Blending tradition with modernity, the 14th Sutanati Utsav, hosted by Sutanati Parishad, promises, as always, to celebrate the day Job Charnock set foot here. To be inaugurated this evening at 6.30 by mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, with urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya as chief guest, the opening day's programme features The Draupadi Phenomenon, an Odissi recital by Sanchita Bhattacharya (picture left) and her troupe. Conceived and choreographed by her, it serves as the voice of modern women and takes a look at the epic heroine?s life from various perspectives. Tomorrow?s programme has songs from Tagore?s plays presented by Srijani (6.30 pm) and vocal recitals by Nupurchhanda Ghosh (7.30 pm) and Nita Banerjee (8.30 pm). August 26 will witness an inter-school talent search competition (1 pm) followed by a talk by Prof. Hossanur Rahman to commemorate the centenary of the partition of Bengal (6.30 pm), along with songs from that period (7.30 pm). On August 27, there will be a majlis for women (5 pm) and a trip down memory lane through discussions (5 pm); felicitations to eminent city personalities Somnath Chatterjee, Rudraprasad Sengupta, Tarun Dutta and Amal Dutta (7.30 pm) and finally an orchestra in memory of V. Balsara. A fitting finale to the festival is a grand feast on August 28, on the lines of the traditional bhoj of the babus of old Calcutta.

Event: Sutanati Utsav

When: August 24 - 28

Where: Sovabazar Natmandir, 33R Raja Nabakrishna Street