The evening of Saturday, October 21, 2006 came alive for the Bengali song enthusiasts of New York Capital Region with a splendid performance from the legendary maestro Dr. Anup Ghosal who was accompanied in Indian percussion by his long-time accompanist Mr. Asim Sengupta. To the captived audience the duo were in their top form. Some of his songs from the 60's and 70's that Dr. Ghosal presented to us now, sounded even better in this live performance. The eloquence with which Utsav member Mr. Pradip Mukhopadhyay, an accomplished singer himself, introduced Dr. Anup Ghosal and Mr. Asim Sengupta only seemed befitting such a memorable show. The melodious performance was followed by a sumptuous dinner for all. Although we cannot thank Dr. Ghosal and Mr. Sengupta enough for such a memorable and enchanting evening, our sincere thanks also go out to all volunteers and members of UTSAV and the milieu of enthusiastic and supportive audience but for whom this event could not have been such a grand success.
Named in 2005 as one of Reserve America's Top Outdoor Locations and one of the Top 100 Campgrounds in the nation. Moreau Lake State Park's lake lies amid hardwood forests, pine stands and rocky ridges. Shady groves of trees shelter picnic grounds and a pavilion overlooking the lake. Wooded campgrounds are quiet and secluded, offering facilities for group campers, as well as tent and trailer sites. The sandy beach, nature, hiking and cross-country ski trails, opportunities for boating, fishing and ice fishing, and proximity to the Saratoga Spring and Lake George areas make the park attractive to visitors. A wooden pavilion with a 120-person capacity and three canvas tents, which can accommodate from 35-50 people may be reserved on a daily basis.
Utsav is participating in the International food festival to showcase our Indian delicacies and also to raise funds for the organization.The food festival will be held on August 9th, 2006 at Empire State Plaza, downtown Albany(around the lake in front of the egg center). We welcome Utsav members and guests to attend this event and get a taste of Utsav's culinary talents. Utsav's talented culinary artists and organizers
Madhuri Sharma
Kalpana Basu
Bipasha Banerjee
Tanushree Mallik
Aparna Aitch
Sangeeta Lahiri
Lopamudra Chakraborty
Our Menu
Vegetarian Meal: Ghoogni with choice of puri or rice pulao - Non-Vegetarian Meal: Chicken Tikka Masala with choice of puri or rice pulao - From the grill: Chicken Tikka kebab wrap - All meals are served with a side salad. Above items may be purchased a-la carte. Also available: Bhel puri - Mango mousse - Bottled water -
Grilled Chicken Tikka in a wrap
Chicken Tikka Masala - A mild curry dish of chicken in a tomato-based sauce, cooked tandoori style (in a charcoal-fired oven). TRANSLATION: chicken tikka, a traditional Indian dish, means pieces of tandoori chicken; masala is a blend of spices. Chicken tikka masala has a truly postcolonial history, produced when one of the world's greatest cuisines found itself confronted by a British palette unused to anything spicier than table salt. Legend has it one obstinate diner demanded gravy on tandoori chicken. A bemused chef responded by adding tin of Campbell's tomato soup and pinch of spices, unwittingly partaking in early example of fusion cookery.
“Chicken Tikka Massala is now a true British national dish, not only because it is the most popular, but because it is a perfect illustration of the way Britain absorbs and adapts external influences. Chicken Tikka is an Indian dish. The Massala sauce was added to satisfy the desire of British people to have their meat served in gravy. “
- Extract from a speech by British Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook..
Ingredients - 6 servings
1 cup yogurt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
4 teaspoons salt, or to taste
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
4 long skewers
1 tablespoon butter
1 clove garlic, minced
1 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons paprika
3 teaspoons salt, or to taste
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Steps:-
In a large bowl, combine yogurt, lemon juice, 2 teaspoons cumin, cinnamon, cayenne, black pepper, ginger, and 4 teaspoons salt. Stir in chicken, cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Preheat a grill for high heat.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Thread chicken onto skewers, and discard marinade. Grill until juices run clear, about 5 minutes on each side.
Melt butter in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Saute garlic and jalapeno for 1 minute. Season with 2 teaspoons cumin, paprika, and 3 teaspoons salt. Stir in tomato sauce and cream. Simmer on low heat until sauce thickens, about 20 minutes. Add grilled chicken, and simmer for 10 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter, and garnish with fresh cilantro.
Edition: Schenectady/Albany; Final Section: B Page: B1, B5
For about 75 ethnic Bengali area residents, a rainy Saturday afternoon in Latham turned into a vibrant spring day in India brightened by songs, dances and colorful traditional clothing.
Members, families and friends of a recently formed group called Utsav, which means "celebration of life" in the Bengali language, gathered at the Calvary United Methodist Church hall for about five hours of cultural festivities.
Most of the group's members are local engineers and professionals with major Tech Valley companies, according to spokesman Rana Dutta, a Glenville computer scientist with the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in Niskayuna.
Although most of the songs, dances, poetry and drama were performed by children and adults in Bengali, the show opened with the singing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" in English by a dozen children of various ages holding a large American flag.
Men wearing the traditional, long tunic called ! a "kurta" and women in festive, silken saris laughed and applauded as they videotaped performances and snapped photos. The rhythmic resonance of tabla water drums and the traditional harmonium, an accordianlike reed organ, filled the room.
"Indian culture is very family oriented," said Piyali Dutta, Rana's daughter, who directed the anthem singing.
But the 26-year-old SUNY-Binghamton graduate acknowledged that it can be tough growing up in a strict Bengali family amid more laid-back American students.
"You're kind of caught between two worlds" sometimes, Piyali Dutta said.
That's part of the reason Utsav was formed, according to organizers.
Members of the group, which grew out of another area Indian organization, hope to "keep the ties with tradition" for families who have lived and worked in the Capital Region for decades.
At the same time, Rana's wife, Sampa Dutta, recognizes that the "the children are becoming v! ery Americanized."
She said local Bengali-Americans try to t ake the best from both cultures.
"I hope they'll learn about Bengal," Sampa said, "but I don't force it on them."
The younger performers, ranging from near toddlers to teenagers, didn't seem to mind as they smiled broadly through children's springtime songs and fables. Others spun slowly with delicate hand and foot gestures amid storytelling dances.
"We practiced about two hours a day for three days," said Clifton Park resident Shayan Sen, 15, before he took the stage with several other boys to dance.
Rehearsals for all sorts of performances had been rotated among the homes of area families each weekend for a couple of months to prepare for Saturday's show, Rana Dutta said.
NOBEL LAUREATE
The date had no special meaning, although the events were organized to roughly coordinate with the mid-April beginning of the Bengali year 1413.
According to Utsav board member Pratip Basu, the celebration also aimed to m! ark the late May birthday anniversary of Bengali poet, playwright and novelist, Rabindrabath Tagore, who won the 1913 Nobel Prize for literature.
In an effort to pass on their native language to their children, many of whom were born and raised in the United States, Utsav also sponsors regular volunteer Bengali lessons at several area libraries, Rana Dutta said.
"If we don't, their children will be out of the picture," he said. Utsav members are also planning a variety of athletic events, Adirondack hiking and camping and Hindu cultural and religious events throughout the year, according to organizers.
Reach Gazette reporter R.J. Kelly at 234-7788 or
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Copyright (c) 2006 The Daily Gazette Co. All Rights Reserved. Record Number: 11209836089A8857
UTSAV Bangla School
My dear children: I rejoice to see you before me today, happy youth of a sunny and fortunate land. Bear in mind that the wonderful things that you learn in your schools are the work of many generations, produced by enthusiastic effort and infinite labour in every country of the world. All this is put into your hands as your inheritance in order that you may receive it, honour it, and add to it, and one day faithfully hand it on to your children. Thus do we mortals achieve immortality in the permanent things which we create in common. If you always keep that in mind you will find meaning in life and work and acquire the right attitude towards other nations and ages. (Albert Einstein talking to a group of school children. 1934)
We, at Utsav, have a dream where we impart to our next generation a rich heritage and cultural values through the use of our mother tongue Bangla. Today, Utsav made an energetic start by opening a bangla school in Capital District of New York. We held our first session at Schenectady County Library Conference Room where we outlined the vision we have for everyone who wants to learn this beautiful softspoken and articulate and the 4th largest spoken language in the world. We will conduct our school sessions in informal settings in public libraries in Capital District by rotation twice a month. Our learning sessions will involve not only the language but stories, drama, songs and bangla movies to make it more interesting for everyone. We extend our thanks to Schenectady County Library for facilitating the use of their beautiful conference room.
Utsav is participating in the International food festival to showcase our Indian delicacies and also to raise funds for the organization.The food festival will be held on August 9th, 2006 at Empire State Plaza, downtown Albany(around the lake in front of the egg center). We welcome Utsav members and guests to attend this event and get a taste of Utsav's culinary talents.
Chicken Tikka Masala - A mild curry dish of chicken in a tomato-based sauce, cooked tandoori style (in a charcoal-fired oven).
