“Amar ekta bari Bangla, arekta Barsha.”
Translation: “My one home is Bengal, the other is Barsha.”
Rupam Islam of Fossils, the rock behemoth from Kolkata, had this to say when he took the stage on August 11, 2024, at Sunburn Union. In between the heart-wrenching songs from their twenty-six-year journey, he expressed his deep gratitude to Barsha for catering to the needs of the Bengali artists and audience alike.
What led to this moment of pride?
The well-orchestrated efforts of Barsha, the best Durga Puja Association in Bangalore.
What followed?
A crowd of two thousand Bengalis headbanging for an hour and a half. The dispelling of any doubts the venue had about hosting a vernacular act. A team of driven organizers jumping up in elation. A cohort of supporters, who didn’t understand a word of Bangla, tapping their feet. The missile called Fossils hit Bangalore, launched by Barsha Bengali Association.
Since its inception, Barsha has been striving to bring the true flavor of Bengal to Bangalore, especially what Bengalis miss the most—Durga Puja. Unparalleled by any other celebration across the nation, this festival takes the country by storm. For those of us shackled to a life far from home, we crave a pitstop that brings us back to life during those precious days of “Sharad” (Autumn) when Maa Durga slays Mahishasur with our devotions.
We haven’t claimed the moniker of “Best Durga Puja of Bangalore“; it has been bestowed upon us by all those who attend the event. The journey that led to such expectations was not easy, and Rupam’s love for us was not earned in a day. We have successfully transitioned from mid-sized convention halls to a full-sized ground that offers a state-of-the-art Mandap, a stage with the finest Bengali musicians, a cozy book fair, a plethora of authentic Bengali food outlets, and a laser show to top it all. That’s what makes us the grandest and the best.
Back to the night of August 11, 2024. At 8:30 pm, Tanmoy did the first drumroll, accompanied by Deep and Allan at their grungiest best. There was an uproar. Bouncers got cautious and huddled around the stage. Amid deafening hoots, Rupam took the stage. Fossils were in action. You might wonder why Fossils are in town when Durga Puja is still a couple of months away. Well, that’s how we, the Best Durga Puja of Bangalore, do it. We exceed your expectations.
The night wouldn’t have been complete without the evocative visuals by Arindam Sen.
This is the start of another journey where we build on the trust of being the Best Durga Puja of Bangalore and give the Probashi Bengalis a slice of Bengal all year round.
We are BARSHA Bengali Association.
