"Brit-Bangla Heritage Fest: Dancing Through Memory at a Dhamail Night on the Thames"

On a serene spring evening, under a crescent moon casting its glow over the Thames, London’s Poplar Union was transformed into a vibrant courtyard of Barak Valley. Over a hundred people gathered to experience the Dhamail, a traditional folk music and dance from Bangladesh’s Sylhet region, during the Third Brit-Bangla Heritage Festival. Curated by Mukto Arts, this year's festival focused on Dhamail—its history, rhythm, and deep emotional connection within the Bengali diaspora. For the British-Bangladeshi community, it was not just a performance but a return to ancestral roots, a revival of songs and rhythms passed down through generations.

The evening began with a warm welcome from Satyabrata Das Swapan, president of Mukto Arts, followed by Ashim Chakraborty, the festival’s creative director, who shared insights into this year’s heritage initiative—an immersive exploration of Dhamail through performance, storytelling, and preservation. A panel discussion on Dhamail’s role in social transformation and women's empowerment in the Barak Valley, moderated by Ranjita Sen, sparked thought-provoking conversations. Key panelists, including Councillor Jasmin Chowdhury, journalist Nazmul Albab, and Microsoft’s Supriya Deb Purkayastha, delved into the role of Dhamail as a force for cultural identity and social change.

The children’s performances, with young voices singing traditional Dhamail songs, created a bridge between generations, bringing the music to life for a new audience. The dancers, led by Biroja De, Shreya Goswami, and others, infused energy into the traditional movements, while the ensemble Suraloy filled the space with their harmonies. The highlight of the evening was “Dhamail Kotha” (Tales of Dhamail), a musical-theatrical journey through history, written and directed by Ashim Chakraborty and narrated by Deep Roy. The piece, blending Indian classical music with Sylheti folk, brought a powerful emotional resonance to the gathering.

The event’s final act, a group dance choreographed by Moushumi Samanta and guided by Supriya Deb Purkayastha, saw a vibrant display of dance, with elegant circular formations evoking the spirit of Dhamail dancers across generations. Musicians supported the atmosphere, creating an immersive experience. The festival concluded with a heartfelt communal moment during the final act, “Jugol Milan Hoilo Go,” where the audience became part of the celebration.

Mukto Arts, with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, will continue to preserve this cultural heritage with 15 documentary films, a bilingual publication, and contributions to local archives, ensuring that the rhythms of home endure for future generations.