Sunday evening saw the closing ceremony of the Bengal Biennale at the Indian Museum and it was an evening to remember. The grand epilogue featured two powerhouses of art and talent: Jnanpith awardee Amitav Ghosh and Grammy-winning flautist Rakesh Chaurasia . After weeks of turning Kolkata into a haven for art, with exhibitions, installations, theatre, dance, and music, the finale was the perfect end to this month-long festival.

Chronicles of art, opium, and stories of colonial Kolkata
The evening officially commenced with literary maestro Amitav Ghosh, who transported the audience into the opium-drenched alleys of colonial Calcutta. Ghosh led the audience through a labyrinth of paintings and photographs, each tied to his research for his novels. Like a playful professor, he seamlessly connected art, history and literature, unveiling forgotten tales of trade and turmoil.

I’m blown away by the Biennale’s first edition. I went to Alipore Jail and it’s incredible what they have done with that space... it’s a great achievement– Amitav Ghosh


The sound of magic with the flute, sreekhol and tabla
Rakesh Chaurasia, accompanied by Shri Gopal Barman on the sreekhol and Aarchik Banerjee on the tabla, turned the museum into a concert hall. Before the performance, Rakesh was seen in a candid adda with his team reminiscing about Zakir Hussain and his humility, amid laughter and casual banter. On stage, he opened with Raga Bageshree, moving into Desh and Pahari, blending traditional ragas with jazzy improvisations. His playful sawal-jawab with the audience and the music kept everyone hooked.

It’s beautiful to see the presence of young faces listening with the same energy. My heart is full – Rakesh Chaurasi a


Art ties it all together
Kolkata didn’t just host the Bengal Biennale but made room for artists and all connoisseurs of art. It wasn’t just an art exhibition; it was a confluence of minds, music, and memories. From sprawling installations to intimate conversations, the Biennale proved one thing — art has the power to bind people across ages, professions, and nationalities as people from all walks of life came together under its spell.




The success belongs to the ones who carried art within them, and institutions that have nurtured creativity as lifeblood– Siddharth Sivakumar, curator & director