In a vibrant celebration of Bangladesh’s Liberation Month, the Bengal Foundation is set to host a four-day cultural festival, “Prāne Āno Gān” (Bring the Song to Life), in Dhaka. Scheduled from tomorrow until 27 December, the festival will weave together music, poetry, recitation, folk traditions, visual arts, and crafts to reflect the country’s layered history, identity, and artistic heritage. The event will take place at the Bengal Art Lounge in Dhanmondi, with the support of Dhaka Bank.
According to the organisers, “Prāne Āno Gān” is more than a cultural showcase; it is part of the Bengal Foundation’s long-standing commitment to nurturing and promoting creative expression. The festival aims to connect younger generations with the values and ideals inspired by the Liberation War, fostering creativity, humanitarianism, and collective memory through music and art.
Daily performances will commence at 5:45 PM on Level 4 of the Bengal Art Lounge, with the official inauguration tomorrow at 6:00 PM, attended by Abdul Hai Sarker, Chairman of Dhaka Bank, as the chief guest. Over the four days, audiences can enjoy classical music, Nazrul Geeti, Rabindra Sangeet, folk songs, patriotic anthems, modern protest music, poetry recitation, and theatrical readings.
The daily programme highlights include:
Day 1: Patriotic songs and poetry recitation by Mostafizur Rahman, Manoshi Sadhu, Mainur Rahman Khan, and Mohiuddin Shamim; devotional Nazrul Geeti by Bitu Kumar Shil; folk music by Kiran Chandra Roy.
Day 2: Bengali Thumri by Supriya Das; excerpts from Jasimuddin’s Nakshi Kanthar Math read by Bhaskar Bandyopadhyay; popular film songs by Champa Banik; folk music by Labik Kamal.
Day 3: Songs of three renowned poets by Azizur Rahman; modern Nazrul Geeti by Susmita Debnath; recitation by Raihanul Amin Kallol; Rabindra Sangeet by Aditi Mohsin.
Day 4: Lesser-known Rabindra “Bhanga Gaan” by Mahua Manjari Sunanda; contemporary songs by Farzana Wahid Sayan; folk performances by Tuntun Baul.
Alongside musical performances, the festival hosts “Karukatha”, a daily exhibition of rural handicrafts and artisanal work from 12:00 PM in the Subir Chowdhury Courtyard. Additionally, a collective art exhibition, “Annaswar”, featuring 35 artists, will be displayed at the Kamrul Hasan Gallery, highlighting women’s life experiences, history, and the evolution of artistic practice. Children and teenagers can participate in the creative workshop “Akash-Kusum”.
Festival at a Glance
| Day | Main Performances | Notable Artists |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Patriotic songs, Nazrul devotional songs, Folk music | Bitu Kumar Shil, Kiran Chandra Roy |
| Day 2 | Bengali Thumri, Poetry reading, Film songs | Supriya Das, Champa Banik |
| Day 3 | Songs of three poets, Rabindra Sangeet | Azizur Rahman, Aditi Mohsin |
| Day 4 | Lesser-known Rabindra songs, Modern & Folk music | Farzana Wahid Sayan, Tuntun Baul |
Open to the public, “Prāne Āno Gān” offers a unique homage to the spirit of Liberation Month, reviving Bengali consciousness through the power of music, art, and cultural expression.