Nagpur hosts 'Festival of Bengal' from today

Nagpur: The Festival of Bengal, a grand cultural extravaganza celebrating Bengal's rich artistic and literary heritage, is set to commence at Chitnavis Centre on Saturday. The two-day event (March 22 and 23) promises to immerse Nagpurians in the essence of Bengali culture through a vibrant mix of music, dance, drama, and thought-provoking discussions.
Art and music enthusiasts can look forward to mesmerizing performances featuring traditional folk and classical forms, along with an exploration of Bengal's deep-rooted contributions to Indian culture. Authentic Bengali cuisine will also be available, adding a delightful culinary experience to the festivities.
The festival will open at 6:30 pm with a musical presentation by Sharmistha Jha, highlighting the 'Essence of Bengal in Hindi Film Music'. This will be followed by 'Basanta Utsav', a dance recital celebrating the spirit of Shantiniketan's Spring Festival, performed by renowned artist Madhumita Chuckerbutty and her disciples.Adding a theatrical touch to the evening, the Hindi play 'Maa Mujhe Tagore Bana De', directed by Lucky Gupta, will bring Rabindranath Tagore's literary influence to life. The day will conclude with a soulful performance of Bhatiyali folk singing by Tirtha Bhattacharjee and his group, highlighting Bengal's deep connection with its rivers and the melodies of boatmen.
The second day will begin with a special session from 10 am to 12 pm on 'Bengal's Contribution to Art, Culture, Political Thinking, and Spirituality'. Eminent speakers Kalyan Kumar Chakravarthy and Gouri Basu from Kolkata will discuss Bengal's intellectual legacy.At 6 pm, Shri Bula Ghosh will present a captivating musical performance, followed by Sitar Banabas, a unique puppetry show by Subasgram Puppetry Theatre, led by Gautam Halder, at 6:45 pm.
At 7:30 pm, the stage will come alive with an audio drama and verse performance by Nina Saha, Anand Sinha, and Raja Mukherjee.
The festival will conclude at 8 pm with an enchanting Baul singing performance by the renowned Kartick Das Baul, showcasing the spiritual and philosophical depth of Bengal's wandering minstrels.
Festival Schedule
Saturday, March 22
6:30 pm – Essence of Bengal in Hindi Film Music by Sharmistha Jha
7:00 pm – BASANTA UTSAV dance recital by Madhumita Chuckerbutty & disciples
7:30 pm – Hindi play Maa Mujhe Tagore Bana De by Lucky Gupta
8:00 pm – Bhatiyali folk singing by Tirtha Bhattacharjee & group
Sunday, March 23
10:00 am - 12:00 pm – Special session on Bengal's Contribution to Art, Culture, Political Thinking, and Spirituality by Kalyan Kumar Chakravarthy & Gouri Basu
6:00 pm – Musical presentation by Shri Bula Ghosh
6:45 pm – SITAR BANABAS puppetry show by Subasgram Puppetry Theatre, Gautam Halder
7:30 pm – Audio drama & verse performance by Nina Saha, Anand Sinha & Raja Mukherjee
8:00 pm – Baul singing by Kartick Das Baul
FREE ENTRY TO ALLFor more details, contact: 9423033340