Decked up with lights and flowers, Union Club and Library wears a festive look for its sesquicentennial celebrations in Ranchi on Sunday. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Union Club and Library, the oldest cultural organisation of Ranchi that was established on November 27, 1864, started its sesquicentennial celebrations with a flag hoisting ceremony on Sunday morning.

Club president Jyotirmoy Choudhury did the honours, thus kick-starting eight-day-long festivities that will continue till November 30.

Around 300 members, who assembled on the club premises at Tharpakhna, Hazaribagh Road, on Sunday, also took out a prabhat pheri till Albert Ekka Chowk where they garlanded the statue of Ekka, the 1971 war hero who was awarded Paramveer Chakra posthumously.

Back at the club, which has been given a festive look with fresh coats of paint, lights and flowers for the occasion, two sporting events — 100 metre race and spoon race — were organised for the children of members. In the evening, members of karate wing of the club displayed their skills in the marshal art form.

A function at Union Club and Library is never complete sans a cultural bash. Lending such a touch, eminent Bengali writer Sanjeeb Chattopadhyay from Calcutta spoke volumes on the various aspects of his literary works during a sahitya sabha.

The day was also replete with nostalgia as office-bearers looked back at the club’s long journey. Besides, all senior club members (aged 65 years and above) were presented with mementos.

“An array of programmes has been lined up till November 30, said club’s vice-president Subir Lahiri.

Apart from health and blood donation camps and distribution of blankets and ration among the inmates of a local home, there will be yoga, acrobatic shows, fancy dress and drawing contests.

“Besides, cultural programmes have been slotted every evening,” Lahiri added.

On Monday evening, Shyama Prasad Niyogi of All India Radio, Ranchi, will render classical numbers with Debanjan Bhattacharya from Calcutta on sarod. Indrani Banerjee and troupe, also from Calcutta, will present kathak.

There will be chhau performance by a group from Purulia on Wednesday and vocal renderings by Calcutta artistes Chandrabali Rudra Dutta, Alok Roy Chowdhury and Sushmita Goswami on Thursday and Saturday evening.

In between, a Calcutta theatre group — Ha ja ba ra la — will present a drama on Friday. Celebrations will conclude on November 30 with Bangla band from Calcutta Gahek regaling the audience.