Celebrating the rich legacy of Bengali New Year through Rabindra Sangeet and baul (mystic minstrels from Bengal and Bangladesh) songs, the Poila Baithak festival in Kolkata brought together the best of both Bangladesh and West Bengal through music, food and the quintessential Bengali adda (an informal gathering for conversation). Hosted by the city’s most beloved voices like RJ Nilam and RJ Niel, the third and latest edition of the boutique Poila Baithak festival upheld the theme, "Baul Beyond Borders" and explored variations in baul music with artists like Karthika Das Baul and folk bands such as Fakira and Joler Gaan. Organised by 93.5 Red FM, the event was a grand celebration ushering in the month of Boishakhi in Bengal. The festival was held on 22 April 2023. Check out more music festivals here.




























































How to Reach Kolkata
1. By Air: The Kolkata international airport, better known as the Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, is located at Dumdum. It connects Kolkata with all the major cities of the country as well as the world.
2. By Rail: The Howrah and Sealdah railway stations are the two major railheads situated in the city. Both these stations are well connected to all the important cities of the country.
3. By Road: The West Bengal state buses and various private buses travel to and from different parts of the country at a reasonable cost. Some places near Kolkata are Sunderbans (112 km), Puri (495 km), Konark (571 km) and Darjeeling (624 km).
Source: Goibibo









1. Light and airy cotton clothes; Kolkata is typically very hot in April.
2. A sturdy water bottle, if the festival has refillable water stations, and if the venue allows bottles to be taken inside.
3. Comfortable footwear such as sneakers (a perfect option if it’s not likely to rain).
4. COVID packs: Hand sanitiser, extra masks and a copy of your vaccination certificate are things you should keep handy.


