In
1999, a few Bengalis of the Tri-state region formed MID AMERICA
BENGALI ASSOCIATION (MABA) to cater the diverse cultural needs
of Bengalis of mid America. Initially, Louisville, Lexington,
Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Huntsville, St. Louis, Cincinnati
and Dayton (Indiana) joined MABA. This cultural forum decided
to sponsor an annual Bengali cultural festival, Bangamela®.
In the same year Louisville hosted the first Bangamela. Since
its inception, MABA has gained unquestionable reputation as
a Bengali cultural forum in mid America.
12th
Bangamela 2010, Nashville, Tennessee Venue :Sheraton
Music City Hotel Host : Mid America Bengali Association Highlights : Performances by Ustad Aashish Khan,
Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty, Chandrabindoo, Rupankar Bagchi, Gandhar,
Ashish Bhattacharjee, Parnava Banerjee, Sreyashi Mitra, Alak
Roychowdhury.
11th
Bangamela, 2009 - Atlanta, Georgia Venue:The Gwinnett Performing Arts Center Host : Bengali Association of Greater Atlanta Highlights : Performances by Aloke Roychoudhury, Bhoomi,
Jojo , Pather Panchali , Pratik Choudhury, Shama Rahman, Subhomita
Banerjee.
10th
Bangamela, 2008 - Columbus, Ohio Venue:Capital
Theatre, Columbus Host : Central Ohio Bengali Cultural Association Highlights : Performances by Bhoomi, Chandra Chakraborty,
Ferdous Ara, Hans Vermeersch, Ken Zuckerman, Lopamudra Mitra,
Parnava Banerjee, Pather Panchali, Pramita Mallick, Ramesh
Misra, Satinath Mukhopadyay, Shaoni Mitra, Sohini RoyChowdhury,
Srikanto Acharya, Suklyan Bhattacharya and Entourage, Swapan
Basu and Swapan Chaudhuri.
9th
Bangamela, 2007 - Memphis, Tennessee Host : Mid South Bengali Association Highlights : Vocals performances by Rezwana Choudhury
Banya, Saikat Mitra, Anup Ghoshal, Jayanta De and Sharmista
Chatterjee; Sabyasachi and Amar Senâs Hand Shadow Graphic
play; Drama "Dampati" by Madhabi, Biswajit, Moushumi and Papiya.
8th
Bangamela, 2006 - Louisville, Kentucky Host : Treenaneel of Kentucky Highlights : Performances by Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty,
JOJO. Farida Perveen, Nrityagram Dance Ensemble of Bangalore,
Amit Ganguli and drama by Kheyali Dastidar, Arindam Ganguli
and Aloka Ganguli.
7th
Bangamela, 2005 - Chicago, Illinois Host : Bengali Association of Greater Chicago Highlights :Performances by Lopamudra Mitra, Raghav
Chatterjee, Nachiketa Chakraborty and Rudra Prasad Sengupta's
drama group Nandikar.
6th
Bangamela, 2004 - Cincinnati, Ohio Host : Agrani of Cincinnati Highlights : Performances by Rezwana Banya Choudhury,
Utpalendu Choudhry,Usha Uttap and a drama by Meghnad Bhattacharya,
Ramaprasad Banik and Monoj Mitra.
5th
Bangamela, 2003 - Nashville, Tennessee Host : Bengali Association of Greater Nashville Highlights : Performances by Haimanti Shukla, Srabani
Sen, Sumitra Sen, Aloke Roy Choudhuri, Subrata Sengupta, Gautam
Halder, Indrajit Banerjee, Ranajit Sengupta, Gouri Sankar
and Rudra Prasad Sengupta's drama group Nandikar.
4th
Bangamela, 2002 - Kansas City, Missouri Host : Sangam Midwest & The University of Missouri
at Kansas City Highlights : Performances by Indranil Sen, Sabina Yasmin,
Kabir Suman, Budhadeb Guha, Amrita Lahiri and Madhabi Mukherjee.
3rd
Bangamela, 2001 - St. Louis, Missouri Host : Punascha Highlights : Performances by Leena Taposi Khan, Swapan
Basu, Banani Ghosh, Sajaad Khan, Arumoy and Swati Banerjee,
Haimanti Shukla, Nivedita Bose and Meghnad Bhattacharya's
drama group, Sayak.
2nd
Bangamela, 2000 - Clarksville, Tennessee Host : MABA & Bengali Association of Greater Nashville Highlights : Performances by Prahlad Brahmachari, Shromona
Guha Thakurta, Shrabona Bhattacharyya, Alakananda Roy and
Dulal Lahiri's Nandan drama group.
1st
Bangamela, 1999 - Louisville, Kentucky Host : TreenaNeel of Kentucky Highlights : Performances by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan,
Madhabi Mukherjee, Sikha Basu, Swapan Basu and Meghnad Bhattacharya's
drama group, Sayak.
