Bangamela® 2023 ran like a well-oiled machine from start to finish. It started at 2:30pm on Saturday July 29 and the final curtain dropped on Sunday 30 July at 9pm. All events started on time. It was a sweet, entertaining, comfortable, and fun two-day event in Redwood City near San Francisco, California. As a founding member of Bangamela® that was conceptualized in the basement of late Chabi and Parimal Bhattacharya in Louisville, Kentucky 1998 and hosted the first Bangamela® the following year in 1999 at Louisville Kentucky, I never thought the Bangamela® would come so far west to San Francisco. It really felt good to hear the name "Bangamela" in the air for two days. The bookend events, the opening and closing ceremonies, were collaborative efforts between overseas artists and local talents; the blending between them was harmonious and well-choreographed. It was an eye opener for me. Two natoks, one by a local group and the other by famous Kolkata based artists were both engaging and engrossing. Listening to the local band "Sampan" playing at an open-air venue with "cha singara" and the cool breeze was very pleasant. It was indeed a very memorable event for me and for other MABA executive members. 

Three Cheers for Bangamela®: Hip hip .......