Celebration of Holi in a way is to let the colors touch the soul, besides the 'abir khela' and ‘ful dol’ were the sthought behind "Rang 2023" which was such a two-days' event organised at Moram by Tabla.inc and Art Illuminates Mankind on 1st and 2nd March, 2023.

 

On the first day, it started with a Baul Akhra by music maestro Pt Tanmoy Bose, Sadhan Das Bairagi, Maki Kajumi, alongwith their fellow students and other musicians. This session, accompanied by thandai, was followed by a classical music session by the students of Viswabharati University. Shalini Mitra presented Raag Kaushik Dhwani and the famous Dadra (Rang Sari Gulabi), accompanied by Shiladitya Chattoraj (student of Pt. Tanmoy Bose) on Tabla. Naresh Bagewadi played Raag Kaafi on Sitar alongwith Biswajit on Tabla. When the entire Moram was filled with such music, another pleasant performance of Tagore's song & dance and Esraj by students of Vishwabharati and Shri Sudripta Tagore, Principal of Shantiniketan Shishu Tirtha School respectively. Finally the day ended with mesmerizing Baul songs by Kartick Das baul, Sadhan Das Bairagi, Maki Kajumi, Radheshyam baul, Akkash Fakir and Krishna Das Bairaggya.

 

The second day started with the prayer through Hari Nam Sankirtan followed by the customary Prabhat Pheri through the red soil roads of Debanandapur. Touch of Abir and the fallen palash flowers on the roads made the morning vibrant and colourful. Villagers happily joined the walk and played with abir. Rang gave an experience of pottery to the participants by giving hands-on experience to the interested ones. It was a matter of great excitement and satisfaction to them in shaping the lump clay by the potter's wheel. It's spring and thus the sunny days are still not that hot in Birbhum, so post lunch, the bandmates of Paridhi and the Bauls enjoyed an impromptu jamming session where folk songs and semi-classical songs got fused. When the air was full of rhythm and the festive spree, the evening session started with an amazing segment of Manipuri dance, performed by the students of Sangeet Bhavana ( Vishwabharati) under the guidance and supervision of their respected teacher, Prof. Dr. Sumit Basu. The segment consisted nine dance performances and a special performance of Chitrangada by Tuhin Garai and Ankita Das. Following that, the Bangla Band Paridhi, gave an outstanding performance that included their own compositions as well as some folk songs of Lalon Fakir. Krishna Das Bairaggya joined the band, on request to sing a folk song of his own composition, based on Jhumur. 

Lastly, the Rang 2023 came to an end with Baul songs of Radheshyam Baul and Krishna Das and a joyous Abir khela, where the participants and hosts and all present there enjoyed thoroughly and had that touch of the colours in their heart. 

 

Bonnya Bose, the director of Tabla.inc mentioned, "We are looking forward to organizing such an event every year, hopefully in a larger scale." The founders of Moram, Mr. Gopal Poddar and Mrs. Sonali Chakraborty, being happy with such a response has already started to plan the one for the next year, only a year to go before they give us another such experience in the lap of nature in association with Tabla.inc.