More than 3,000 artistes to perform at Bangla Sangeet Mela

Kolkata: More than 3,000 artistes will be performing

in the Bangla Sangeet Mela that will be held from December 23 to 30.

However, the extravaganza of the Bangla Sangeet Mela started on Saturday itself with the curtain raiser being held in front of Rabindra Sadan. Folk artistes from different parts of the state performed during the curtain raiser that took place in the presence of eminent singer Indranil Sen, Minister of State for Information and Cultural Affairs Department.

Veteran singer Dwijen Mukhopadhyay, Sriradha Bandyopadhyay and many other well-known singers were also present. The entire Rabindra Sadan area got a new look when the folk artistes performed Natua, Chhau and other folk dances one after the other. Bauls were found performing on a tableau that has been prepared based on the theme of Bangla Sangeet Mela.

Later, Sen held a press conference in which he announced that this year Bangla Sangeet Mela will be held at nine auditoriums including Rabindra Sadan, Madhusudan Mancha, Sisir Mancha, Phanibhusan Mancha, Mohur Kunja, Hedua Park, Deshapriya Park and Rabindra Okakura Bhavan in Salt Lake.

This is the first time the inauguration of the festival will be held in Uttirnya at Alipore instead of Nazrul Mancha. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be inaugurating the festival. The Biswa Bangla Loksanskriti Utsav will also be inaugurated on December 23 and it will continue till January 1. This year, the Sangeet Mela on December 25, 29 and 30 will begin in the morning while on rest of the days, it will take place as usual.

Announcing that "Matri Maa", collection of songs written and composed by the Chief Minister, has become gold disc, Sen said: "The Sangeet Utsav had been taking place for several years but it has reached a new height under the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the past six years. Several initiatives have been taken to support artistes."

Stating that a misinformation was getting circulated, he clarified that veteran singer Nirmala Mishra had been provided with all the necessary support including her treatment.