The Bengal Heritage Foundation brought a vibrant cultural experience to central London with Fagun Fest 2025 – a musical extravaganza hosted recently at the iconic Bhavan UK.
The Fagun Fest initiative, which saw its first edition back in 2019, aims to showcase India’s grassroots artistic traditions, amplifying the voices of its folk musicians and artisans, and connecting global audiences to a heritage often overlooked in mainstream narratives.
The soulful evening, anchored by Suranjan Som and Poushali Chakraborty, started with Saraswati Vandana, a tribute to the Goddess of arts and knowledge, rendered by singer Satarupa Ghosh. Many renditions of the evening were complemented with dance pieces by Sreyashi Deb Roy, adding to the unique and diverse feel of each musical rendition.
This was followed by a segment of Hindustani classical fusion music, presented by singer Chandrima Misra who, along with her students from The Bhavan, showcased a truly mesmerising blend of Rabindra Sangeet and classical elements like Khayal, Bandish and Raagas.
The second segment of the evening also saw a powerful lineup with artists from Bengal and the UK coming together to create a mosaic of performances, which ranged from the mystical and spiritual Baul music, folk songs and soothing pieces from popular culture to tributes to some well-known Bengali artists.
One of the biggest highlights of this segment were the mystical songs sung and performed by Bengali singer Bama Baul. The singer, who you can watch in this above video, not only sung the songs but simultaneously danced – having put on anklets – and also played a folk instrument to transport the audience to the mystical landscapes of Bengal. His songs explored themes of spirituality, love and deep Indian philosophy, reflecting the cultural depth of India’s spiritual heritage.
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The other artists who also showcased a wide range of songs from this segment with - sometimes soulful, sometimes electrifying – intensity, included Manaswita Thakur and Arpan Thakur Chakraborty from Kolkata as well as UK-based artists including Tanusree Guha, Rupsha Chatterji, Sreyashi Deb Roy, Satarupa Ghosh, Arunava Bardhan, and Amith Dey.
Apart from the musical highlights of the event, the BHF also used the occasion to spotlight Maharashtrian and Bengali artisans and handicrafts. Artists Bulti Bibi and Ramesh Hengadi showcased their arts with stalls of exquisite Kantha embroidery sarees from Bengal and tribal Warli art pieces which narrate the daily lives of the tribal community respectively.
A curated Bengali street food experience also promised an explosion of taste — from savoury chaats to traditional sweets — offering a culinary journey into India’s cultural heartlands.
Fagun Fest is part of the “Bengali Summer in London” series curated by the BHF— bringing together music, cinema, literature, and community celebration to strengthen cultural bonds between the UK and India.
This year’s Fagun Fest is supported by ICICI Bank UK and Visa and Migration.