Celebration of Bangaliana in Silicon Valley

Thirty five miles south east of where the fog seldom clears over the Golden Gate Bridge and the bustling cable cars clang up and down the city's steep roads, the Californian winds will carry elemental tunes of Tagore songs, the twang of an Ektara, and the piquant aroma of Shorshe Ilish.

Over the last 37 years, three days of July are heartily, ethnically, musically and soulfully Bangali in some part of America. Every year, a new place. This year it is Santa Clara, a quaint yet populous county in the San Francisco Bay Area, more popularly known as the Silicon Valley. The much awaited 37th North American Bengali Conference will be held from July 7 to 9 at the heart of the city – the Santa Clara Convention Center.

Banga Sammelan is not just a celebration of Bangaliana, but to serve countless slices of Bengal on the global platter. It is also a platform for hundreds of NRIs who want to hold onto their heritage despite living far away from home. From the captivating mono-act of Debshankar Halder, the mesmerising sound of the hundred-stringed Kashmiri santoor of Rahul Sharma, charismatic Hindustani classical music of Subha Mudgal, to the mega concert by Shaan, the North American Bengali Conference has an enticing schedule of events lined up. The second International Bengali Film Award on July 8 will recognize the excellence in celluloid achievements in the Bengali film Industry, followed by musical performances by our very own Tollywood stars. One of the main attractions of the NABC this year is 'Fifty Years of Feluda' – a tribute to the immortal creation of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray through a special exhibit put together by his son Sandip Ray who is taking forward the legacy, and the screening of a few films from the famous detective series.

The sky above the Silicon Valley has already begun smelling sweeter. It is that time of the year when apple pie blends flawlessly with rosogollar payesh, and myriad hues of dhakai jamdani sarees overpower the hustle and bustle of the IT hub.

The incessant July rain has rejuvenated both Bengal and Bangladesh after the sultry summer. But in Santa Clara, the windiest month of July is rainless. Differences there might be many, but love for the language has connected people of Bengali diaspora from different parts of the world.