The Sydney Opera House hosted the first-ever celebration of the Bengali New Year, titled the ‘Baishakhi Festival’, on 17 April in the evening. The event featured a range of Bangladeshi cultural performances including traditional dance, music, and poetry, marking a notable cultural gathering for the Bangladeshi diaspora in Australia.
Upon entering the performance hall, audiences were presented with Bengali musical compositions performed using traditional instruments such as the dhol, khol, cymbals, and ankle bells. The programme included classical and folk dance forms alongside well-known Bengali songs. Group singing featured the anthem “Eso He Boishakh”, along with other popular tracks including “Haire Manush Rongin Fanush”, “Aaj Ei Brishtir Kanna Dekhe”, and “Harano Diner Kotha Mone Pore Jai”. Additional performances included “Rail Line Bohe Somantoral” and the Nazrul Sangeet piece “Alga Koro Go Khopar Badhon”.
The event was attended by political representatives. The Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, conveyed a recorded message extending greetings to the Bangladeshi community. In his message, he stated, “This diversity is the strength of the country.” The Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns, attended the programme in person, interacted with members of the audience, and took photographs with attendees. He later posted on social media, stating, “Bangalis are now an integral part of Sydney. The Opera House event reflects their talent and unity.”
The venue’s exterior also saw a gathering of members of the Bangladeshi community who participated in a cultural procession carrying flags and banners. Visitors and tourists at the site observed the procession and responded with applause.
The programme was jointly organised by Bornobhumi Media, Bangladesh Ladies Club, and Bangladesh Press Media and Cultural Club. The organisers stated that the initiative aimed to present Bengali cultural heritage on an international platform.
Performances were presented by several artists across music, dance, poetry recitation, and instrumental sections. The programme also included spoken word and audio drama segments.
Selected Participants and Contributions
| Category | Participants |
|---|---|
| Music Performers | Nabila Afridi, Lubaba Islam, Omia Matin, Mehedi Hasan, Mamun Hasan Khan, Rashnan Zaman, Nishat Siddiqui |
| Dance Performers | Shreyoshi Das, Ankita Roy, Oishita Roy, Swagata Chatterjee, Debjani Pal, Poulomi Panda |
| Recitation / Audio Drama | Moloy Biswas (poetry), Nusrat Jahan (audio drama), Nabila Afridi (audio drama) |
| Instrumentalists | Abhijit Dan (tabla), Sohel Khan (guitar), Rashnan Zaman (keyboard), Sabin Gising (flute), Srijit Dan (sound control) |
| Presenters | Asad Shams, Roksana Hossain Jeba |
The event was positioned as a cultural programme reflecting the presence of the Bangladeshi community in Sydney and their participation in mainstream cultural venues.