​A Historical International Photography Exhibition titled "রাঙিয়ে দিয়ে যাও - Colours of Spring" held at Harakutir Bonedi Bari

​The Royal Harkuti Ray Bandyopadhyay family of Pathuriaghata Street stands as a living testament to Bengal’s profound spiritual and cultural history. For over three centuries, this lineage has preserved the essence of Sanatan Dharma through their celebrated tradition of "Baro Mase Tero Parbon" (thirteen festivals in twelve months).

​Continuing this tradition of excellence, the 12th generation is bridging ancient heritage with modern artistic expression. On the 4th and 5th of April, 2026, the family hosted a magnificent international photography exhibition titled "রাঙিয়ে দিয়ে যাও (Rangiye Diye Jao)" with theme as - Colors of Spring.

​The event was spearheaded by Archisman Ray Bandyopadhyay, the 12th-generation descendant who balances a formidable career as a Chemical Engineer, a Senior PhD Scholar at IIT Kharagpur, and as an important asset in the Government of India National Crime and investigation agency. Collaborating with him was the renowned photographer and content creator Trishik Bose (The Forthright Guy).

​The exhibition featured 54 captivating frames by 36 photographers, blending the works of seasoned veterans with budding new talents. The prestigious jury consisted of international luminaries Siddhartha Paul and Mahesh Kumar Mishra, whose presence added immense stature to the event.

​The cultural journey of Harkutir continues. Following the success of the photography exhibition, Mr. Archisman Ray Bandyopadhyay and Mr. Trishik Basu have announced their next major venture for the first week of July this year. Appropriately themed "Festivals of India," this upcoming exhibition aims to showcase the vibrant diversity of Indian celebrations, ensuring that the Ray Bandyopadhyay legacy remains a vibrant part of the global cultural dialogue.

​At the heart of this heritage lies their 333-year-old Durga Puja, a world-renowned tradition that has remained a beacon of faith for generations.

​The family residence, appropriately named "Harkutir," is a holy ground. Over the decades, it has been graced by the presence of India’s greatest spiritual masters, including Shri Shri Mohanananda Brahmachari, Sri Balananda Brahmachari, Sri Trailanga Swami, and the mystic Sadhak Bamakhapa. Most notably, the Paramahansa Sri Ramakrishna Dev visited this household, establishing the Shiva deity known as Sridheshwar Maharaj.

​The house also holds a sacred "Panchamundi Ashan" (a powerful tantric seat), and the family deity, Sridhar Narayan Ji, receives meticulous Nitya Seva (daily service) throughout the year.

​The glory of the family reached a pinnacle in its fifth generation with Sangeetacharya Haraprasad Shastri (Late Haraprasad Bandhopadhyay), A "Mahaguru" of Indian classical music, he was the primary architect of Dhrupad music in Bengal, specifically defining the core principles of the Khandarbani and Bishnupuri Gharanas.

​A prodigious scholar, he mastered 32 languages and was commissioned by the British Indian Government to conduct extensive research on Dhrupad music across India and Nepal. His influence was so profound that legendary figures like Jadu Bhatta and Ganganarayan Chattopadhyay (the first music teacher of Rabindranath Tagore) sought his tutelage within these very walls.

​Mr. Archisman Ray Banerjee and Mr. Trishik bose would like to highlight and thank each photographer who participated: Mr. Abhijit Sen, Mr. Abhirup Mukherjee, Advocate Aditi Biswas, Ms. Anindita Chatterjee, Mr. Anish Gupta, Mr. Anubhav Bhattacharyya, Mr. Arkadip Mandal, Mr. Arnab Bar, Mr. Arnab Mondal, Mr. Indrajeet Chatterjee, Mr. Debjyoti Das, Mr. Dibyajoti Das, Dr Indraneel Saha, Mr. Monojit Dutta, Mr. Shankar Dutta, Mr. Rajarshi Ghosh, Mr. Soumyadeep Kundu, Mr. Mrinmay Dutta, Mr. Sayak Bhattacharjee, Mr. Navoneel Saha, Mr. Om Chatterjee, Mr. Pravat Chaki, Mr. Rohan Saha, Mr. Rajdeep Saha, Mr. Sidharta Nandy, Mr. Spandan Das, Mr. Subhadip Mondal, Mr. Subhankar Siui, Ms. Suparna Samanta, Mr. Suryadip Das, Mr. Swapnil Sen, Mr. Swarnab Guha, Mr. Rohan Pashi, Mr. Arnab Sarma Sarkar, Mr. Chiranjit Dutta and Mr. Pranabesh Panda.

​Of the 36 photographers who participated, the First Prize and cash reward was secured by Mr. Abhirup Mukherjee, second by Mr. Soumyadeep Kundu, third by Ms. Anindita Chatterjee and the fourth by Mr. Abhijit Sen.

​Visit for more: https://www.instagram.com/harakutir?igsh=cDhnbWR3NFlMjA0&utm_source=qr

​Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_forthright_guy?igsh=MTVrZWppaGM3b3g0bw==