The Bengal Heritage Project (BHP), an initiative of the London Sharad Utsav (LSU), other noted organisations, and supported by the SOAS University of London, was launched on Saturday, the 11th of February at Victoria Hall, Harrow. BHP aims to showcase Bengal’s exceptionally rich cultural legacy to a global audience, to create a conducive environment for wider commercial success of its art, tourism, and culture.
Saturday's launch saw extraordinary performances by two Patachitra artists from Naya village, Kharagpur (Bengal). They exhibited two paintings based on the stories of Komagatamaru as well as Lord Krishna, and enchanted a packed hall of audience with their authentic Pata Gaan. The event also had a food festival with stalls serving traditional Bengali cuisine. There were ethnic wear, jewellery, and natural cosmetics’ stalls which had the hosts handpicking clothing, cosmetics and ornaments from all parts of India – West Bengal, Punjab, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Delhi. From traditional Dokra jewellery and Kantha embroidery (West Bengal), to Phulkari (Punjab), the chosen collections were a favourite among the attendees.
The launch started with Saraswati Pujo, followed by an introduction to the BHP by the LSU Team, and words of encouragement from the South Asia Institute at SOAS. The occasion was graced by Councillor Sue Anderson (Harrow Council), and Ex-Councillor Mrinal Choudhury. First of the live performances was Shri Rabindranath Tagore’s composition, Ananda Loke (“Abode of Joy”) by Team LSU. This was followed by the Pata/Pawter Gaan, and a dance depiction of Durga by a student of SOAS. The event concluded with dance acts by the LSU team and young performers from Sanskriti, which also supports the BHP in UK. The proposed events of the BHP in 2017 include an art exhibition in March, UK Rabindra Jayanti workshop with food fest in May, a music festival in June, and the grand UK Durga Pujo in October.
The highlight of the initiative is the installation of a Durga idol in the City of London. This idol will be made by a noted Indian sculptor from Kolkata, who will travel to the UK to create the masterpiece. The sculpting process will be filmed and documented by a Kolkata-based institute, iLead. The idol will be a modular art piece in which every year the head of Goddess Durga will be sculpted afresh. The idol will also have a new look each year, promoting one traditional art form at a time. The clothing and ornaments will showcase various forms of Bengal's textiles- Jamdani, Pata, Kantha, Baluchari, Murshidabad silk, among others.
