The romance, cultural spirit, and rich culinary heritage of the monsoon came alive in Kolkata as Primarc Podium, in association with Kolkata Baarish Season 3, hosted a curated monsoon gathering at Nishtara– The Luxury Banquet. The event brought together literature, food, comedy, cinema, and music to celebrate the distinctive traditions associated with the rainy season.

A Thoughtful Exploration of Taste and Memory

The highlight of the afternoon was a special panel session hosted by Primarc Podium, titled “Do the Rains Have a Taste?” Moderated by Malavika Banerjee—Director of the Kolkata Literary Meet and Gameplan—the discussion examined the relationship between changing seasons, local ingredients, memory, and the Bengali palate.

The panel featured distinct perspectives on culinary culture:

• Shaun Kenworthy: UK-born, Kolkata-based chef, restaurant consultant, and storyteller with over two decades of experience shaping India’s culinary landscape.
• Sujoy Chatterjee: Co-founder of Amar Khamar, who works extensively in sustainable farming and the heritage sourcing of rare, indigenous rice, lentils, ghee, and honey.

Adding humor to the afternoon, popular content creator Subham Chaudhuri (known as Bong Short) offered witty reflections on Bengal’s love affair with food and the rituals surrounding the dining table. The dialogue was followed by an intimate monsoon lunch curated by 6 Ballygunge Place.

Fostering Dialogue and Community

At its core, Primarc Podium operates as a thought leadership platform designed to bring together authors, policymakers, experts, and changemakers to share ideas and inspire action. Having debuted with “Lessons in Leadership, Resilience & Nation Building”—which focused on India’s journey against Left-Wing Extremism—this monsoon edition expanded the platform’s vision by blending culture, sustainability, and community.

Presented and curated by Gameplan, Kolkata Baarish continues its third edition as a landmark festival celebrating the city’s enduring connection with the rainy season. By uniting food, art, and conversation, the event highlighted how shared cultural experiences bring communities closer together.

Priyanka Dutta