kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Kolkata, September 23: The three-day workshop dedicated to the rich tradition of Kirtan began in Kolkata on Wednesday, with the West Bengal State Music Academy taking the initiative to promote and preserve one of Bengal’s deeply rooted musical traditions. The workshop, being held at the academy’s Tollygunge premises, aims to provide young learners with an opportunity to understand and develop their skills in Kirtan.

The workshop is being organised on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday by the West Bengal State Music Academy. A total of 30 students are participating in the programme, reflecting growing interest among the younger generation in Bengal’s traditional music and cultural heritage.

The workshop was formally inaugurated by Purnima Chakraborty, Minister of State for the Information and Cultural Affairs Department and the Tourism Department. At the beginning of the programme, the minister and Dr Kankana Mitra, Head of the Padavali Kirtan Department at Rabindra Bharati University, were welcomed with floral bouquets and uttariyas.

Addressing the gathering, Purnima Chakraborty highlighted the close connection between Kirtan and the history of Bengali literature and music. She also shared her personal experience of participating in Nagar Kirtan in Kolkata and spoke about the cultural significance of the tradition.

The minister also announced a three-day Gaudiya Nritya workshop, scheduled to begin on Friday. She stressed that the younger generation has an important role to play in carrying Bengal’s traditions and cultural legacy forward.

Appreciating the enthusiastic participation of young students in the Kirtan workshop, Chakraborty said greater involvement of the youth was essential for preserving traditional art forms and ensuring that Bengal’s cultural heritage continues to flourish. She also called for efforts to take Bengal’s rich cultural traditions to audiences across India and around the world.

Dr Kankana Mitra, in her address, drew attention to the nearly thousand-year-old history of Bengal’s Padavali Kirtan tradition. She underlined the historical and cultural importance of the art form and spoke about the need to provide greater institutional support to students pursuing specialised studies in Padavali Kirtan.

Mitra also appealed for the introduction of special scholarships or financial assistance for postgraduate students studying Padavali Kirtan at Rabindra Bharati University. Such support, she suggested, could encourage more young people to pursue academic and artistic training in the traditional form.

The three-day workshop brings together students, teachers and cultural practitioners with the objective of strengthening awareness and appreciation of Kirtan among the younger generation. The initiative also highlights the importance of structured training in sustaining traditional musical practices.

With Bengal’s traditional performing arts facing the challenge of maintaining relevance among younger audiences, initiatives such as the Kirtan workshop seek to create a stronger bridge between heritage and the next generation. The programme is expected to provide participating students with valuable exposure to the history, tradition and practice of Kirtan.

The workshop has thus opened another platform for promoting Bengal’s cultural heritage, while reinforcing the message that the preservation of traditional art forms depends significantly on encouraging and empowering young practitioners.