Voice of Mahalaya musical, Bhadra was synonymous with Durga Puja: Mamata
Kolkata, Aug 4: Amidst the countdown for Durga Puja in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid tribute to Birendra Krishna Bhadra -- the legendary voice behind the Mahalaya musical -- on his birth anniversary on Saturday.
Setting the drums rolling for the Durga Puja festivities, the Chief Minister tweeted: "Homage to Birendra Krishna Bhadra on his birth anniversary. He is synonymous with #DurgaPujo for Bengalis, all thanks to the iconic radio programme Mahishasura Mardini that airs on Mahalaya."
Mahishasura Mardini, a 90-minute musical piece, was first composed in 1931 and is immensely popular even today. Bhadra was the narrator whose soulful rendition of slokas caught the imagination of the listeners.
Born on August 4, 1905, the legendary presenter passed away on November 3, 1991, at the age of 86. But his sonorous voice has been immortalized through this composition.
Even now the recorded version of this musical drama, that celebrates Goddess Durga's arrival on Earth, is aired on the day of the Mahalaya, which is observed a week before the start of the Durga Puja.
Bhadra was also a playwright and director. His works include 'Mess No. 49', a theatre production and 'Saheb Bibi Golam', authored by Bimal Mitra.
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UP Cong chief Ajay Rai hospitalised after fainting, stable
Lucknow (PTI): Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai was hospitalised here after he fell unconscious due to low sodium levels, party leaders said on Saturday.
They said he was admitted to Medanta Hospital on Friday evening and is stable.
"Ajay Rai was admitted to Medanta Hospital in Lucknow at around 6 pm on Friday after he fell unconscious as his sodium levels had dropped. He fell unconscious at his residence in Lucknow. For the entire day, he was engaged in party programmes and had also gone to the airport," Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Anshu Awasthi told PTI.
Congress in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Avinash Pande told PTI, "Now, he (Ajay Rai) is stable and I am also reaching Lucknow."
Medanta Hospital Director Dr Rakesh Kapoor told PTI that Rai collapsed at his home on Friday evening and was subsequently admitted to the hospital's emergency ward.
Medical examinations revealed that Rai was suffering from a sodium deficiency and elevated blood pressure. Doctors administered immediate treatment and he is doing significantly better now, Kapoor said.
A team of doctors is monitoring his health. Rai is conversing with others and his condition is stable, he added.
In a post on X late Friday night, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished Rai a speedy recovery.
Rai hails from Varanasi and had contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections against Modi from the parliamentary constituency. The Congress appointed him as the Uttar Pradesh unit chief in 2023.
