Raindrops and Rabindra Sangeet: HSBC’s monsoon soiree
Every year, monsoon rolls in with its familiar grace, cloud-sealed skies, the smell of petrichor, and a quiet pull towards the poetic. A season that makes hearts feel a little softer, and time stand still amidst the urban chaos.
To welcome the onset of this season, HSBC Bangladesh hosted an intimate soiree "Abar Eshechhe Ashar" last night, with the timeless songs of Rabindranath Tagore, the maestro whose verses have etched the beauty of Bangla's monsoon into the hearts of millions.
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The event took place in a warm indoor setting at Hotel Sheraton, Dhaka, bringing together over 600 clients, stakeholders, and guests. After a short video setting the monsoon mood, Chief Executive Officer Md Mahbub ur Rahman of HSBC Bangladesh took to the stage to welcome the guests.
The programme started with prominent artiste Adity Mohsin's charming renditions of Tagore's classics. As the first strains of the classic "Abar Eshechhe Ashar" filled the air, the ballroom turned into a sanctuary of silent emotions. Behind the vocals, a skilled ensemble brought mellow magic to the space.
Adding more to the charm, renowned artiste Jayanta Chattopadhyay mesmerised the audience with soulful recitations of Tagore's poems in between the ballad of songs. With verses like "Eshechhe Borosha, Eshechhe Nobin Borosha", his resolute voice traversed the essence of monsoon's glory throughout the room.
Starting with "Ogo Tumi Ponchodoshi", the songs transported the audience from the memories of the first drizzle of monsoon to "Bajra Manik Diye Gantha", the sudden spark of thunder, followed by "Aji Jhoro Jhoro Mukhoro Badolo Dine", an urge to escape into the storm, creating a kaleidoscope of nostalgic tunes.
One after the next, soft verses of "Badol Diner Prothom Kodom Ful", "Oi Malatilata Dole", "Amar Nishitho Rater Badol Dhara", "Aj Akasher Moner Kotha", "Mone Holo Jeno Periye Elem", "Aji Jhorer Raate Tomar Obhishar" and more of Tagore's masterworks floated through the room. Each rhyme steeped in monsoon's romanticism became a moment of shared language and feelings.
Behind the vocals, a skilled ensemble of - Goutam Kumar Sarkar at Tabla, Rabins Choudhury at keyboard, Mohammad Nashir Uddin at Guitar, Md. Ashikul Islam at Sraj and Yousuf Khan at Sarod - brought mellow magic to the space.
The evening's performances mirrored the shifting moods that define Tagore's artistry, moving from whispered prayers, quiet yearning, to dreamy narratives; delicate, immersive, and filled with memories.
As the final note faded into applause, the evening slipped into its closing chapter, filling the room with gentle conversations and ending the quiet celebration of drizzles and melodies.
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