The 88th edition of Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Sammelan is gearing up to be declared open by President Pranab Mukherjee at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Mega Sports Complex in Khelgaon on January 10.
The Sahitya Sammelan’s All India General Secretary, Jayanta Ghosh, sharing the minutest detailing of the delicacies, said, “Though, we are not authorized to serve him meals during his stay at the capital here, but the food that we are planning to prepare for the three-day-event will definitely be offered to him especially Rosogulla, Mishti Doi and Payesh that is known to be his favourites. The President has been associated with our organization for over past two decades and have always enjoyed the sweet dishes the most. He has been the National president for the same association for 12 terms, so we think we know what he likes to eat.”
The Jhumur song and dance performance by the Vijay Mahato and team is the main attraction of the inaugural ceremony followed by a plethora of Rabindra Sangeet and dance, drama, poetry recitation and more. The Bengali platter comprises Shukta, Dal, Macher Jhol, Chicken Curry, Kosha Mangsho, Fulko luchi, Phul Gobi, Aloo Dum, Tomato Mishti Chutney and Payesh along with sweets such as Rosogulla, Cham Cham, Raj Bhog and more.
“All these tasty dishes will be prepared with utmost care and authenticity, exactly the way he (President) likes it. Though, he mostly prefers to have Hilsha Maacher Jhol, Mishti Doi, Rosogulla and Payesh but it would be a complete delight to see him gorge on everything from our carefully-designed menu,” said Gautam Bhattacharya, State Secretary (Jharkhand), Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Sammelan.
Bhattacharya also said that the meet will be attended by over 1,500 delegates from all over the country, including literary and creative personalities besides the Governor Draupadi Murmu and Chief Minister Raghubar Das who will be only served with the above mentioned Bengali cuisine at the three-day event here.
The literary sessions will be addressed by Desh magazine Editor Harsha Dutta, poet Binayak Bandhopadhyay and Bengali renowned actors of the like Satyam Rai Chaudhury, Emam Chakraborty, Biplab Ganguly, Sayan Chattopadhyay, Suman Mukherjee and Arindom Rai Chaudhury.