Bengali Club in Lucknow to Celebrate 1431st Bengali New Year with Musical Extravaganza

The vibrant celebration of the 1431st Bengali New Year is set to unfold in the heart of Lucknow at the iconic Bengali Club. Renowned singer from Kolkata, Soumi Ghosh, along with her band, will grace the 130-year-old club premises with melodious Bangla folk songs on the auspicious day of Sunday, April 14.

In the bygone era, when the Bengali community predominantly resided in areas like Sunderbagh, Model House, Shivaji Marg, and more, the tradition of Prabhat Pheri, marked by soul-stirring renditions of Atul Prasad Sen‘s classics like ‘Nutan Barash Nutan Barash Anchale O Ki Dhaka’, used to resonate through the streets.

Arun Kumar Banerjee, the president of Bengali Club, reminisced on the cultural ethos that once unified the community in older localities. Despite the dispersal of Bengalis across Lucknow, the club’s commitment to nurturing cultural bonds remains unwavering through annual musical gatherings celebrating the Bengali New Year.

While the diaspora now spans different corners of the city, the essence of the festivities remains rich with traditional Bengali cuisine featuring quintessential dishes like rice, ‘bhaja’, ‘shukto’, accompanied by sweet treats including ‘payesh’, ‘mishti doi’, and ‘rasogolla’. The day is further adorned with new attire, prayers at Kali Bari Mandir, and the opening of ‘halkhata’ – new account books in business establishments among Bengali entrepreneurs.

Adding to the grandeur of the occasion, the Bengali Club & Youngmen’s Association, Lucknow, will kick off the Poila Boishak celebrations at 8 pm on Sunday with a jubilant evening highlighted by cultural performances. Soon after, the famous Bengali sweet, Darbesh, will be shared among attendees, enhancing the spirit of togetherness and festivity.