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Rhythm, roots and reunions — festive season essentials for Debaditya Chaudhury

The musician-restaurateur celebrates tradition while keeping the Puja spirit alive through music

For Debaditya Chaudhury, Durga Puja serves as a precious opportunity to reconnect with family and friends amidst a busy year filled with concerts and entrepreneurial ventures. “Durga Puja is the only time for us to reconnect with friends,” he said. Debaditya spends his days balancing quality time with band members (of Lakkhichhara), who are also his college friends, and cherishing moments with his wife and daughter while enjoying pandal-hopping. “One day is reserved for friends from my old para (neighbourhood), while Dashami is dedicated to family — my brother, boudi, maa, and baba,” he added, highlighting the importance of these special days. However, this year he has missed that because of a gig in Gurgaon (Gurugram).

As part of his celebrations, Debaditya frequently performs at community pandals during Durga Puja. As concerts in the USA typically take place on weekends in auditoriums, he finds joy in connecting with audiences and making them feel at home, even when they are far from their roots. “It feels amazing to think that people living there still have not forgotten their roots,” he said, with a smile. During these performances, the band usually sticks to their rock music genre, but often incorporates folk songs to honour the festive spirit. This blend of tradition and contemporary music not only enriches the celebrations but also reinforces the cultural significance of Durga Puja.

— Urvashi Bhattacharya