SILCHAR, Jan 1 � In a bid to promote the culture of authentic Bengali songs, the people of Silchar thoroughly enjoyed Gaanmela, the open platform for singers to entertain music lovers with wonderful numbers.
The third edition of the two-day song festival which began on New Year�s eve on the District Sports Association premises here, added to the mood of celebration and brought the people closer, bridging the divides.
Sibabrata Dutta, president of the Gaanmela committee said, �We want that people here move beyond the half-hearted exercise of Western music and culture. We welcome the English New Year with a Bengali flavour.�
Dutta informed that the festival is an assembly of people who love to listen to good Bengali songs and the artistes performing here also have the opportunity to offer songs that touch the soul. He further informed that besides local artistes from across the valley, performers from Kailashahar in Tripura and Purulia in West Bengal and even from Bangladesh were also entertaining the audience.
Nakshatra Das Baul from Purulia is the star attraction of the occasion, Dutta said. While the stages were dedicated on Tuesday to the memory of legendary singer Manna Dey and veteran journalist of Barak Valley Jyotirendra Chandra Dutta who had recently passed away, those on Wednesday were dedicated to the liberator and first black President of South Africa Nelson Mandela and celebrated author Sunil Ganguly.
A photography exhibition cum competition by wel-known photojournalist Partha Seal in the memory of late Snehalata Seal was inaugurated during the song festival.
