Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture to Host English Presentation of ‘Mahishasuramardini’ on September 17
Supriyo Sengupta and team to present ‘International Mahishasuramardini’ at Golpark’s Vivekananda Hall; production recognised by India Book of Records
By Suman Munshi | IBG NEWS
Kolkata, September 12, 2026: The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Golpark, Kolkata, will host a special cultural programme featuring an English presentation of the timeless devotional tradition of ‘Mahishasuramardini’ on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 6 PM at Vivekananda Hall.
Titled ‘International Mahishasuramardini (English)’, the programme will be presented by Supriyo Sengupta and his team as a project of Kairigori Kobiyal, with the stated aim of taking Bengal’s enduring cultural and devotional heritage to a wider global audience. A classical Bengali clutural aura in English version for the global audience is the main USP of Karigori Kobiyal to render the calt classic prorgam of Legendary Birendra Krishna Bhadra,Bani Kumar and Pankaj Kumar Mallick and team in English.
The production has also been already recognised by the India Book of Records.
From Bengal’s Mahalaya nostalgia to an international presentation
Any discussion of Mahishasuramardini in Bengal inevitably evokes the unforgettable voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra, whose dawn narration and recitation became synonymous with Mahalaya and the arrival of Devi Paksha.
The historic radio presentation, created in association with Bani Kumar and Pankaj Kumar Mullick, has been broadcast by All India Radio since the early decades of the 20th century. Bhadra’s powerful Sanskrit recitation and narration became an enduring part of the Mahalaya experience, with generations of Bengalis waking before dawn to listen to the programme, and the love continues decade after decade generation after generation.
For many Bengalis, therefore, the word Mahishasuramardini is inseparable from the nostalgia of Mahalaya mornings, the sound of the conch and Birendra Krishna Bhadra’s resonant voice announcing the arrival of the Goddess.
It is against this powerful cultural backdrop that ‘International Mahishasuramardini’ seeks to create a new interpretation—presenting the story and devotional essence in English, while carrying forward the emotional connection that Mahishasuramardini has established with Bengal’s cultural consciousness over decades.
From Bengal’s Eternal Nostalgia to the World
The organisers have described the project as:
“From Bengal’s Eternal Nostalgia to the World.”
The English adaptation represents an attempt to take a tradition deeply rooted in Bengali language and culture beyond its traditional linguistic boundaries.
Rather than replacing the cherished Bengali Mahalaya experience associated with Bhadra, the new production can be viewed as an effort to translate the cultural and devotional narrative for audiences who may not understand Bengali, while introducing them to one of Bengal’s most recognisable expressions of devotion to Goddess Durga.
The invitation issued by Supriyo Sengupta also carries a deeply personal dimension. In his message, he describes the English adaptation as the fulfilment of a dream connected with his late mother and expresses gratitude for the opportunity to present the work at the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture.
A cultural bridge ahead of Durga Puja
Mahalaya marks a powerful cultural transition in Bengal, traditionally associated with the beginning of Devi Paksha and the emotional anticipation of Durga Puja. The recorded voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra has remained one of the strongest auditory symbols of that transition for Bengali audiences worldwide.
The forthcoming English presentation takes that familiar cultural inheritance into a different linguistic space.
At a time when Bengali heritage is increasingly being introduced to international audiences, ‘International Mahishasuramardini’ seeks to connect the devotional story of Goddess Durga with audiences beyond the Bengali-speaking world.
Programme details
Programme: International Mahishasuramardini (English)
Presented by: Supriyo Sengupta and Team
Project: Kairigori Kobiyal
Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM
Venue: Vivekananda Hall, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Golpark, Kolkata
Recognition: India Book of Records
The programme promises to bring together music, narration, devotion and Bengali cultural heritage, while presenting the timeless story of Mahishasuramardini in a form intended to reach audiences beyond Bengal.
For those who grew up with Birendra Krishna Bhadra’s Mahalaya, the presentation also offers an interesting cultural question: how can a deeply Bengali tradition be carried forward for a new generation and a global audience without losing the nostalgia and spiritual character that made it timeless?
IBG NEWS Team is also very proud to be part of this journey, as Supriyo Sengupta is one of our editorial team’s key members.
By Suman Munshi | IBG NEWS
