Why Prothoma

Founded in 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic, Prothoma began as a bold idea: to create a Bengali social and cultural space that felt personal, warm, and rooted in tradition — even during uncertain times. Since then, we’ve continued to grow steadily, winning mindshare not only among Bengalis across the Bay Area, but also within the broader Indian community.

Despite thousands of attendees at our events, Prothoma is known for its intimate, welcoming atmosphere — where everyone knows your name and every celebration feels like coming home. Our flagship Durga Puja, along with Barshabaran, Saraswati Puja, Kali Puja, and our annual summer picnic, reflects a unique blend of cultural richness, creativity, and community spirit that sets us apart.

The attached letter is from a parent of a membr, a beloved aunt, who blesses us from afar.

Handwritten by a prent of a member. Prothoma appreciates the Love

Our first flash dance in a park to celebrate Barshoboron and Rabindra Jayanti

Group picture from our first Durga Puja
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See what our members say

Capturing our members feedback on the Prothoma experience. Have something to say? Tell us we will post your video too.

Prothoma Founders

Veteran Bay Area volunteers who founded a new organization where everyone was “ a prothoma” (the first)

  • Angira Dey

  • Arghya and Barnali Mukherjee

  • Arunava and Sharmishtha Bannerjee

  • Bibek Ghosh

  • Dalia Sen

  • Dipa Mondal

  • Gourav Roy and Shivali Chatterjee

  • Prasenjit Biswas

  • Sourav Dutta

  • Subhomoy Chattopadhyay

  • Sudip Das and Rima Mukherjee

  • Tracy and Sanjay Haldar

Prothoma Annual Committee

Until prothoma had a constitution, these folks gave timeless hours to make sure the organization started on a solid footing.

  • Angira Dey

  • Anirban Maiti and Soumita Ghosh

  • Anooja Majumdar

  • Arghya and Barnali Mukherjee

  • Arunava and Sharmishtha Bannerjee

  • Bibek Ghosh

  • Chiranjeevi Bhandaru

  • Dalia Sen

  • Dipa Mondal

  • Gourav Roy and Shivali Chatterjee

  • Indranil Sen and Sonali Agarwal

  • Mousumi Banerjee

  • Neelika Choudhury

  • Prasenjit Biswas

  • Sabyasachi Mondal

  • Sourav Dutta

  • Subhen and Debabani Khatua

  • Subhomoy Chattopadhyay and Baishali Raychaudhuri

  • Sudip Das and Rima Mukherjee

  • Tanmoy Roy

  • Tracy and Sanjay Haldar