When Bengal meets Manchester
The festival’s theme was simple: when Bengal meets Manchester — বিলেতে বঙ্গের স্বাদ, a taste of Bengal in Britain. The programme ran from music, dance and drama to a fashion show, Bengali cuisine and shopping stalls.
For us, Boishakh is the clearest expression of what Karisyo is for: a cultural landmark that doubles as our community’s biggest meeting point of the year, where families celebrate, performers take the stage, and professionals and businesses connect.
Music in every corner
- The Manchester choir singing Bengali songs
- Bengali songs by Dibba and Mitra
- Soulful tunes by Mrs Piali Basu Ray Choudhury
- An energetic rock set from Prithibi
- Live music and live dance together — no backing tracks
Dance, from classical to contemporary
- A powerful, energetic performance by the Daak Pekhom group
- Aankhi and group
- Tanisha’s dance group, visiting from Chester
- Classical Odissi
- One-of-a-kind dance yoga by the Neha Yogafusion group
Drama and a fashion show
A live audio drama directed by Kamaleshwar Mukherjee held the room in silence, before the fashion show turned the stage into a runway — traditional Bengali attire worn with modern style, right through to the showstopper.
Food, stalls and connections
Bengali cuisine was catered by Sai Spice, shopping stalls filled the Forum, and local businesses made new connections — including Dhaaga by Debolina, who travelled from Edinburgh. Our thanks go to every sponsor and partner who backed the day, including Innerwork Advisors Limited, Sai Spice, Dhaaga and Connect India.
Looking ahead to 2027
We’re already planning a bigger Bengali New Year celebration — more performers, more partners and more of Manchester invited in. Relive the day in our full festival photo gallery, register your interest for 2027, or talk to us about partnering.
Since the festival, our founder Bhavana Ghosh has spoken live on BBC Radio Manchester and received the UKBC Bengali Sera Samman Award for her community service.
