Kolkata music: World Music Day’s epic vibe had City Centre New Town buzzing, with t2

The music lovers of Calcutta found the perfect reason to step outdoors and celebrate the universal language of melody on the occasion of World Music Day. Music, in all its forms, took centre stage at City Centre New Town on June 20-21 for the celebration of World Music Day, in association with t2 and partnered by t2ONLINE.

The event brought together an eclectic mix of sounds, stories and styles over the course of two evenings. From playback favourites to contemporary fusion and energetic band performances, this festival celebrated the many moods of music. It drew a lively crowd of young music enthusiasts, families and casual visitors, all eager to soak in the vibe of this music festival.

Day 1 of the festival began with the first performer of the evening, singer Debjit. His fusion music set seamlessly blended contemporary and traditional music. Performing songs like O sanam by Lucky Ali, the singer drew the crowd in and captured their attention. The performance perfectly set the tone for the evening. The crowd steadily grew as the performance progressed and responded enthusiastically while enjoying themselves along with the familiar tunes.

Singer Kajol Chatterji took to the stage and performed soulful renditions of Somlata’s songs and many other crowd favourite Bengali tracks. She said: “Music connects people despite their differences in culture, language and habits. Music has this power to heal and unite. The world is a better place when music thrives.”

The energy soon shifted as professional playback singer Kajol Chatterji took to stage. Moving between timeless favourites and popular contemporary numbers, she perfectly struck a chord with listeners of all age groups. The crowd loved her renditions of singer Somlata’s songs. Kajol further enraptured the audience with timeless Rabindra Sangeet with a fusion touch. Songs like Majhe majhe tobo dekha pai became the crowd’s favourite, as they swayed to the music and harmonies of the song.

The spotlight then moved to the band Rangoon. The band’s lively performance captured quite the crowd. The young audiences could be seen singing along to the songs enthusiastically as the band performed while others recorded these memorable moments on their phones. Over the course of an hour, the band performed a mix of both Bengali and Hindi songs like Khamoshiyan, Apna bana le, Mon majhi re, and many more. The band’s performance truly underscored the festival’s commitment to showcasing diverse musical expressions.

Singer Debjit 

As the evening reached its end, the last performance of the day was by Mehfil- e- Khwab, a Sufi band. Their set truly brought a sense of serenity to the festival. The soulful compositions, traditional Sufi influences and the rich vocals captivated the audience. As familiar Sufi melodies echoed across the venue, the crowd remained absorbed in the music and the band’s soulful renditions. The band performed renditions of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan numbers, which became the crowd’s favourite part of the performance. With appreciative applause the performance came to an end, filling the hearts of the audience.

Beyond the performances that took place over two days, this music festival created a sense of community and a space where music became a shared experience. People gathered with their families and friends and enjoyed the performances in their own ways. The atrium of the mall became a place where every emotion, love, heartbreak, longing, nostalgia, was expressed through one medium: music. The diverse audience reflected the festival’s inclusive ethos that brought together people from different age groups and musical preferences under one roof.

Arindam Singh Chakraborty, the lead vocalist of the band Rangoon, said, “It is extremely important to celebrate World Music Day. In this age where people barely get any time for themselves or their families, it’s on occasions like these where music takes centre stage that people get the chance to be with their loved ones and enjoy this feeling of togetherness with music.”

Speaking about the vision behind the event, Ramesh Pandey, COO,  marketing and events, Ambuja Neotia Group, said: “Music has a unique ability to transform an ordinary space into a shared experience, where strangers become part of the same moment. With World Music Day 2026, our vision is not merely to host a series of performances, but to create a vibrant cultural gathering where diverse musical traditions coexist on one stage and audiences can discover something new with every act.”

The Sufi band ‘Mehfil-e-Khwab’ were the last performers of the day, leaving everyone in the audience totally mesmerised with their soulful renditions. 

This vision was clearly reflected throughout the festival. In this World Music Day celebration, the many forms and moods of music was celebrated and so was the essence of music, the one that brings everyone closer, despite differences. As the festival came to an end, it left the audience with shared laughter and a renewed appreciation for music’s remarkable ability to uplift and unite.

Here are somec glimpses of the celebrations at the mall on Day 1. 

Immersed in the universal language of music, people sang along to their favourite tracks with smiles etched on their faces. From playback to Bangla rock to sufi, every person left hearing a song they loved at the World Music Day celebration at City Centre, New Town.

Pictures: B Halder