Art and Culture

Chaltabagan Durga Puja festivities in Kolkata takes off amid dance and drum beats

by Trans World Features | @twfindia 20 Oct 2023, 12:15 pm

The Durga Puja, one of the biggest festivals in the world which earned the Intangible Cultural Heritage tag of Humnaity by UNESCO, has started in Bengal this year with a bang. Chaltabagan Durga Puja, one of the most popular pujas in Kolkata, too started the Durga Puja festivities with a gala function at the ITC Royal Bengal that was attended by eminent citizens Kolkata and members from the foreign diplomatic corps.

Guests were treated to mesmerising dance performance by Mimi Chakraborty, actress and Member of Parliament, to the beats of tabla by maestro Bickram Ghosh.

Actor-filmmaker Arindam Sil lent his captivating narration while culturist Sundeep Bhutoria, Chairman of Manicktalla Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja Committee, conceptualised the whole function and also chipped in with his own soulful recitations.

Mimi Chakraborty, Actress and Member of Parliament, rendering a dance performance at the Manicktala Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja function at the ITC Royal Bengal, Kolkata

Among others who attend the function were percussionist Tejendra Narayan Majumdar, fashion designer Abhishek Dutta along with Astrid Wege, Director of Max Mueller Bhavan, Kolkata, and Alexey Idamkin, Consul General, Federation of Russia, in Kolkata.

The evening was truly a celebration of art, culture, and talent, and it would be remembered as a remarkable showcase of the richness of our cultural heritage.

Bickram Ghosh performing at the Manicktala Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja function at the ITC Royal Bengal, Kolkata

Chaltabagan Durga Puja is one of the most prominent Pujas in West Bengal known not only for the uniqueness of their pandals and themes but also for passionately engaging in social initiatives and organising cultural extravaganzas showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Bengal.

Astrid Wege, Director of Max Mueller Bhavan in Kolkata and Alexey Idamkin, Consul General of Russia in Kolkata, try their hands at the dhak at the ITC Royal Bengal

Sundeep Bhutoria, Chairman, Manicktala Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Committee, at the Manicktala Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja function at ITC Royal Bengal

Arindam Sil at the Manicktala Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja function at ITC Royal Bengal

Mr Gaurav Soneja, GM, ITC Royal Bengal