Bengali Cultural Association Annual Event

The stage spotlights flickered, exhibiting a multi-coloured display, symbolising perfectly the aims of the evening; for the Bengali Cultural Association to present to the audience their wonderfully warm and vibrant culture.

The evening started with opening speeches and a welcome from Dr Khaled the Chairperson of the Association and was greeted by a large applause. Approximately fifty people were gathered in the quaint hall to listen and watch some of the treasures of Bengali culture in celebration of Duvali, recently passed.

Miss Payel Debroy described her opening songs with a brief English translation to the Hindi and Bengali songs. She was accompanied by the Tabla. Her well-trained voice was literally music to my ears, although I had not heard this style of music before, this Raag and Taal, I could identify that such singing voices required training and more than that, passion.

Each song was emotive, and was designed to evoke spiritual feelings of celebrating and praising "the mother" as Payel called it. Dr Sangeeta Datta after, sang her garland of songs, also briefly translating to English. Dr Datta was accompanied by her husband on the violin and again the Tabla. One of her songs was a take on Auld Lang Syne, clearly showing how Scotland has links with Bengal and India, and she invited members of the audience to sing along.

In the interval, Traditional Bengali food was served and it was clear to see how the attendees and event co-ordinators alike were at ease in each other's company. After the interval, Miss Farha Reza pleasured the audience with her graceful moves during dances at first traditional, followed by a Bollywood, energetic dance. After which a further recital was performed by Mr Soumik Datta.

Although the event took place in a small hall, with an intimate gathering of people, it clearly fulfilled its ambitions to touch people and warm their hearts with the Bengali culture.