Our Bureau
New York, NY
Sumit Roy (from Kolkata) & Band and Rimli Roy & Surati captivate audiences with music, dance, and storytelling at Father Duffy Square on Thursday October 2nd.
The Times Square Durga Utsav Association brought the vibrancy of Indian culture to the crossroads of the world with a spectacular Durga Utsav celebration held on October 2, 2025 at Father Duffy Square, Times Square. The event drew an enthusiastic and diverse crowd, uniting communities through music, dance, and storytelling in honor of the Goddess Durga, on the auspicious occasion of Durga Puja and Navratri.
The peak evening time opened with a rousing performance by Sumit Roy & Band, with the Kolkata-based singer, composer, and musician enthralling audiences through his unique and original songs – Agomoni, Bangla Folk, Pop and Fusion compositions. Accompanied by Sonia on vocals, Jay (JB) on guitar and vocals, Sudeip on guitar, Devraj on bass, Danny on drums, and Reinaldo on percussion, the band set the stage alight with a blend of tradition and modernity. The crowd burst out with applause when Roy performed his several times gone viral song “Hilsa Fish”. The set opened with Sonia singing the opening song – Sumit Roy’s original Agomoni song heralding the Goddess followed by a unique “Charkha” folk song (Spinning wheel). At one point, Roy came down from the stage to join the audience member who had gathered around the stage to dance to the rhythmic music.
This was followed by a special performance of “Okal Bodhon” by Rimli Roy & Surati for Performing Arts, featuring excerpts from the original off-Broadway production Ramaavan – A Musical. Rooted in the story of Lord Rama’s invocation of Goddess Durga before his battle with Ravana, Okal Bodhon (meaning “untimely invocation”) is a symbolic ritual that gave rise to the autumn celebration of Durga Puja. Performed during Durga Puja and Navratri, this dance-theatre piece followed Rajesh Roy’s newest musical theater composition of Ramaavan – A Musical performed by Jonathan Power who played Ram, highlighted the universal themes of courage, righteousness, and devotion that lay the foundation for the festival to be celebrated at this time of the year.
Surati for Performing Arts holds a deeply personal legacy in its very name. The organization was named after the parents of Founder & Artistic Director Ms. Rimli Roy — Mr. Sumit Roy and Mrs. Arati Roy. Their vision, encouragement, and love for the arts continue to inspire Ms. Roy’s creative journey.
Mr. Sumit Roy, Ms. Roy’s father, was not only an inspiration but also a creative collaborator. He composed original music for Ramaavan – A Musical, Surati’s acclaimed Broadway-style production. This music was also performed at Times Square Durga Utsav 2025, symbolizing the powerful intergenerational connection that lies at the heart of Surati’s work.
Through a fusion of Indian classical, folk, and contemporary dance with Western theatrical elements, Surati’s ensemble brought mythology to life in the heart of Times Square. With choreography by Rimli Roy and narration by Priyanjali Sen, the cast — including Paulina Yeung (performer from Broadway’s King & I), Harsha Harikumar, Jonathan Power, Madison Halla, Kijana Lewis, Vidhya Dinesh, Reba Browne, and Rimli Roy — transformed the public square into a space of storytelling, artistry, and reverence. The crowd was particularly mesmerized by Paulina Yeung’s operatic rendition of Handel’s Lascia Ch’io Pianga accompanied by dancers Harsha Harikumar and Kijana Lewis.
“Times Square became a canvas for cultural exchange and artistic excellence,” said Rimli Roy, Founder & Artistic Director of Surati. “It was inspiring to share Okal Bodhon on the occasion of Durga Puja and Navratri — moments that remind us of the enduring power of art, storytelling, and community.”
Ramaavan-A Musical is an original production based on the Indian epic the Ramayana that unravels the story of Diwali. Conceived, created and directed By Rimli Roy, with original music by Sumit Roy and Rajesh Roy, lyrics, verses and dialogues by Arati Roy, the musical has been staged in NY and NYC since 2018, and even toured cities in India with seven U.S artists who collaborated with artists from India invited by the Govt of India.
The program was made possible through the support of Times Square Durga Utsav Association, ConnX SmartMS, Scient Enterprise AI, AVP Global and Surati’s generous donors and supporters, and highlighted the collaborative power of community, art, and tradition in one of the world’s most iconic public spaces.
About Surati for Performing Arts
Surati for Performing Arts is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit based in Jersey City, NJ, dedicated to educating, entertaining, and engaging communities through the arts of India and their cross-cultural intersections. Founded by Rimli Roy, Surati creates world-class productions, festivals, and educational programs that celebrate diversity, inclusivity, and artistic excellence.
Rimli and the Surati team have performed at the United Nations, The Kennedy Center, The Library of Congress, The Lincoln Center, Brookfield Place, The Reichhold Center – U.S Virgin Islands, Rutgers University, The Alaska Performing Arts Center, The Las Vegas Convention Center (NV), New York City Hall, The Indian Consulate, for Incredible India (the Indian Ministry of Tourism), The Indian Ministry of Textiles and have been featured in the Vogue, CNN and NBC news.
For more information, please visit: suratifpa.org
