Marking a decade of dedication to national cultural expression and the richness of indigenous traditions, cultural organisation Joltorongo is set to celebrate its 10-year journey with a special programme titled “Bhalo Theko Phool” at the Chhayanaut Cultural Center in Dhanmondi.

Today marks the 164th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel laureate whose literary brilliance and humanist ideals continue to inspire generations. Across Bangladesh, cultural institutions are paying homage to the iconic poet with a wide range of commemorative events.

Thousands of Bangalees ushered in Bengali Year 1432 at Ramna Batamul on Monday morning, as Chhayanaut’s iconic Pahela Baishakh celebration marked its 58th edition with renewed hope, harmony, and heritage.

As the sun rose over Dhaka, Chhayanaut’s Pahela Baishakh celebration for the Bengali year 1432 began at Ramna Batamul. The theme of Chhayanaut's Pahela Baishakh celebration this year is "Amar Mukti Aloy Aloy" (my freedom lies in light). Through this theme, Chhayanaut aims to convey a message of hope, resilience, and renewal.

As the nation now stands on the cusp of renewal, Pahela Baishakh 1432 arrives at a time when the people of Bangladesh are eager to reclaim their cultural voice—seeking a deeper connection to its identity, heritage, and hope. For centuries, it has been an occasion of collective celebration, resilience, and unity.

Chhayanaut is all set to celebrate Bangla New Year, Pahela Baishakh, with its iconic cultural programme at Ramna Batamul in Dhaka.

Chhayanaut paid its final respects to one of its founding members and current president, the eminent cultural figure, Rabindra researcher, and musicologist Sanjida Khatun, through the song "Amar Mukti Aloy Aloy”.

The 92-year-old eminent musicologist passed away due to old age complications

The much-anticipated annual Nazrul Utsav 2025 kicked off yesterday, celebrating the philosophies of Kazi Nazrul Islam, the national poet whose works embody a powerful message of secularism, humanity, and unity. The two-day festival, organised by the Bangladesh Nazrul Sangeet Songstha (BNSS) at the Chhayanaut premises, is scheduled to run from 5pm to 9:30pm, featuring performances by over 100 artistes from Bangladesh.

Notable Indian artistes participating in this event include Shreeradha Bandyopadhyay, Manomay Bhattacharya, Pandit Tushar Dutta, Brajeswar Mukherjee, and Payel Kar. Among the distinguished Bangladeshi artistes lending their voices to this initiative are Yakub Ali Khan, Khairul Anam Shakil, Ferdous Ara, Nashid Kamal, and Yasmin Mushtari.

In the ever-evolving Bangladeshi dance scene, Motmainna Moni craves to leave a mark with her grace and poise. The young dancer age-old practices of Bangladeshi dance with a contemporary edge.

In a heartfelt tribute to one of Bangladesh's most revered Rabindra Sangeet singers, Papia Sarwar, the 43rd annual session of the Jatiyo Rabindra Sangeet Sammilan Parishad will honour her with the prestigious Rabindra Padak posthumously.

Papia Sarwar, renowned Rabindra Sangeet exponent and Ekushey Padak laureate, passed away at a private hospital in Dhaka yesterday. She was 72.

Chhayanaut launched its December initiative titled Jagoroni (awakening) today, to honour the Liberation War. They will be releasing a new song each morning throughout the month as part of the initiative. To mark the start of the victory month and the debut of its digital platform, the institution broadcasted the national anthem sung by thousands of voices.

The Bharat-Bangladesh Film Festival, a three-day event, commences in Kolkata. This festival has been organised by the Bidhannagar Film Society of West Bengal in collaboration with the Fazlul Haque Mani Smriti Sansad, the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC) of Kolkata, and the eastern section of the Federation of Film Society.

Since its inception in the 1960s as a form of resistance against Pakistani rule, Chhayanaut's New Year celebration at Ramna Batamul in Dhaka has become a hallmark event, marking the commencement of the Bangla New Year’s festivities.

While most cultural programmes I seem to attend in the months of February and March seem to revolve around the themes of the 71’ Liberation War, Joltogongo’s musical programme yesterday was much like the others, however, it had much more to offer.

I am profoundly grateful to the institution which helped me evolve both as a music lover and as a human being.

Dhanmondi has always had a cultural identity of its own – be it the grand two-storeyed family bungalows, the sounds of rehearsals at Chhayanaut, the majestic Eidgah Masjid, or the playfields that kids flocked to. Even with the sprawling high-rise buildings, Dhanmondi, its lake, and its street stalls still maintain its rustic charm.

The “Bangalee way” in the sense of a single, linear way is a myth at best, and nationalist propaganda at worst.