The annual celebration of Bengali music and culture takes place in Chicago

The annual Banga Sammelan by NABC saw the Bengali diaspora in Chicago gather to celebrate their roots, music and arts on July 4. This year, the theme was inspired by the Bengali concept of Bangalir Baro Mashe Tero Parbon, with celebrities like Iman Chakraborty, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Somlata, Koushik Chakraborty, Saikat Biswas, Rituparna Sengupta, Armaan Khan, Rakesh Chaurasia, Purbayan Chatterjee in attendance, among others. The event was curated by musician duo Sourendro-Soumyojit.

Elizabeth Lucia Thomas and her orchestra Chicago Chamber Orchestra, an all American, Bengali choir, added a different flavour to the event as they performed alongside the performing artists from Kolkata. The soiree also saw a befitting tribute to the late Ustad Rashid Khan, with a rendition of Aaoge Jab Tum performed by his son, Armaan Khan. Actor Parambrata Chattopadhyay and musician Iman Chakraborty were seen together, performing a fusion of Tagore’s song and excerpts from Swami Vivekananda’s historic speech in Chicago. Somlata, Koushik Chakraborty and Rituparna Sengupta on the other hand, ushered in Durga Puja festivities with their performances. Many artistes also belted out nostalgic Bengali tunes, to pay an ode to the Kolkata Film International Festival, celebrated annually every November. Mahua Chakraborty, choir coordinator from the committee said, “The choir members of the Sourendro-Soumyojit ensemble came from all corners of the USA. Their renditions of Durgomogiri or Ya Chandi left the audience spellbound.” To add to this, Partho Ghatak, cultural lead of the organising committee said, “We began planning this event a year back, and I am immensely thankful to all who are greatly vested in this program. Big thanks to Sourendro Soumyojit for helping us colour beyond the lines.”

Jonai Singh, the fulcrum of this collaboration added, "As a patron of Sourendro-Soumyojit's World Music Day celebration each year, I yearned to bring something similar to the US. When the first notes of Aha ki Anando played on stage today, everything seemed well worth it."
“The chamber orchestra, featuring 16 talented musicians from Chicago, and the choir group, composed of members from Bengali communities across North America, infused a unique charm into Sourendro Somyojit's exquisite rendition of timeless melodies,” concluded Abhishek Roy from the cultural team.