Nababarsher Boithok O’ Noishobhoj – 1432 (2025) – 5th Year
BRISBANE, QLD – The vibrant spirit of Bengal resonated through Clayfield on Saturday, May 10th, as Brisbane’s Bengali community came together for a spectacular celebration of the Bengali New Year, known as Poyla Boishakh (Naba Barsho). Organized by The Bengal community group, the fifth annual “Nababarsher Boithok O’ Noishobhoj” (Bengali New Year’s Gathering and Dinner) at Clayfield Uniting Church, marked a joyous occasion for Bengalis residing in Brisbane and beyond.
Poyla Boishakh, also sometimes referred to as Ekla Boishakh or Pohela Boishakh, holds immense cultural significance for the Bengali community symbolizing cultural identity and the region’s rich heritage. It marks the auspicious start of the Bengali New Year, a day traditionally considered ideal for new beginnings, from launching businesses to purchasing new assets. Celebrated with great zeal across West Bengal, Tripura, Assam, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Bangladesh, its enthusiasm has now spread to Bengali communities worldwide, including Brisbane.
The evening commenced precisely at 6:32 PM with a ceremonial inauguration lamp, lighted by respected Umesh Chandra-OAM, setting a traditional and auspicious tone. The cultural program that followed was a delightful showcase of local talent. Young Bengali kids impressed the audience with their performances, while Raina Dutta captivated with “Bechey Thakar Gaan,” and Arundhuti Mukherjee stirred emotions with “Jadi Tor Daak Suney Keyo Na Asey.” The “Brissy Sisters” Zaisha & Annesha Chakrabarty charmed everyone singing “Kamola Nrittya Korey,” and Vivek Roy Pradhan delivered popular Arijit Singh scores, “Ke Tui Bol” and “Saman Re.” Rishav Mandal expertly served as the Master of Ceremony for this cultural segment. Arghya Mukherjee and Mithun Chakrabarty was incharge of stage management.
The festivities then shifted to a series of fun-filled competitions that brought the community’s competitive and playful spirit. The “Sera Ginni – Best Chef in Brisbane” cooking competition saw talented home cooks prepare the traditional Bengali dish, Chanar Dalna (Cottage Cheese Curry). Pamela Sarkar was crowned Sera Ginni, with Sarbani Dhur as “Secret Chef” and Sudheshna Paul as runner-up, judged by Brinda Dutta Mitra & Ranjan Saha. The “Jodi No-1” (Best Couple in Brisbane) title, decided after a series of engaging challenges, was won by Vijoy & Minali.
A highlight was the vibrant “Best Dressed Up” competition across four categories: Sera Bouma (Best Dressed Lady), Sera Babumasai (Best Dressed Male), Sera Khukumoni (Best Dressed Girl), and Sera Khokababu (Best Dressed Boy). Participants ranging from 6 to 60 years graced the ramp with traditional Bengali attire. Atandtila Saha (Sera Bouma), Ranjan Saha (Sera Babumasai), Raina Dutta (Sera Khukumoni), and Aariv Goswami (Sera Khokababu) emerged as the winners, judged by Sudipto, Saheli and Saurav Chanda. Additional quiz prizes were won by Portia Joshi, Brinda Mitra Dutta, Sulagna Paul Chowdhury & Sudeshna Paul, with Anjan Kundu coordinating the entire program. The evening concluded with a raffle, where guests eagerly won attractive prizes.
No Bengali celebration is complete without its culinary delights, and the “Noishobhoj” (Dinner) was an extravagant affair of authentic Bengali cuisine. Guests were welcomed with refreshing Lebur Sarbot (lemon juice), Cha (Tea), Singara (Samosa), and Badam Makha (Bengali-style peanut mixture), alongside fruit juice, chips, and chocolates for the younger attendees. The main course was a lavish spread featuring Basanti Polao (Sweet Fried Rice), Kolkata-style Fish Fry, fresh Salad, Kashmiri Phul Kopi (Roasted Cauliflower), rich Kosha Mangsho (Mutton Curry), Malai Paneer for vegetarians, Chutney, Papad, and traditional sweets like Rasogolla and Misti Doi (Sweet Bengali-style Yoghurt). Paan Masala and cold drinks completed the feast. The delectable spread was prepared by Om Catering, led by renowned chef Sandip Das.
The seamless execution of the event was a testament to the dedicated efforts of the organizing team, including Mantu Sarkar, Banibrata Mukherjee, Sudipto Dutta, Saurabh Chanda, Saswata Mukjerjee, Pinaki Guha, Kajol Roy Pradhan, Jyothin Joshi, Saheli Mukherjee, Sarbani Dhur, Sangeeta Roy Pradhan, Lopamudra Ghosh, Sweta Kishore, Surajt Bhattyacharya, Rajib Paul, Soumitra Rao and others. All the special moments captured by reknowned photographer Krishnendu Bhattyacharya.
Every guest received a thoughtful gift bag containing a traditional Bengali Calendar, shopping vouchers, and snacks, adding to the festive takeaway. The Bengal extended heartfelt thanks to their generous sponsors: Swarop from Swades Foods, Benny from Indian Spice Shop, Kiran from All India Food (Woolloongabba), Sree from Dosa Hut (Aspley), Sunny from Bombay Dhaba, Amrit from Cabbage Patch Market (Deagon), Troy from Coco’s Annerley, Debdep Panigrahi from V Property and Soumitra Rao. The Australian Indian Times and Australian Indian Radio served as proud media partners for the event.
The “Nababarsher Boithok O’ Noishobhoj-1432 (2025)” organized by The Bengal powerfully conveyed the message of unity and harmony. It provided a cherished platform for Bengali people residing in Brisbane, regardless of background, to come together, celebrate their rich traditions and values, reflect on the past year, and look forward to a promising future, further strengthening the community’s vibrant presence in the city.
Correspondence – Saheli Mukherjee
Photography – Krishnendu Bhattyacharya
Message from the Host – Deo Family Charitable Foundation
New Jersey, USA: Indian actor-producer Vishnu Manchu lit up the Regal Commerce Center in North Brunswick on May 8th as he kicked off the U.S. leg of the Kannappa promotional tour, marking exactly 50 days until the highly anticipated global release of the film on June 27, 2025.
Directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh and produced by Mohan Babu, Kannappa is a sweeping Pan-Indian language cinematic experience that unites some of Indian cinema’s biggest stars — Mohanlal, Prabhas, Akshay Kumar (in his Telugu debut), and Kajal Aggarwal — with Vishnu Manchu in the titular role.
“The response here in New Jersey has been overwhelming,” Vishnu added. “The Indian diaspora holds onto our culture in powerful ways. With Kannappa, I hope we’re giving them a story that feels both ancient and urgently relevant.”
With its rich historical inspiration, soul-stirring music, and unprecedented ensemble cast, Kannappa is poised to be one of the most anticipated Indian releases of the year, aiming to captivate both traditional filmgoers and new audiences across borders.
Globally Acclaimed Kirtan Musician To Bring His Soul Stirring Concerts To Australia
Brisbane recently witnessed a mesmerizing evening of music and nostalgia with Zara Si Aahat – Bollywood in HER Voice, a heartfelt tribute to the timeless female voices of Bollywood. Celebrating the spirit, grace, and individuality of legendary female playback singers, this live concert brought to life the songs that have defined generations of Indian cinema.
Each voice from Bollywood’s golden and modern eras – be it the ethereal tones of Lata Mangeshkar, the silken magic of Asha Bhosale, or the dynamic energy of Shreya Ghoshal – carries with it a unique identity and story. Zara Si Aahat honored these voices not just by revisiting their songs, but by embodying the emotional depth and musical excellence they brought to the silver screen.
The concert featured a lineup of immensely talented and well-known local musicians including Hari, Paramjeet, Sharad, Eswar, Pranav, Vatsal, Anvi, Nimar, and Binny, each of whom brought their own flair to the stage. Their live performances captured the essence of the original songs while adding a refreshing, local flavor.
One of the standout aspects of the evening was the inclusion of rare and previously unperformed Bollywood tracks – a true treat for connoisseurs and fans alike. For many, it was the first time hearing these hidden gems performed live in Brisbane, making the experience all the more memorable.
HIV remains a significant health issue in Australia, particularly among men. According to the 2024 Annual Surveillance Report on HIV, viral hepatitis, and STIs in Australia, 619 males and 96 females were newly diagnosed with HIV in 2023. Among people previously diagnosed overseas, 466 were males and 110 were females. Males also had a higher rate of undiagnosed HIV (8%) than females (6%), and people born overseas experienced higher rates of late HIV diagnosis compared to those born in Australia.