“How many little joys you would bring along during Bijoya… and there were letters too, written on blue inland letters and postcards, carrying affectionate greetings from one household to another.”
These evocative lines from poet Aryatirtha formed the emotional backdrop of Alokdhwani, a cultural evening organised by Kalasamanway, which sought to create a bridge between the melancholy of Bijoya Dashami and the illumination of Deepavali.
Hosted at Adabari by Anindya Pal and Debolina Choudhury, the event unfolded as a celebration of memory, music, literature and conversation. The programme opened with a recitation of Aryatirtha’s poetry by Sandipa Chakravarty, whose thoughtful curation lent the evening both cohesion and vibrancy.
The distinguished guest, educationist Dr. Amalendu Chakravarty, reflected on a defining feature of Bengali culture: its ability to embrace and internalise traditions from beyond its own geography. Whether it is Sita from Mithila, Sati from Kankhal, Uma from Kailash or the fierce Goddess Kali, Bengal has welcomed them all into its cultural imagination, preserving their stories through folklore, almanacs and devotional narratives.
As Uma’s annual visit comes to an end and Kali’s arrival approaches, Alokdhwani explored this transition through poetry, music and storytelling. The programme’s chief guest, poet and Jugashankha editor Bikash Sarkar, shared memories of Durga Puja immersions from his childhood in Goyerkata. He also offered a fascinating account of the indigenous Asur community of North Bengal, who regard Mahishasura as their ancestor and observe rituals that commemorate his struggle. Their traditions present an alternative interpretation of a myth that is otherwise dominated by the victory of good over evil.
This perspective found a powerful echo in Snigdha Nisha Barkataki’s recitation of Shubha Dasgupta’s poem Mahishasur More Na (Mahishasura Never Dies), a reminder that while clay effigies disappear beneath the water each year, the demons within society and human consciousness often endure.
Music remained at the heart of the gathering. Performances by Tuktuk Bhattacharya, Poulami Dutta, Sohini Bhattacharya, Abhijit Das, Sushanta Choudhury and Debolina Choudhury captivated the audience. Recitations by Nairita Bandyopadhyay, Swapan Pal and Sunirmal Chakravarty, devotional renditions by Rajarshi Sarkar, and spontaneous audience participation enriched the atmosphere further.
By the end of the evening, Alokdhwani had become much more than a cultural programme. It emerged as a celebration of a fading Bengali tradition, reminding its audience that light is not merely found in lamps, fireworks or decorative illuminations. Its true abode lies in stories, songs, memories, culture and the enduring human connections that illuminate our lives long after the festivals are over.