A dance drama on Bengali marriage in progress; (below) people visit Shahar Mela at Aam Bagan grounds in Sakchi. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, Jan. 11: On a lazy Sunday afternoon, the Bengalis of the steel city gathered at Shahar Mela to enjoy music and dance, chat and have their fill of the cuisine.

The Aambagan grounds in Sakchi was the place were the Bengalis got to connect with their culture and tradition.

With city-based singers were churning out Rabindra Sangeet, Nazrul Geeti and modern songs one after the other, the atmosphere was high on entertainment.

Over 1,200 people enjoyed the daylong fair which was aimed at spreading traditions and culture of Bengal among the probashi Bangalis (non resident Bengalis). People with families and friends flocked to the fair and sat engrossed in the cultural events that was lined up for the day.

About eight city-based cultural groups, a few renowned artistes of the city and some from Bengal took part in the extravaganza. On one hand there were folk music while on the other there were dance dramas on issues like traditional Bengali marriage.

“We were happy to see such huge participation from the people of the city this time. People flocked in and before we could realise we saw we were running short of food at the kiosks,” said Sabyasachi Chanda, the secretary of Shahar Mela committee.

On the fair spread were steamed rice, lentil, brinjal fry, cauliflower dish and fish curry. But the Bengali affair would have been incomplete without sweet delights. Therefore, the organisers of the fair arranged for a variety of sweet dishes. Puli pithe, malpoa, patishapta, doi, rosogolla and rice kheer were the delicacies. With Makar Sankranti round the corner the sweets seemed just perfect for the afternoon fare.

The committee had organised food for over 300 people who would spend their day at the fair amid music and dance.

“We had simple but traditional Bengali food for the visitors. This year there was a huge footfall, more than we expected, and better participation in terms of event and kiosks,” said Chanda.

The audience liked the instrument performance and folk art.

“I stayed till the dhak performance. The sound of the instrument takes me back to my days in Calcutta in the autumn season and during Durga Puja. The dhak artiste who came from Medinipur reminded us of our childhood days and it was a nostalgic one. He brought much variation in the playing of the musical instrument, though. It was awesome. I also enjoyed the Chhau performance of the Purulia troupe, Shehnai from Bankura and baul songs. Baul has now grown as an art of international stature because of its universal lyrics and pain involved in it,” said Anoushka Chatterjee, a housewife from Sonari who came to the fair.