Bengal Classical Music Fest 2017 ends
Dhaka, Dec 31 (UNB) – The final night of Bengal Classical Music Festival (BCMF) 2017 ended on Sunday at Abahani playground in Dhanmondi with a mellifluous note by Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia’s heavenly flute recital.
Bengal Foundation organised the festival aiming to popularise and perpetuate the practice of classical music.
The maiden performance was Odissi dance recital by Vidushi Sujata Mohapatra with co-artist Soumya Bose. He was accompanied by Soumyaranjan Joshi on flute, Rupak K Parida on Vocal, Ramesh Chanda Das on Violin, Eklabya Moduli on the Pakhawaj. Lights were done by Jaydev Das.
Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor handed over the crest to the artiste.
The closing ceremony of BCMF2017 took place after the first performance.
Professor emeritus Dr Anisuzzaman chaired the closing ceremony while BRAC Chairperson Sir Fazle Hasan Abed was the chief guest.
Cultural exponent and president of Chhayanaut Dr Sanjida Khatun, managing director of Impress Telefilm and Channel I Faridur Reza Sagar and mother of Kazi Nabil Ahmed, also the vice-president of Abahani Limited Aminah Ahmed were present as special guests.
Dr Anisuzzaman said that it’s a matter of pride that every year the classical music festival is reaching a new height, which will add new pages to the history of reviving the heritage of classical music in Bangladesh under the patronisation of Bengal.
Sir Fazle Hasan Abed praised the organizsrs for arranging this mega event facing uncertainty and various obstacles arising from time to time.
Highlighting the importance of traditional festivals, Dr Sanjida Khatun urged the organisers to arrange such festivals all over the country. She also mentioned about making the folk genre a part of this kind of event, which eventually can ignite a great sense of humanity amongst us.
The next performances of the night were Mohan Veena by Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt. Pandit Subhen Chatterjee accompanied him on the Tabla. He performed Raga Maru-Bihag and Dhun. A crest was handed over to the artiste by Attorney General Mahbubey Alam.
Brajeswar Mukherjee was the next artiste to enthrall the audience with Khayal rendition where he performed Raga Jog. Pandit Subhankar Bannerjee was on the Tabla and Gourab Chatterjee on Harmonium. Eminent singer Shama Rahman handed over the crest to the artiste.
A wonderful Jugalbandi of Sitar by Pandit Kushal Das and Kalyanjit Das enchanted a sea of people at the dead of night. They performed Raga Jogkauns. Artist Monirul Islam and Singer Aditi Mohsin handed over the crest to the performers.
The penultimate performance of the night was Khayal by Pandit Kaivalya Kumar. He performed Raga Gorakh Kalyan and a Thumri in Raga Khamaj. He was accompanied by Sridhar Mandre on the Tabla, Dr Sudhangshu Kulkarni on Harmonium, Kumar Malakar and Abhijit Kundu of Bengal Parampara Sangeetalay on the Tanpura. Festival memento was handed over Pandit Kaivalya Kumar by BRAC University Vice Chancellor Dr Syed Saad Andalib.
The concluding performance of the mega festival was Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia’s mellifluous flute recital. He was accompanied by Pandit Subhankar Banerjee on Tabla, Pandit Bhavani Shankar on the pakhawaj, Vivek Sonar and Uka Nagai on flute and Mushfiqur Islam on the Tanpura.
He performed Raga Lalitha and folk tune and bhajan. Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith handed over the crest to the Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia.
The Bengal Classical Music Festival has been the largest classical music event in the subcontinent showcasing brilliant performances by over two hundred classically trained singers and dancers for the last five years.
The event this year was dedicated to eminent educationist, researcher and cultural exponent professor emeritus Dr Anisuzzaman.