North American Bengali Conference
{{Short description|Annual cultural event}}
{{Infobox recurring event
| name = North American Bengali Conference (NABC)
| alt =
| caption =
| status = Active
| genre = Cultural festival
| location =
| coordinates =
| country = United States and Canada
| first = {{Start date|1981}}
| founder_title = Cultural Association of Bengal North America
| last =
| attendance = 4000–12,000
| website = {{URL|cabusa.org}}
| footnotes =
| native_name = নর্থ আমেরিকান বঙ্গ সম্মেলন
| native_name_lang = bn
| logo =
}}
The North American Bengali Conference (NABC) is an annual Bengali culture conference held in the United States and Canada, typically around the weekend of July 4. It was established in 1981 by the Cultural Association of Bengal in New York, and is hosted by a different organization every year.{{Cite news |url=http://www.anandabazar.com/international/know-how-was-bengali-conference-from-the-begining-dgtl-1.424863 |script-title=bn:আমেরিকায় বঙ্গ সম্মেলনের সেকাল একাল |last=রায় |first=প্রবীর |date=July 1, 2016 |work=Anandabajar Patrika |language=bn}} The conference includes performances, readings, discussion, networking, and class reunions.
Performers are often from the United States, Canada, Bangladesh, and India. Audiences are primarily Bangladeshi American, Indian American, Bangladeshi Canadian and Indian Canadian. In 2022, Bangladeshi actor-producer Shakib Khan was appointed as the Bangladesh Outreach Brand Ambassador of NABC, the first and only brand ambassador in the 42-year history of the conference.{{Cite web |title=Shakib Khan appointed Brand Ambassador of NABC |url=http://thedailynewnation.com/news/313509/Shakib-Khan-appointed-Brand-Ambassador-of-NABC |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=The New Nation |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Shakib becomes Bangladesh brand ambassador at Banga Sammelan |url=https://bangladeshpost.net/posts/shakib-becomes-bangladesh-brand-ambassador-at-banga-sammelan-78348 |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=Bangladesh Post |language=en}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-01-30 |title=Shakib Khan appointed Brand Ambassador of North America Bengali Conference |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/entertainment/tv-film/news/shakib-khan-appointed-bangladesh-outreach-brand-ambassador-nabc-2950441 |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}
Venues
- 1981: New York City, New York{{Cite web|url=http://www.cabusa.org/about_nabc.php|title=About NABC|website=Cultural Association of Bengal|access-date=2018-06-11}} organized by the Cultural Association of Bengal
- 1982: New York City organized by the Cultural Association of Bengal
- 1983: New York City organized by the Cultural Association of Bengal
- 1984: Boston, Massachusetts organized by Prabasi of New England
- 1985: Baltimore, Maryland organized by Prantik of Baltimore
- 1986: Cleveland, Ohio organized by Bengali Cultural Society, Cleveland Ohio
- 1987: San Francisco/San Jose, Bay Area Auditorium at the California School for the Deaf, Fremont, California{{cite news|title=Prabasi Hosts Successful North American Bengali Conference|last=Kumar Sankar|first=Majumder|date=1987-09-18|work=India West |location=San Leandro, California, USA}}{{Cite news|title=The Heritage of Bengal: West coast hosts its first Bengali conference|date=1997-09-30|work=India Currents|publication-place=San Jose, California|page=11}} organized by Bay Area Prabasi
- 1988: Atlantic City, New Jersey, Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall{{Cite news|title=A visionary who helped keep the Bengali culture and heritage alive in the New Jersey Bengali community'|last=Mozumder|first=Suman Guha|date=2012-05-18|work=India Abroad|page=A38}} organized by Kallol NJ
- 1989: New York City organized by the Cultural Association of Bengal
- 1990: Maryland, University of Maryland{{Cite news|title=Tenth Annual Bengali Conference in July|date=1990-01-19|work=India West}} organized by Sanskriti DC
- 1991: Boston area, Lowell, Massachusetts organized by Prabasi Of New England
- 1992: Toronto, Ontario, Canada{{Cite news|title=The Bengali experience|date=July 18, 1992|work=The Globe and Mail}} organized by PBCA Toronto
- 1993: Los Angeles, California, California State University, Fullerton{{Cite news|title=Bengali Fest Celebrated by 2,500 Indians, Bangladeshis|last=Dongre|first=Archana|date=1993-07-09|work=India West}}{{Cite news|title=Explorations of Bengali Culture|last=Vora|first=Batuk|date=1993-07-09|work=India Abroad}} organized by Dakshini Los Angeles
- 1994: Chicago, Illinois, Hyatt Regency O'Hare{{Cite news|title=Nritya Jyoti Dance Theatre to Present the Hungry Stones|date=1994-08-14|work=Asian Pages|location=Saint Paul, Minnesota}} organized by the Bengali Association of Greater Chicago (BAGC)
- 1995: New York Metro Area, White Plains, New York{{Cite news|title=Communist Basu Turns Realist for Dollar|last=Arora|first=Vasantha|date=1995-06-30|work=India West}}{{Cite news|title=Bengali Atmosphere Pervades All Around|last=Dey|first=Arun Kumar|date=1995-07-14|work=News India-Times}} organized by the Cultural Association of Bengal
- 1996: Houston, Texas, Adam's Mark Hotel{{Cite news|title=Over 4,000 Attend Gala Bengali Meet in Houston|last=Swapan|first=Ashfaque|date=1996-07-17|work=India West}}{{Cite news|title=Thousands of Community Members Flock to Conventions|last=Haniffa|first=Aziz|date=1996-07-19|work=India Abroad}} organized by the Tagore Society of Houston
- 1997: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Valley Forge Convention Center, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania{{Cite news|title=Clinging Tight to Their Heritage, Bengalis Flock to a Homecoming in U.S.|last=Lyman|first=Rick|date=1997-07-21|work=The New York Times|page=C11}}{{Cite news|title=Bengalis Gathered to Celebrate Their Culture|last=Lelyveld|first=Nita|date=July 20, 1997|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|page=B02}} organized by Pragati Philadelphia
- 1998: Toronto, Regal Constellation{{Cite news|title=Three-day Toronto event lauds role of women: 18th North American Bengali Convention|last=Jain|first=Ajit|date=1998-07-19|work=India Abroad}} organized by PBCA Toronto
- 1999: San Francisco Bay Area, Santa Clara Convention Center, Santa Clara, California{{Cite news|title=Thousands Attend Bay Area Prabasi's Durga Puja Fest|date=1998-10-09|work=India West}}{{Cite news|title=Vocalist Rashid Khan: Continuing a Tradition|last=Swapan|first=Ashfaque|date=1998-11-27|work=India West}}{{Cite news|title=Kumar Sanu Still on Top, But Competition Is Close Behind|last=Tsering|first=Lisa|date=1999-04-23|work=India West}}{{cite magazine|date=October 31, 1999|title=Bengali Conference|magazine=Trikone|location=San Francisco|publisher=Trikone|page=21|volume=14|issue=4}}{{Cite news|title=Freedom to choose|last=Roy|first=Sandip|date=2009-07-19|work=India Abroad|pages=A15-A16}} organized by Bay Area Prabasi
- 2000: Atlantic City, New Jersey, Atlantic City Convention Center and Kolkata, India{{Cite news|title=Bengali convention showcases state's culture|last=Mozumder|first=Suman Guha|date=2000-07-21|work=India Abroad}} organized by Kallol NJ and others
- 2001: Boston, Paul Tsongas Arena Lowell MA organized by Prabasi of New England
- 2002: Atlanta, Georgia World Congress Center{{Cite news|title=5,000 Bengalis to drop into Atlanta for 'ultimate chat'|last=Basu|first=Moni|date=July 3, 2002|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|page=1E}} organized by the South Eastern Bengali Association
- 2003: Long Beach, CA, Long Beach Convention Center{{Cite news|title=Long Beach Center Comes Alive With Bengali Culture|last=Dongre|first=Archana|date=2003-07-11|work=India-West}}{{Cite news|title=5,000 attend Bengali convention|date=2003-08-01|work=India Abroad}} organized by the Dakshini Bengali Association of California
- 2004: Baltimore, Baltimore Convention Center{{Cite news|title=Artistic talent showcased, business discussed at 24th North American Bengali Conference|last=Datta|first=Jyotirmay|date=2004-07-30|work=News India-Times}} organized by Sanskriti DC
- 2005: New York City, Madison Square Garden{{Cite news|title=Over 10,000 Attend Bengali Sammelan Fest|last=Swapan|first=Ashfaque|date=2005-07-29|work=India-West}} organized by the Cultural Association of Bengal
- 2006: Houston, George R. Brown Convention Center{{Cite news|title=As July 4 approaches, conventions swing into high gear|last=Joshi|first=Monika|date=2006-06-23|work=India Abroad}}{{Cite news|title=Film festival, energy seminar highlight Bengali convention|date=2006-07-28|work=India Abroad}} organized by the Tagore Society of Houston
- 2007: Detroit, Cobo Hall{{Cite news|title=Bengali conference draws 8,000 to Detroit|date=2007-08-03|work=India Abroad}} organized by the Bengali Association of Greater Michigan
- 2008: Toronto, Metro Toronto Convention Centre{{cite news|title=28th North American Bengali Conference highlights culture|last=Ajit|first=Jain|date=2008-07-25|work=India Abroad |location=New York City}}{{Cite news|title=More than 6000, attend 28th Bengali Conference in Toronto|last=Dutt|first=Ela|date=2008-07-18|work=News India-Times}} organized by PBCA Toronto
- 2009: San Jose, McEnery Convention Center{{Cite news|title=Historic Pro-Gay Ruling Hailed|last=Swapan|first=Ashfaque|date=2009-07-10|work=India-West}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.prabasi.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=231&letter=letter0270|title=North American Bengali Conference 2009|last=Sengupta|first=Surajit|date=2008-04-23|website=www.prabasi.org|publisher=Bay Area Prabasi|language=en-gb|access-date=2017-09-28}}{{Cite news|title=Community gears up for the convention season|last=Mukherjee|first=Mayurii|date=2009-07-03|work=India Abroad}}{{Cite news|title=7,000 Attend Culture-Rich Bengali Fest|last=Swapan|first=Ashfaque|date=2009-07-10|work=India-West|pages=B1, B16, B18}}{{Cite news|title=Food, friends, nostalgia|last=Roy|first=Sandip|date=2009-07-17|work=India Abroad|pages=A14, A16}} organized by Bay Area Prabasi
- 2010: Atlantic City, Atlantic City Convention Center{{Cite news|title=Mediamorphosis to Coordinate Sponsorships for NABC 2010|date=2010-02-05|work=India Abroad|page=B7}} organized by Kallol of NJ
- 2011: Baltimore, Baltimore Convention Center{{Cite news|title=Ethnic Pride, American Dream|last=Dutt|first=Ela|date=2011-07-15|work=News India-Times|location=New York, NY|pages=6–9}}{{Cite news|title=Bengalis bond in Baltimore|last=Haniffa|first=Aziz|date=2011-07-22|work=India Abroad|pages=A39-A40}}{{Cite news|title=News & Community|date=2011-12-30|work=India Abroad|pages=A19-A22}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-in-photos-bengalis-bond-in-baltimore/20110803.htm|title=IN PHOTOS: Bengalis bond in the US|date=2011-08-03|work=Rediff|access-date=2017-09-29}}{{Cite news|title=Celebrating the spirit of Bengal abroad|date=May 1, 2011|work=The Times of India}} organized by Sanskriti DC
- 2012: Las Vegas, Paris Las Vegas{{Cite news|title=ZEE Bangla Launches At NABC 2012|date=2012-08-03|work=India West|page=C14}}{{Cite news|title=Mamata woos Bengali investors in US|last=Nayar|first=K.P.|date=July 12, 2012|work=The Telegraph}} organized by the Cultural Association of Bengal
- 2013: Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Metro Toronto Convention Centre{{Cite news|url=https://www.bramptonguardian.com/news-story/6004596-bengalis-celebrating-a-legacy-of-art-culture-and-language/|title=Bengalis celebrating a legacy of art, culture and language|date=2013-07-03|work=Brampton Guardian|access-date=2017-09-29|language=en-CA}}{{Cite news|title=Busy summer festive season starts with Bengali flavour|date=July 3, 2013|work=South Asian Focus}}{{Cite news|title=Bengalis celebrating a legacy of art, culture and language|last=Ghosh|first=Baswati|date=July 3, 2013|work=South Asian Focus|edition=Ontario}} organized by PBCA Toronto
- 2014: Orlando, Florida, USA, The Peabody Orlando{{Cite news|title=Arthur can't stop Bengali bonding in Orlando|last=Mozumder|first=Suman Guha|date=2014-07-25|work=India Abroad|page=A38}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.indoamerican-news.com/nabc-2014-prelude-national-bengali-conference-2015-in-houston/|title=NABC 2014: Prelude National Bengali Conference 2015 in Houston|date=July 5, 2014|website=Indo American News|access-date=2017-09-29}} organized by the Bengali Society of Florida
- 2015: Houston, Texas, USA, George R. Brown Convention Center{{Cite news|title=When Bengal came to Houston|last=Shah|first=Manu|date=2015-07-24|page=A23}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/indians-abroad/celebration-of-bengali-culture-and-tradition-at-a-convention-in-houston-782956|title=Celebration of Bengali Culture and Tradition at a Convention in Houston|date=July 19, 2015|work=NDTV.com|access-date=2017-09-29}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.indoamerican-news.com/banga-sammelan-nabc-2015-brought-fun-passion-to-the-heart-of-texas/|title=Banga Sammelan, NABC 2015, Brought Fun, Passion to the Heart of Texas|date=July 16, 2015|website=Indo American News|access-date=2017-09-29}} organized by the Tagore Society of Houston
- 2016: New York City, Madison Square Garden{{Cite news|title=Where Shakespeare meets Birju Maharaj|date=2016-08-26|work=India Abroad|page=A40}} organized by the Cultural Association of Bengal
- 2017: San Francisco, Santa Clara Convention Center{{Cite web|url=https://nabc2017.com/|title=North American Bengali Conference 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724133838/https://nabc2017.com/|archive-date=2017-07-24}} organized by Bay Area Prabasi
- 2018: Atlantic City, Atlantic City Convention Center{{Cite web|url=https://www.nabc2018.com/|title=North American Bengali Conference 2018|access-date=2018-06-11}} organized by Ananda Mandir NJ
- 2019: Baltimore, Baltimore Convention Center organized by Sanskriti DC
- 2020: In person NABC canceled due to COVID-19. Online philanthropic initiative HOPE 2020 organized by the Cultural Association of Bengal
- 2021: In person Banga Sammelan canceled, online NABC named NABC GLOBAL was organized by the Cultural Association of Bengal on a virtual reality platform{{Cite web |last=কর |first=ড. কোহিনূর |date= |title=বঙ্গ সম্মেলনঃ যেন এক মহোৎসব - NABC Global Conference 2021, Sangbad Bichitra, August 2021, pp. 14-17 |url=https://www.cabusa.org/sangbadbichitra-archive/sb-august-2021.pdf}}
- 2022: Las Vegas Nevada, Planet Hollywood Casino and Resort and Zappos Theater organized by the Cultural Association of Bengal{{Cite web |last=কর |first=ড. কোহিনূর |date= |title=বঙ্গ সম্মেলন ২০২২-এর উদ্বোধনী..., Sangbad Bichitra, June 2022, pp. 2, 4|url=https://www.cabusa.org/sangbadbichitra-archive/sb-Ashar-16-1429-issue.pdf}}
- 2023: Atlantic City, Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall and Seaview golf club organized by KPC Bengali Hall of Fame Edison NJ
- 2024: Chicago Illinois, Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center organized by the Bengali Association of Greater Chicago
- 2025: Toronto Canada, Metro Toronto Convention Centre organized by Toronto Kalibari
- 2026: TBD
NABC hosting Partner organizations (CAB Sister organizations)
- Ananda Mandir, NJ
- GSCA NJ
- Kallol NJ
- BCAA
- BASC
- Dakshini Los Angeles
- Prabasi Bay Area
- Uttoron Seattle
- Pragati Philadelphia
- Prabasi of New England
- KPC Bengali Hall of Fame
- BSF Florida
- Toronto Kalibari
- Krishti Edmonton
- Prabasi Bengali Cultural Association (PBCA), Toronto
- Bengali Association of Greater Chicago (BAGC)
- ICC Garden State
- ECDPA NY
- Vedanta Society NY
- Tagore Society of Houston
- RDM NJ
- Bharatiya Kala Kendra NJ
- Paschami Bay Area
- Sanskriti Washington DC
- Prantik of Baltimore
- Sanskriti Bay Area
- Saikat San Diego
- Bengali Association of Nevada
- Bengali Association of Minnesota
- Valley Bengali Community LA
- Ankur Sacramento
- Bengali Community of Sacramento
- Anandahwini NY
- BADV Newark
- Dhroopad INC Washington DC
- GSPC, Jersey City
- BCS, South Jersey
- NASKA Connecticut
- Lipilekha NJ
- New York Kali Mandir
- Chicago Kali Bari
- Sreeshti NJ
- Mrittrika NJ
- Udaan Delaware
- Ghorroa Philadelphia
- Washington Kali Temple
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://nabc2024.org 2024 conference website]
- [https://anandamandir.org Ananda Mandir]{{snd}}partner organization in New Jersey
- [https://bagc.net Bengali Association of Greater Chicago]{{snd}}partner organization in Illinois
- [https://prabasione.org Prabasi of New England]{{snd}}partner organization in Massachusetts
- [https://tagoresociety.net/ Tagore Society of Houston]{{snd}}partner organization in Texas
Category:Conventions in the United States
Category:Conventions in Canada
Category:Indian diaspora in the United States
Category:Bangladeshi diaspora in the United States
Category:Indo-Canadian culture
Category:Bangladeshi diaspora in Canada