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    NORTH AMERICAN NEWSLINE                                             OCTOBER 24, 2025  |      The Indian Eye 30

                         Thousands Gather in Times Square

                       for two Spectacular performances for

                                        Durga Utsav Celebrations

            OUR BUREAU

            New York, NY
                 umit Roy (from Kolkata) & Band and Rimli
                 Roy & Surati captivate audiences with mu-
            Ssic, dance, and storytelling at Father Duffy
            Square on Thursday October 2nd.
                The Times Square Durga Utsav Association
            brought the vibrancy of Indian culture to the cross-
            roads of the world with a spectacular Durga Utsav
            celebration held on October 2, 2025 at Father
            Duffy Square, Times Square. The event drew an
            enthusiastic and diverse crowd, uniting communi-
            ties through music, dance, and storytelling in hon-
            or of the Goddess Durga, on the auspicious occa-
            sion of Durga Puja and Navratri.
                The peak evening time opened with a rous-
            ing performance by Sumit Roy & Band, with the
            Kolkata-based singer, composer, and musician
            enthralling audiences through his unique and
            original songs - Agomoni, Bangla Folk, Pop and
            Fusion compositions. Accompanied by Sonia on
            vocals, Jay (JB) on guitar and vocals, Sudeip on   Mr. Sumit Roy, Ms. Roy’s father, was not only
            guitar, Devraj on bass, Danny on drums, and   an inspiration but also a creative collaborator. He
            Reinaldo on percussion, the band set the stage   composed original music for Ramaavan – A Musi-
            alight with a blend of tradition and modernity.   cal, Surati’s acclaimed Broadway-style production.
            The  crowd  burst  out  with  applause  when  Roy   This music was also performed at Times Square
            performed his several times gone viral song “Hil-  Durga Utsav  2025,  symbolizing the powerful  in-
            sa Fish”. The set opened with Sonia singing the   tergenerational connection that lies at the heart of
            opening song - Sumit Roy’s original Agomoni   Surati’s work.
            song heralding the Goddess followed by a unique   Through a fusion of Indian classical, folk, and
            “Charkha” folk song (Spinning wheel). At one   contemporary dance with Western theatrical ele-
            point, Roy came down from the stage to join the   ments, Surati’s ensemble brought mythology to life
            audience member who had gathered around the   in the heart of Times Square. With choreography
            stage to dance to the rhythmic music.         by Rimli Roy and narration by Priyanjali Sen, the
                This was followed by a special performance   cast — including Paulina Yeung (performer from
            of “Okal Bodhon” by Rimli Roy & Surati for Per-  Broadway’s King & I), Harsha Harikumar, Jona-
            forming Arts, featuring excerpts from the original   than Power, Madison Halla, Kijana Lewis, Vidhya
            off-Broadway production Ramaavan – A Musical.   Dinesh, Reba Browne, and Rimli Roy —  trans-
            Rooted  in the  story  of Lord Rama’s invocation   formed the public square into a space of storytelling,
            of Goddess Durga before his battle with Ravana,   artistry, and reverence. The crowd was particularly
            Okal Bodhon (meaning “untimely invocation”) is   mesmerized by Paulina Yeung’s operatic rendition
            a symbolic ritual that gave rise to the autumn cel-  of Handel’s Lascia Ch’io Pianga accompanied by
            ebration of Durga Puja. Performed during Durga   dancers Harsha Harikumar and Kijana Lewis.
            Puja  and  Navratri,  this  dance-theatre  piece  fol-  “Times Square became a canvas for cul-
            lowed Rajesh Roy’s newest musical theater com-  tural exchange and artistic excellence,” said
            position of Ramaavan - A Musical performed by   Rimli Roy, Founder & Artistic Director of Su-
            Jonathan Power who played Ram, highlighted the   rati.  “It  was  inspiring  to  share  Okal  Bodhon   NY and NYC since 2018, and even toured cities in
            universal themes of courage, righteousness, and   on the occasion of Durga Puja and Navratri   India with seven U.S artists who collaborated with
            devotion that lay the foundation for the festival to   —  moments  that  remind  us  of  the  enduring   artists from India invited by the Govt of India.
            be celebrated at this time of the year.       power of art, storytelling, and community.”     The program was made possible through the
                Surati for Performing Arts holds a deeply per-  Ramaavan-A Musical is an original produc-  support of Times Square Durga Utsav Associa-
            sonal legacy in its very name. The organization was   tion based on the Indian epic the Ramayana that   tion, ConnX SmartMS, Scient Enterprise AI, AVP
            named after the parents of Founder & Artistic Direc-  unravels the story of Diwali. Conceived, created   Global and Surati’s generous donors and support-
            tor Ms. Rimli Roy — Mr. Sumit Roy and Mrs. Arati   and directed By Rimli Roy, with original music by   ers, and highlighted the collaborative power of
            Roy. Their vision, encouragement, and love for the   Sumit Roy and Rajesh Roy, lyrics, verses and dia-  community, art, and tradition in one of the world’s
            arts continue to inspire Ms. Roy’s creative journey.  logues by Arati Roy, the musical has been staged in   most iconic public spaces.

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