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Brooklyn Raga Massive is excited to present BENGALI BAUL SONGBOOK as part of the 2026 Ragini Festival. Recognized by UNESCO, the Baul tradition is a distinct stream of Bengali folk music rooted in Bengal’s mystical heritage, drawing from Sufi and Vaishnav devotional currents. Centered on themes of communal harmony and spiritual freedom, Baul songs seek the divine within the human heart. Hear classic renditions of songs by Lalon Shah, Shah Abdul Karim and others, performed by Bangladeshi trio TEENTARA: Niha, Spondon, and Sanjoy.
Niha (Anika) is a New York–based Bangladeshi vocalist whose work is rooted in Bengali musical traditions and shaped by Hindustani classical training. Born in New York and raised in Dhaka, she began her musical journey at a young age at the Abbasuddin Sangeet Academy, where she trained for five years under nationally acclaimed singer Ferdausi Rahman, daughter of legendary folk musician Abbasuddin Ahmed, and appeared alongside her on Bangladesh Television (BTV). This early immersion grounded her in Rabindra Sangeet, Nazrul Geeti, and regional folk forms such as Bhatiali and Baul, alongside raga-based foundations. Known for her versatility and emotionally resonant voice, Niha adapts tone and expression across genres within South Asian music, moving fluidly between folk, semi-classical, and contemporary contexts. Her training has been further shaped by advanced coursework in a Professional Vocal Skills Certificate from Berklee College of Music, completed in 2025, as well as by intensive study in the Saami Brothers’ Khayal Apprenticeship, where she deepened her engagement with khayal, qawwali, and ghazal. Niha regularly performs in cafes, nonprofit spaces, and community settings, and frequently performs with her trio, TEENTARA, alongside AFM Spondon on guitar and Sanjoy Karmakar on tabla.
Spondon is a music and cultural educator. He is currently serving as an Artistic Director at the Bangladesh Academy of Fine Arts (BAFA), teaching Indian Classical, Bangla songs, and Guitar in the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn. He is the grandson of Ustad Munshi Raisuddin, a pioneer of Indian Classical music in Bangladesh. His goal is to spread Bengali music and cultural education to all that have an interest.
Sanjoy, also known musically as iTabla007, has been playing the tabla for over 25 years. As one of the first artists on YouTube to start creating tabla covers, he has long envisioned the instrument stepping beyond tradition and becoming a mainstream instrument across all genres of music. His musical journey began at the age of seven, he used to sit beside his mother each evening as she sang bhajans, accompanying her on the tabla. As he grew older, Sanjoy continued to hone his craft under the guidance of his guru, Dulal Bhowmik. Rooted in tradition yet driven by innovation, Sanjoy’s playing reflects a lifelong dedication to the tabla and a passion for expanding its place in the global music landscape