less of a chore.

Hotel Zenista Inn near Kantatoli Chowk held a sort of daylong Bengali food festival comprising lunch and dinner with specialities such as bhapa ilish and dab-chingri.

Bengalis who love cultural programmes also had plenty of options in Ranchi.

Among well-known ones were a programme held at Plaza Hall in Tharpakhna and another at Mecon Community Hall in Shyamali Colony.

The event at Plaza Hall was hosted by Union Club and Library and featured Calcutta singer Bishwajit Dasgupta.

The function at Mecon Community Hall was hosted by Majlish, a cultural organisation of Bengali-speaking employees of Mecon and local SAIL units, and featured local artistes who presented songs, dance and recitation.