Bengal Classical Music Festival: A spiritual occasion of melodious symphony

Classical music plays an integral role in contemporary music, shaping how it is for over the years. The root of classical music is buried deep into the palaces and sanctuaries of kings, feudal lords, and spiritual leaders. The spiritual and ethnic traditions of the ancient Indian subcontinent have originated the practice of music, and it has been passed from generation to generation as a tradition.

The backbone of classical music has been upheld by many significant musicians throughout history who were in love with the unfathomable depth of the music and made it possible to feel this love by the audience. Classical music is hugely practised in India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, forming the basis of a tradition for the evolution of modern classical music.

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Unfortunately, the new generation is more leaning to the western music cultures due to cultural globalization, and the appreciation of classical music is lost on them. The ancient legendary maestros’ contribution to bringing classical music into people’s hearts will be lost if we cannot understand the spiritual message in the music.

To enrich our taste in classical music, the Bengal Foundation took the initiative in 2012 to present the world’s largest classical music festival in terms of the number of performers on a single stage, audience capacity, and span. Bengal Classical music festival is a five-day-long festival hosted almost every year-end in Dhaka. It had been held in the Army Stadium since 2012 with an exception for the sixth and last edition, which was organized in the Abahani Field in Dhanmondi.

The festival was launched, hoping that it would awaken the Bengali heritage and enhance people’s taste in music. The chairman of Bengal Group, AbulKhair, had pointed out that whether the part of music as complex could reach the hearts of the average audience through the right presentation.

The festival invites many iconic musicians from the Indian subcontinent to revive the love and compassion for classical music in our hearts. Over the years, the fest has featured legendary musicians including PanditJasraj, PanditShivkumar Sharma, UstadZakirHussain, UstadAmjad Ali Khan, PanditHariprasadChaurasia, the Late KishoriAmonkar, PtBirjuMaharaj,  the Late Girija Devi, and Ustad Rashid Khan. Bengal Classical Music Festival 2017 featured a performance by an orchestra from Kazakhstan, collaborating with Dr. L Subramaniam on stage for the first time in Bangladesh.

The festival is free to all, but it is required to register for your seat online. You can also register offline; the venue will be given prior to the next BCMF.

The Bengal Classical music festival is a galaxy of globally renowned artists coming together to renew the bonds we held over generations with our cultural heritage. It is a chance to reintroduce ourselves to our heritage and a harmonious world filled with heart-wrenching classical music.

Written by,

Boby Sarker

Information Collected