Cultural events including ‘Baul Programme’ held in Hyderabad on April 20, 2025, on the occasion of Bengali New Year (Shubho Nababarsha)
(Prof Shankar Chatterjee)
All the communities in the world celebrate/perform many functions, festivals, and rituals. One is standard, i.e. the New Year. It is celebrated on various dates by different communities worldwide. This year, Bengali people celebrated the New Year, which is known as Shubho Nababarsha, on April 15, 2025 ( Bengali New Year is 1432). Since April 15 was a working day, mostly the Bengali-speaking ( because of marriage, a few others were also involved) people in the Suncity area of Hyderabad organised a cultural programme in Hyderabad on April 20, 2025. The Agomoni Cultural Organisation, Suncity, Hyderabad, in collaboration with SurAlaap Baul Group, New Delhi, organised a cultural event on April 20, 2025, as a part of Bengali New Year/Shubho Nababarsha 1432. The Agomoni Cultural Association has been set up as a socio-cultural organisation in Hyderabad in 2024, mainly by the Bengali people from different places in India. However, with heart and soul, they mingled with the local people of Hyderabad.
As a part of the cultural programme workshop on ‘Baul’ and subsequently ‘Baul’, songs were presented by the members of SurAlaap Baul Group, New Delhi, who came all the way from New Delhi to Hyderabad. In addition, songs and dances were performed by the members of the Agomoni Cultural Association. Regarding Baul, it may be mentioned here that the Baul are a group of mystic minstrels of mixed elements of Sufism and Vaishnavism from different parts of Bangladesh, West Bengal, Tripura, and Assam’s Barak Valley and Meghalaya. The Baul are a very heterogeneous group, with many sects, but their membership mainly consists of Vaishnava Hindus and Sufi Muslims. Their distinctive clothes and musical instruments can often identify them. Lalon Shah is the most celebrated Baul saint (Wikipedia).
For the first time in the Suncity area of Hyderabad, residents experienced the Baul music. It is noteworthy to mention that SurAlaap Global Music Concerts, a registered musical entity founded in 2020, spreads and connects Indian music with various global platforms. SurAlaap has connections with multiple musicians, artists, and musically rich people for intercultural information exchange and creating new productions. For Bengali music, SurAlaap has organised events like Baul Meet , world music day celebrations, and other initiatives on online and offline platforms.
SurAlaap has partnered with various musical entities with other countries such as Myanmar, Kazakhstan, Iran, Bangladesh, and Turkey.
The renowned artists — Sri Sudip Guha Roy, Smt Jhilik Modak, Sri Sham Khepa, Sri Milan Hira, and Sri Biswajit Babu — enthralled the audience with their performances of Baul spirit. Distinguished personalities, namely Sri Chandan Chaudhary, Sri Gopi Sikdar, and Prof. Shankar Chatterjee, graced the event. The cultural event was formally inaugurated with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, led by the honoured guests alongside Agomoni’s Sri Sumay Maity, President; Sri Mridul Chakraborty, General Secretary; Smt. Kanchan Routh, Cultural Secretary, and other executive committee members.
The cultural journey of the evening commenced with a melodious group song performed by Agomoni’s members. In addition, three individuals, Smt. Shelly Routh, Smt. Sonam and Smt. Srestha Bhaumick mesmerized the audience through their dance. Smt. Satwati Sil sang two songs written by the great poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. Around 100 people, irrespective of age and gender, attended the event, which was finally over with a scrumptious dinner.
The programme was meticulously organised so all the guests, irrespective of gender and age, thoroughly enjoyed the events.
(Author is a former Professor & Head (CPME), NIRD & PR, Hyderabad, India)
