The Manicktalla Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja Dhakutsav at ITC Sonar was a musical extravaganza
Upasya Bhowal
Published 07.10.21, 04:32 PM
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(L to R) Hariharan, Bickram Ghosh and Amit Kumar play the dhak at the Manicktalla Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja Dhakutsav on Wednesday, presented in association with the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, with ABP Digital as media partner.
Amit Datta
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Lighting of the lamp by (L to R) Manicktalla Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja Committee president Ashok Jaiswal, musician duo Sourendro-Soumyajit, Shaan, Bickram Ghosh, Amit Kumar, Hariharan, Mahalakshmi Iyer and Committee chairman Sundeep Bhutoria.
Amit Datta
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Manicktalla Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja Committee chairman, Sundeep Bhutoria, drums up a beat at the Dhakutsav.
Prabha Khaitan Foundation
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(L to R) Mahalakshmi Iyer, Zubeen Garg, Amit Kumar, Bickram Ghosh, Shaan and Hariharan took the stage at ITC Sonar Bangla on Mahalaya evening for the launch of Ghosh’s multi-artiste Puja release — 'Aaj baja tui dhaak'.
Amit Datta
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Saswata Chatterjee attended the event with wife Mahua. While talking about how good it was to be back at the Dhakutsav, he was quick to point out that despite things opening up, the COVID situation was not completely under control. “The mask is a must,” he cautioned.
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Sourendro and Soumyajit were also present at the event. “Since the dhak is the main instrument of Bengal, it makes us very proud to present this instrument to the global audience. It is the pulse of the state. So, the name Dhakutsav makes me very happy,” smiled Sourendro Mullick.
Amit Datta
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The first performance of the evening was by a Sankha Badon troupe from Odisha. The artistes blew on the conch shells hanging around their necks as they performed various stunts.
Amit Datta
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Members of the audience had a chance to hum along to well-loved songs like 'Tomay hrid majhare rakhbo' as the Baul singers took the stage in a splash of vibrant colours.
Amit Datta
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Shrreya Pande sported the classic Puja look in a white sari paired with a red and golden blouse.
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The event marked the premiere of the official video for 'Aaj baja tui dhaak'. It is the title track from Bickram Ghosh’s Durga Puja album, which will be released one song at a time over the next few weeks.
Amit Datta
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Bickram Ghosh with wife Jaya Seal during the screening of the official music video for 'Aaj baja tui dhaak'.
Amit Datta
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(L to R) Zubeen Garg, Mahalakshmi Iyer, Hariharan and Shaan break into an impromptu jig while performing on stage.
Amit Datta
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The evening drew to a close with a dance performance that included the Dhunuchi Naach.
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When asked how it felt to be a part of a Puja release, Shaan said: “It was very thrilling to be a part of this song. I mean you’re singing a couple of lines but the fact that you’re part of such a big song, it feels great.”
Amit Datta
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“We have brought in Sankha Badon from Orissa since Sankha is such an integral part of Bengal. And we have given them Baul. And Dhunuchi Naach. Again dhunuchi is an important part of Durga Puja,” said Gouri Basu, the director of EZCC.
Amit Datta
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Speaking about the new Puja album and the song, Kolkata-based designer Abhishek Dutta, said: “A release like this brings the youth of the country closer to their roots. I think taking inspiration from your culture is very important, no matter what you do.”
