On Saturday, June 1, Chhondeshi, a non-profit cultural organization in South Carolina, will present a cultural program with the global theme “Bongotsov: Rhythm of Compassion.” Bongotsov will spotlight the artistic, literary, historical and scientific contributions from the Southeast Asian region that is referred to as Bengal. SC Humanities supported this project with a Mini Grant.
Chhondeshi is a Bengali cultural research group located in Irmo, SC whose mission is to share the literature, history, and music of Bengal through multi-cultural interactions. Bongotsov 2019 is designed to achieve an equity in the under-represented South-East Asian community of Richland and Lexington Counties through arts and culture and by broadening the understanding of cultural fusion through humanities and compassion.
Bongotsov 2019 will be held at the Booker T. Washington Auditorium at the University of South Carolina (1400 Wheat Street, Columbia, SC 29201). The one-day cultural event kicks off at 10:30 a.m. and will include four sessions: Session 1 will be a panel discussion on South-East Asian culture; Session 2 will be musical performances by diverse Bengali and South-East Asian cultural groups. Session 3 will include exhibitions and workshops on Bengali photography, food, textiles, local art, and more. Session 4 will be dance performances by Bengali and South-East Asian cultural groups.
Several of the featured scholars include Dr. Kaustavi Sarkar, an Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of North Carolina Charlotte; Dr. Zia Hasan from Claflin University; Dr. Raj Aluri, the founder and President of the International Friendship Ministries and the Columbia International Festival; and Dr. Soma Mukhopadhyay of Augusta University.
For more information about Chhondeshi and Bongotsov 2019, please visit the website at: http://www.chhondeshi.org/ .
The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. Established in 1973, this 501(c) 3 organization is governed by a volunteer 20-member Board of Directors comprised of community leaders from throughout the state. It presents and/or supports literary initiatives, lectures, exhibits, festivals, publications, oral history projects, videos and other humanities-based experiences that directly or indirectly reach more than 250,000 citizens annually.
Photo courtesy of Dr. Pankaj Ghate
