The Bengali Nababarsha (New Year) is arriving on Friday and boy, every Bengali household is raring to celebrate the event.
There’s spring in the households of three lakh Bengalis who have made Bangalore their home. The Bengali Nababarsha (New Year) is arriving on Friday and boy, every Bengali household is raring to celebrate the event.
This Nababarsha holds special significance to Bengalis. “This year will witness the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore,” said Achintyalal Roy, president, Bengalee Association, Ulsoor.
The association, which has a membership of 1,500 families, is trying to spread awareness about Tagore among the younger generation by organising a series of events beginning with ‘Nababarsha’ and ending on Gurudev’s birthday on May 9.
On Friday, the association will organise a photo exhibition on Tagore by Sudha Murty, chairperson, Infosys Foundation. This will be followed by a musical evening based on Tagore’s songs and performance of Chandalika — a dance drama written by Tagore, by association members. Musical evenings, sessions on poetry and recitations, film shows and dance performances — all themed around Tagore — will be part of the 10 events planned for the occasion.
“On May 8, we are organising, Kabi Pranam at Ravindra Kalakshetra, JC Road where about 80 artists, Bengalis and non-Bengalis who hold Tagore close to their heart, will pay tributes to Gurudev,” Roy explained.
Two months of preparations have gone into organising the celebrations. “Most of our artists will be flown in from Kolkata. Getting their dates and organising their trip was one thing. Again, we tried to schedule most of our programmes during weekends, so that more interested people could attend,” Roy added. Entry to all these events are free and on a first-come, first-served basis. Food kiosks will be set up during the events to sell authentic Bengali fare. Other Bengali Associations around the city have also lined up huge celebrations for ‘Nababarsha’.
Himadri Nandi, secretary of Jayamahal Bengali Association, said: “About 80 families are on our rolls. We have organised a get together for our members on Friday evening.” The celebrations will all be about the community spending quality time at the association venue. They will not only greet each other and sing, but also cook and feast together.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}