The Bengali community in Lucknow came together on Sunday to celebrate Poila Baisakh, the Bengali New Year, alongside the 165th birth anniversary of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. The event was held at the Kala Mandapam auditorium and was organized by the Pravasi Bangiyo Cultural Committee.
Traditional Musical Evening
The programme featured a traditional musical evening with Bengali folk music and dance performances. The highlight of the event was a performance by noted Bengali singer Tirtha Bhattacharya from West Bengal, who presented Rabindra Sangeet and folk songs. He was accompanied by artists playing rare traditional instruments, drawing an enthusiastic response from the audience.
Folk Dances and Dhunuchi Dance
Folk dances were performed to Rabindra Sangeet, while a dhunuchi dance by a troupe of performers brought the evening to a close. The dhunuchi dance is a traditional Bengali dance performed with incense burners, adding a spiritual and cultural touch to the celebrations.
Floral Tributes to Tagore
Floral tributes were paid to Tagore’s portrait by several dignitaries, including chief guest Swami Mukthinathananda, president of Ramakrishna Math; deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak; senior BJP functionary Neeraj Singh; Awadh prant pracharak Kaushal; Sangh special liaison chief Prashant Bhatia; senior IAS officer Amit Ghosh; and DG, UP SSF, D K Thakur.
Social Initiatives by the Committee
Organizer Satyabrata Dutta highlighted that the committee is also engaged in various social initiatives. These include women’s empowerment, environmental conservation, support for animals and birds, education and food services for children living in slums, and assistance in marriages of underprivileged young women. The committee aims to contribute to the welfare of the community beyond cultural celebrations.
