Durga Puja - the annual grand event for which we wait all year round is here again. The sound of shaankh, smell of dhuno and shuffling of saris brings back sweet reminiscenses of Durgotsav. We are celebrating the long awaited Durga Puja on October 12 and 13, 2013 at Chabot College in Hayward, CA. You are invited to join us.
As usual we have many professional programs lined up for you, as well as some splendid local programs brought to you by hard-working and talented local artists. We have a day of Bollywood artists and another day of Kolkata artists - to make your festival as joyful and rythmic as can be.
And for those who have visited us before, you know the variety of stalls we have at our mandap. The food is simply irresistable and the shopping experience unparalleled.
See pictures taken at Durga Puja 2013
Schedule of Activities
Time | Description | Comments |
10:30 AM – 1:00 PM | Maha Saptami Puja | See Puja Schedule |
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM | Pushpanjali and Arati | See Puja Schedule |
From 12:30 PM | Prasad distribution | |
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM |
Khichiri Bhog distribution |
|
3:00 PM | Auditorium Opens | |
3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | Mahalaya | |
4:45 PM - 6:00 PM | Goshaai Baganer Bhoot - Bengali Drama |
|
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Astami, Sandhi and Nabami puja |
See Puja Schedule |
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Dinner (Patron membership includes this dinner, general members can purchase dinner) | |
8:30 PM | Auditorium opens for professional program |
|
9:00 PM - 11:30 PM |
Musical concert by Sona Mohapatra and musicians |
Non-members: See below for ticket purchase |
Time | Description | Comments |
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM | Maha Dashami Puja | See Puja Schedule |
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM |
Pushpanjali | See Puja Schedule |
2.00 PM - 3:00 PM |
Devi Baran, Bisharjan Prasad distribution | See Puja Schedule |
2:30 pm |
Auditorium opens for cultural programs |
|
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM |
Professional Programme - Musical concert by Rupankar Bagchi |
Non-members: See below for ticket purchase |
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM |
Professional programme - Musical concert by Anupam Roy |
Non-members: See below for ticket purchase |
Sona Mohapatra - creating ripples in Bollywood
Saturday, October 12th, 2013

Sona Mohapatra is an Indian singer, music composer and lyricist. born in Cuttack, Odisha. Well known in India, she has performed in concerts across the world and has been featured in albums, singles, concert webcasts, music videos, Bollywood films and advertisements. In addition to her own material, Mohapatra has recorded remixes of songs by David Bowie, with "Let's Dance", and INXS, with "Afterglow", with the latter proving particularly successful.
Sona Mohapatra came to mainstream prominence with the trendbreaking talk show with Aamir Khan 'Satyamev Jayate' in which she frequently appeared as a lead singer & performer. She was also the executive producer of the musical project on the same show. Her cameo performances recorded more than 9 million views across uploads and sites as per the latest digital count. She confessed in a recent interview that the project was all consuming in terms of the emotional and physical energies invested. Multiple lyricists, unconventional subjects and lots of brainstorming on the songs, lyrics, shoots, recordings and to top it all, all songs have been translated and recorded in multiple languages.According to Sona "Oriya influences in Bollywood are rare as yet - unlike an overdose of Punjabi, Rajasthani, Bengali and even Southern music.' The Song, Mujhe Kya Bechega Rupaiya, sung by Sona Mohapatra is composed by Ram Sampath & was aired on the third episode of Satyamev Jayate based on celebrating womens freedom. The song has received over 5 million hits on YouTube.
Releases:
Her first ventures in music industry started with advertising. One of her famous jingle was for Tata Salt - Kal Ka Bharat Hai & the campaign for Unilevers Close Up has a section of her song Paas Aao Na which has been recorded in several languages & aired across 13 countries for 4 consecutive years . In 2007, she released her debut album, Sona, on Sony Records, which sought to explore the diverse styles of rock, rhythm and blues, Flamenco, Hindustani, Baul and Romani music. In 2009, she released the single Diljale & Paas Aao Na in the same year She recently sung a song 'Bedardi Raja' in the movie Delhi Belly for Aamir Khan Production's[14] and did a cameo in it. She has also sung theme songs "Mujhe Kya Bechega Rupaiya" and "Ghar Yaad Aata Hai Mujhe" for the TV show Satyamev Jayate. Her song Jiya laage na from the soundtrack of Talaash has been receiving rave reviews too. Sona has a her own band composed of guitar virtuoso Sanjoy Das amongst 5 more musicians & is an electric live performer who has played in a multitude of live venues including the Lincoln Center in New York & to stadium crowds in India in Chandigarh , Chennai & Siliguri amongst others. She has also headlined the international Jodhpur RIFF festival held in the Mehrangarh fort.
[important title="Tickets for Sona Mohapatra Concert"]Tickets are now available for Sona Mohapatra concert. VIP tickets are $100 each while general admission tickets are $40 each. Purchase tickets for Sona Mohapatra concert. Note: This program is free for Prabasi Members and Patrons. [/important]
Anupam Roy - a singer and lyricist par-excellence
Sunday, October 13th, 2013
Anupam Roy is an Indian, Bengali lyricist, composer and singer who is best known for his song Amake Amar Moto Thakte Dao from the Bengali film Autograph (2010). He is also known for the songs "Ekbar Bol", "Gobhire Jao", "Tistaan", "Beche Thakar Gaan" etc. Anupam has won many prestigious awards and accolades for his compositions.
Anupam works as a solo artist for studio albums (singer/song-writer). He is into music direction for Films, Television & Jingles. He also performs LIVE with his band, " The Anupam Roy Band ".
Awards:
[important title="Tickets for Anupam Roy Concert"]Tickets are now available for Anupam Roy concert. General admission tickets are $40 each. Purchase tickets for Anupam Roy concert. Note: This program is free for Prabasi Members and Patrons. [/important]
Rupankar - A gifted singer
Sunday, October 13th, 2013

Rupankar has the wonderful gift from God - his music, his voice! He has the intensity to explode - on stage! He has the power that rushes your adrenaline - through the various numbers he delivers. He is the versatile singer of the day - Rupankar.
Today he is in the limelight - all over the media. It is like a voyage through the ocean of music which has engulfed his days and nights. Now the music studio is his home - the musicians are his family members. To meet the rising demand, he needs to record every hour - for albums, title music of serials or films, advertising jingles. During the nights he is on the move from one town to another to perform on-stage for his innumerable fans. At times he is even at TV Channel studios - either for performance or for anchoring. Today Rupankar is the heart-throb of the young and loved by all.
Awards :
- Radio Mirchi Music Award for Best Playback Singer for "Hemlock Society".
- Radio Mirchi Music Award for Best Rabindrasangeet album "Tagore Timeless".
- Best playback singer for "Gobhire jao" from Radio Mirchi, 2012.
Same award for the same song from 91.9 fraindz fm, 2012.
Same award for same song from Zee Banglar Gourab Samman, 2012. - Best Playback Singer in Soap - 'Sonar Harin' (ETV Bangla) from Sunfeast Pratidin Tele-Samman, 2007.
- Best Playback Singer for 'Andarmahal' from Ananda Bazar Patrika.
- "UTTAM KUMAR AWARD" 2006.
- 'Best Lyricist' Award from Ananda Bazar Group at 'Ananda Puroshkar' in 2001.
- 'Best Album' by Snowcem Ananda Durgotsav Arghya for 'Bhokatta' in the year 2002.
- 'Best Album' by Bangio Sangeet Prachar Samiti for 'Meghe Roddure' by Prime Music in the year 2003.
[important title="Tickets for Rupankar Musical Program"]Tickets are now available for Rupankar Musical program. General admission tickets are $40 each. Purchase tickets for Rupankar Musical program. Note: This program is free for Prabasi Members and Patrons. [/important]
Gnoshaai Baagaaner Bhoot
The story begins in the pastoral suburbs of our beloved Bengal,where verdant rice fields stretch out into peaceful villages. Where lush banana leaves gently fan the the simple villagers as they bustle about their daily life to and from their straw patched homes along the Hooghly River. These gentle folk want for nothing but to live harmoniously with the natural abundance gifted to them by God.
In such an idyllic town lives 12 year old Boorun, the older son of the town doctor and the grandson of an aging herbalist. Boorun loves his Dadu and shares with him a kinship with nature and the natural law of things . Unfortunately , this raises consternation in the mind of his “modern minded” father! Boorun’s childlike perception of life is contradictory to the ways of the “ New Age”. He is happy frolicking around the bucolic landscape, blissfully unaware of the harsh crunch of the world slowly threatening to crowd out his blessed life....
His father is understandably worried!
One day, little Boorun who unfortunately lacks the mathematical demands of his school curriculum , is embarrassed when his “mastermoshai” berates him for getting the lowest scores on his test. Miserable, he decides to flee to a sanctuary he has discovered nearby.....the serene wonderland of “Goshaibagan” where the spirits of all the village poets, artists, musicians and lovers reside! These kindred spirits have found their comfortable home among the isolated ruins and swampy lands of Goshaibagan from where they watch and contemplate the vagaries of the New Age and the rapid urbanization of their village. The spirits comfort Boorun , for only THEY can understand his innocence and unique oneness with nature.
Goshaibagan happens to be Boorun’s secret world, a world only he can cherish and from which he gathers many unique herbs to bring back to his delighted Dadu! These herbs might hold a promise of a cure for many dangerous diseases...
Dadu is convinced of it! Goshaibagan may be this magical place and Boorun the only hope for generations to come......
Unfortunately, this peaceful world is soon shattered. Corporate land developer Habu Dakat has discovered Goshaibagan! His hands start to itch . What an excellent opportunity to raze the long forgotten ruins to the ground! How about filling in the languid lilyponds to build several high rise skyscrapers? Habu Dakat cannot believe his luck! These gullible villages are mere pebbles he can crush under the weight of his heavyweight bulldozers.....it is only a matter of time....
Alarmed, Goshaibagan spirits begin to fret. Boorun is their only contact with the outside world. Will he be able to save their wondrous nature preserve? Will anyone be able to stop this ugly threat to their peaceful village and the hope of cure of deadly diseases? Can anyone stop this impending calamity?? Will anyone listen to Boorun’s plaintive call for help as crafty Habu Dakat deals another blow ...this time manipulating their minds and putting them in a trance......?!
Co-ordiantion : Anindita Banerjee.
Participation by over 40 children and 80 parents of the Bay Area!
Mohalaya
Menu for Durga Puja (Oct 12 and Oct 13)
A) Lunch - Saturday, October 12th For Patron Members and General Members
- Khichuri
- Mix Veg
- Veg Pakora
- Baigan pakora (Only for Patrons)
- Papad
- Chatni
B) Dinner - Saturday, October 12th
Only for Patrons Members (General Members can purchase food from other vendors on site)
- Goat Curry
- Fish Pakora
- Malai Kofta
- Aloo Gobi
- Rice
- Naan
- Papad
- Chatni
- Roso Malai
C) Lunch - Sunday, October 13th
Only for Patrons Members (General Members can purchase food from other vendors on site)
- Fried Rice
- Chilli Fish
- Chicken 65
- Chilli Paneer
- Baiegan Bharta
- Naan
- Chatni
- Papad
- Gulab Jamun
NB: According to California Law, consumption of alcohol in pubilc places like college campuses is strictly prohibited.
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