On April 14, CC&FC came alive with the sound of music for Shubho Poila Baishakh in association with t2. Raghab Chatterjee belted out songs like Chand keno ase na amar ghore, Behag jodi na hoy, Banshi shune ar kaj nai, Allah ke bande, as music lovers listened in rapt attention.
t2 caught up with Raghab for a Poila Baisakh adda.
What are your favourite Poila Baisakh memories?
I am a suburban boy. My ancestral home is in Naihati. I still spend most of my time there. Our family has an age-old printing and publishing business, and so we would offer prayers to Lord Ganesha on Poila Baisakh. A large joint family of 20 to 30 members coming together for this celebration meant a festive atmosphere, complete with the beats of the dhaak. In the evening, I would visit shops with my grandfather and enjoy sweets. New clothes were integral to our celebration and we still continue with that tradition. My parents gift my children new clothes every year; once during Poila Baisakh and once during the Pujas.
Was music a part of the celebrations?
My aunt, my mother and my uncle’s friends would take part in Poila Baisakh jalshas.
Is there any song that brings back these memories?
Many of the records of Manna Dey or Kishore Kumar that came out at that time during the Pujas were played again on Poila Baisakh. Amar moner ei mayur mohole is one such song that makes me nostalgic. Another common track was Chalo jai chole jai dur bohu dur. These songs have kept the memories of those times alive.
What’s Nava Varsha without a bhuri bhoj... any fond food memories?
Of course, food was a big part of the festivities! During my childhood, the practice of eating out was not so popular. There were restaurants, but on occasions like this, we used to cook at home. It was the time when meat meant only mutton for us. Numerous dishes were prepared, and all family members would sit together for a grand feast.
Eating in or out, what do you prefer now on Poila Baisakh?
That depends on where I am and my schedule. We have a lot of work pressure on days like these — shows in and outside Calcutta. If I’m home, we have lunch at home and go out for dinner.
“From Lohri to Christmas, we celebrate all festivals at CC&FC. Raghab being a popular singer, our Bengali members wanted him to perform on Poila Baisakh. Members of Royal Selangor Club, our associate club in Malaysia, have come to get a taste of our Bengali culture,” said Gaurab Ghosh, general committee member (entertainment), CC&FC.
Text: Udayan Mitra
Pictures: Arnab Mondal
