Cultural Centre, Melbourne

A not-for-profit nurturing creative talent and Bengali culture in Melbourne.

About Us

🔠 āĻ…āĻ™ā§āϕ⧁āϰāϏ⧃āĻˇā§āϟāĻŋ āĻļ⧁āϧ⧁ āĻāĻ•āϟāĻŋ āϏ⧁āĻ¨ā§āĻĻāϰ āύāĻžāĻŽ āύāϝāĻŧ, āĻāϟāĻŋ āĻāĻ•āϟāĻŋ āĻĻāĻ°ā§āĻļāĻ¨â€”āĻāĻ•āϟāĻŋ āϝāĻžāĻ¤ā§āϰāĻžāϰ āĻļ⧁āϰ⧁ āĨ¤

Ankoorshristi is not just a beautiful name; it is a philosophy — a beginning of a journey. Just as a seed quietly gathers strength beneath the soil and one day sprouts to emerge into the light, this initiative aspires to nurture small ideas, talents, and cultural seeds so that they can one day grow into great creations. Ankoorshristi is an initiative where every individual is a seed — holding limitless potential within. This platform carefully nurtures that potential, fosters its growth, and, over time, transforms it into a complete creation. The organisation's goal is to help every sprout grow into a strong tree — one that symbolises culture, creativity, and unity.
Melbourne is a multicultural city where people from many countries around the world live together. Amid this diversity, preserving one's own culture, language, and heritage is extremely important. Promoting Bengali culture not only keeps our identity alive but also helps younger generations stay connected to their roots. With the aim of making Bengali culture more organised and enriched within this diverse city, this initiative will showcase the beauty of Bengali heritage not only to the Bengali diaspora but also to local Australians. It will not only preserve our culture but also pass on the essence of Bengali identity from one generation to the next. On the soil of Melbourne, this effort has the potential to open a new horizon — where Bengali culture will flourish with pride and establish its unique identity on the global stage. For this new initiative, we seek your cooperation, support, and blessings.

Our Vision

01

To promote diversity through cultural events and participation of the broader Australian community.

02

To promote an environment of peace, harmony and well-being of our broader community.

03

To provide a platform for younger generations to learn and respect multicultural background and diversity.

04

Fostering a deep connection between overseas artistic excellence and the vibrant city of Melbourne, Victoria.

05

Providing a high-profile platform for world-class performers to engage with Australian audiences, and Australian performers to engage with international audiences.

06

Promoting cultural exchange that enriches the Victorian multicultural landscape.

Upcoming Events

Watch this space for details on upcoming events

We're planning our next cultural evening — follow us or check back soon for dates, venue, and booking details.

Past Events

Chakravyuh Event

Chakravyuh

4 January 2026

Cultural Evening

23 May 2026

Stand-Up Comedy Bong Short Event

Stand-up Comedy

23 May 2026

Publications

Introduction to Mrittika

🔠 āĻŽā§ƒāĻ¤ā§āϤāĻŋāĻ•āĻž, āĻŽā§‡āϞāĻŦā§‹āĻ°ā§āĻ¨â€‹ āĨ¤

Melbourne — a city in Australia where the seasons suddenly change colour, where the sky writes a new story every day: sometimes in the brightness of sunshine, sometimes in cloudy melancholy, sometimes in the soft touch of light rain. Painted in the whimsical colours of light and shadow, this city is like a moving canvas. And it isn’t just nature — every person, every culture living here is full of its own individuality. Everyone carries their own story, a pull that binds them to their homeland even from thousands of miles away. Living in a distant land, we come to feel that our language, culture, songs, and stories together make up who we are — our identity. So that this sense of “us” does not quietly fade with time, amid the rush of daily life, Mrittika Melbourne was born.

The bond between people and soil is eternal. It is the pull of the soil that makes people search for their roots. Hidden within the word “Mrittika” — soil, earth — lies our origin, our existence. Just as soil holds a tree and gives it strength, our Mrittika lets us feel our own existence. Even while living abroad, may we still feel the scent of that soil, that emotion, that connection — it is from this belief that Mrittika’s journey begins.

Kolkata and Melbourne: two different cities on two different continents. On one side, afternoon gatherings by the Ganges, the bustle of the book fair, the quiet peace of a village pond; on the other, the building of new dreams on the banks of the Yarra, the vibrancy of multiculturalism. Yet somehow the two feel bound by an invisible bridge. Mrittika is not just a magazine — it is a humble effort at that very connection, where two cities, two generations, and countless emotions are woven into one thread.

We want Mrittika to be an open platform, where literature, art, experience, and the many colours of diaspora life come together — where new and old voices are equally valued. On every page, we hope to bring forward the stories, experiences, and creativity that awaken memories of Kolkata while embracing the reality of Melbourne.

But this journey cannot belong to any one person alone. Writers, artists, and readers — it is your active participation that will make Mrittika complete. Let us search together for that soil, that connection, which binds us across distance by an invisible thread. May Mrittika become the voice of that bond, where every word, feeling, and creation carries the touch of our roots.

— Mrittika, Melbourne

Upcoming Magazines

Puja Barshiki 2026 — Expression of Interest (EOI)

🔠āĻŽā§ƒāĻ¤ā§āϤāĻŋāĻ•āĻž - āĻŽā§‡āϞāĻŦā§‹āĻ°ā§āύ - āĻĒ⧁āĻœā§‹ āϏāĻ‚āĻ–ā§āϝāĻž - ā§§ā§Ēā§Šā§Š

Following the grand inauguration of āĻŽā§ƒāĻ¤ā§āϤāĻŋāĻ•āĻž – āĻŽā§‡āϞāĻŦā§‹āĻ°ā§āύ, Melbourne’s own Bengali literary magazine, at the magnificent launch event held on 23rd May at the Drum Theatre, we are delighted to announce the publication of our first Puja Barshiki (Annual Puja Edition).

With immense enthusiasm, we invite writers, poets, storytellers, and literary enthusiasts from Australia and around the world to submit their original works in Bengali or English for consideration in this special edition.

We are accepting submissions in the following categories:

  • āϛ⧋āϟāĻ—āĻ˛ā§āĻĒ (Short Story)
  • āĻŦāĻĄāĻŧāĻ—āĻ˛ā§āĻĒ (Long Story)
  • āĻ…āύ⧁āĻ—āĻ˛ā§āĻĒ (Flash Fiction)
  • āĻ•āĻŦāĻŋāϤāĻž (Poetry)
  • āĻ­ā§āϰāĻŽāĻŖ āĻ•āĻžāĻšāĻŋāύāĻŋ (Travelogue)
  • āĻĒ⧌āϰāĻžāĻŖāĻŋāĻ• āϰāϚāύāĻž (Mythological Writing)
  • āĻĻ⧁āĻ°ā§āĻ—āĻžāĻĒā§‚āϜāĻžāϕ⧇ āϕ⧇āĻ¨ā§āĻĻā§āϰ āĻ•āϰ⧇ āϏāĻŽāĻ•āĻžāϞ⧀āύ āϞ⧇āĻ–āĻž (Contemporary Writing on Fashion, Food, Culture, Lifestyle, or other aspects of Durga Puja)

Submission Guidelines

  • Long Story / Travelogue / Mythological Writing / Contemporary Articles: 400–450 words
  • Short Story / Poetry: 200–250 words
  • Flash Fiction: Up to 150 words
  • Travelogue submissions should be accompanied by relevant, high-quality photographs
  • Last date of submission — 16th August 2026
  • Kindly email the writings to mrittikamelbourne@gmail.com
  • All submissions must be original, unpublished, and the author’s own work

We warmly encourage writers of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of experience to share their creativity and become a part of this inaugural Puja Annual Edition.

Editorial Process

All submissions will be carefully reviewed by the Editorial Board. Selection will be based on literary merit, originality, and suitability for the magazine. The decision of the Editor and Editorial Team shall be final.

Together, let us celebrate the richness of Bengali literature, the vibrancy of our culture, and the timeless spirit of Durga Puja through words that inspire, connect, and endure.

We eagerly look forward to receiving your contributions and sincerely thank you for your continued love and support for āĻŽā§ƒāĻ¤ā§āϤāĻŋāĻ•āĻž – āĻŽā§‡āϞāĻŦā§‹āĻ°ā§āύ.

Write. Create. Inspire. Become a part of our literary journey.

Contact Us

Whether you’re looking to join our community, collaborate on a project, or simply want to learn more about our roots, we’d love to hear from you.

Contact Form Demo

A not-for-profit nurturing creative talent and Bengali culture in Melbourne.

Notices

Volunteers & mentors welcome
Sponsorship enquiries open for 2026 events