Join us for the 3rd BILS Rockland Retreat and Book Fair in 285 Hungry Hollow Road, Chestnut Ridge, NY. July 26 – 27, 2025. Immerse yourself in a celebration of literature, culture, and community with inspiring literary sessions, cultural performances, outdoor activities, and heartfelt connections.
Explore bookstalls, enjoy Bengali Pitha, and participate in poetry slams, recitations, and more. This retreat is a unique blend of creativity, nature, and collaboration!
7:00 PM – 9:30 PM: Volunteer and donors reception and dinner.
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM: Get Fit and Tiana with Gyana. Body tuning and stretching under the tree with Gyana Mella. Relieve stress, get into shape to enjoy the program with greater energy and concentration. Please wear relaxing clothes.
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM: Hike with Mike through the woods. Enjoy the serene beauty of the woods, take a rest whenever you want, and jot down your best thoughts. Ask Mike Sweeney about bee farming and adaptive pull-ups up the hill. Bring hiking shoes.
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Yoga with Ora and Make life Bora Bora. Enjoy Hatha Yoga with Ora Sucov, an experienced yoga instructor and meditation expert, in groups of six to eight on the green grass surrounded by shrubs and trees.
12:15 PM – 12:45 PM: Farm tour. Stroll through the farm to see grazing cows, horses, and possibly flying birds or grazing deer.
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Swimming. Bring your bathing gear and enjoy swimming in the outdoor pond with a manufactured beach.
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Set up the tent for camping or prepare in your designated room for the main event.
3:00 PM – 3:20 PM: Welcome address by Dr. Dhanonjoy Saha, BILS Founder and President, Monsey, NY. www.bilsus.com
Inauguration and ribbon cutting by Dr. Santanu Das, Chairman, Das Family Foundation, Monroe, CT. Theme: Giving, the Soul of Happiness.
Bangladesh National Anthem by Galilee Damiao, Daphna Stern, Jeni Toth, and Natalie Hagay (Threefold Community, Spring Valley, NY).
Translation of Bangladesh National Anthem by Dr. Animita Saha, Monsey, NY.
US National Anthem by Pratham Chakraborty (Queens, NY), Jeanette Rodriguez (Spring Valley, NY), Nirvana Belfort (Spring Valley, NY), Shanon Young, and Jon Carlos Young (Chestnut Ridge, NY).
Chief Guest’s remarks by Carolyne Wright, Distinguished Faculty, Hugo House, Seattle, WA. Theme: Translation from Bengali to English.
3:20 PM – 3:45 PM: Eurythmy by See-Anna Vasilas, School of Eurythmy, Spring Valley, NY. www.eurythmy.org
Introduction by Jeanette Rodriguez, Founder and Executive Director, Otto Specht School, Spring Valley, NY.
Threefold Philosophy and Food by Jesse Webster, Threefold Café (www.threefoldcafeny.org) and Jeanette Rodriguez, Food in Rudolf Steiner’s Philosophy (www.ottospechtschool.org).
Pitha in Bengali Culture and Literature by Belal Beg, poet, writer, and mass media personnel, Brooklyn, NY.
Endeavor 21+ Writing Program by Gyana Mella, participants including Simone Steinberg (Monsey, NY). www.endeavor21.org
3:45 PM – 4:00 PM: Authors’ introduction and reception by BILS Committee, led by Dr. Dhanonjoy Saha. YouTube
4:00 PM – 4:25 PM: Poetry reading by Rockland Poet Group in English, led by Bryan Roessel and Chris Shepard. www.rocklandpoets.org
4:30 PM – 5:25 PM: Opening of authors’ bookstalls, local crafts (Endeavor 21+ special needs participants), and Pitha stalls by Belal Beg, with photo session.
5:25 PM – 5:30 PM: Reflection on 2nd Rockland Retreat by Dr. John Damio, 2024 Boner Majhe Lekhar Khonje Winner.
5:30 PM – 6:00 PM: Short story, poetry, and chhora (rhyme) in Bengali and English, led by Faqir Elias (Queens, NY). Participants: Jannatul Ferdous, Md Mizanur Rahman, Dhanonjoy Saha, Vidya Muralidhar, William Tyler, Pratham Chakraborty, Dr. Dipa Saha, Banani Sinha, Ashim Saha, Oishorik Saha.
6:00 PM – 6:15 PM: History of Bengali Literature and Culture in North America by Khairul Anam (Chicago, IL) and Lucky Khaleque Chowdhury (Hollis, NY). Music by Tomer Hagay (Spring Valley, NY).
6:15 PM – 7:00 PM: Dinner and social time at Threefold Café with organic food from Threefold Community Farm.
7:05 PM – 7:20 PM: Event Theme: Cakes in American Literature and Culture by Daniel Carter (West Point, NY). Poems and chhora on Pitha by Sumon Samsuddin (Bronx, NY).
7:20 PM – 7:30 PM: Honoring Freedom Fighters of Bangladesh in the USA.
7:35 PM – 8:00 PM: Poetry Slam in Bengali, English, Polish, and Spanish, led by Vidya Muralidhar (Charlotte, NC). Participants: Dave Buckner, Sharifuzzaman Paul, Bella Freuman, Daniella Alexandra Rosario, Benojir Sikder, Achala Saha.
8:00 PM – 8:25 PM: Recitation, song, dance, and music, led by Gautam Saha (Mechanicsburg, PA).
Participants: Sharifuzzaman Paul, Suma Rozario, Sammy Saha, Bithi Saha, Galilee Damiao, Daphna Stern, Jeni Toth, Natalie Hagay, Udichi Shilpi Gosthi.
8:30 PM – 9:00 PM: Bangla Shruti Natok (Bengali Recitative Theater) Dhusturi Maya by Anupras Group (NY and CT).
9:05 PM – 9:30 PM: Open mic and adda, led by Sahid Raju (Brooklyn, NY). Songs by Deep Peace Music Group (Spring Valley, NY).
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Breakfast.
9:15 AM – 9:45 AM: Welcome address by Dr. Howard Rankin, Neuropsychologist, Author, and Publisher, Hilton Head Island, SC. Theme: How not to think and write effectively. www.drhowardjrankin.com
Bangladesh and US National Anthems by Jeanette Rodriguez, Dr. Sabita Das, Nabina Nir Saha, Prina Nandi, Tapas Banik, Purnattom and Progga Saha, Tonmon Banik.
Translation of Bangladesh National Anthem by Gautam Saha (Mechanicsburg, PA).
Keynote Address by Juan Pablo Mobili, Poet Laureate, Rockland County, NY. Theme: What Cakes and Poems Share.
9:45 AM – 10:00 AM: Writing for Children, led by Vidya Muralidhar (Charlotte, NC).
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM: Discussion and recitation of Kazi Nazrul Islam’s Poems by Stephen Watts (London, UK) via Zoom.
10:15 AM – 10:25 AM: Cleaning Your Mind through Meditative Living by Nitin Maheshwari (Columbus, MD).
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM: Tea and Bengali Pitha (Cake) break.
11:00 AM – 11:25 AM: Ex-tempo Writing in the Woods Competition: Boner Majhe Lekhar Khonje, led by Ashim Saha (Hollis, NY).
11:30 AM – 11:40 AM: Discussion on Constructing Prose, Poetry, and Poems by Jessica Jewel, Writing Coach and Editor (PA) via Zoom.
11:40 AM – 12:00 PM: Poetry and chhora (rhymes), led by Sahid Raju (Brooklyn, NY) and Suma Rozario (Queens, NY). Participants: Benojir Sikder, Dr. Dipa Saha, Bella Freuman, Jacque Belfort, Esme Clerk, Nabina Nir Saha, Proggattom Saha.
12:05 PM – 12:30 PM: Bookstalls, crafts, and Pitha stalls re-open, with social and photo session, led by Tuli Elias (Queens, NY).
12:30 PM – 1:15 PM: Lunch and social hours with organic food from Threefold Community Farm.
1:15 PM – 1:30 PM: Introduction of Rabindra Academy of USA by Dr. Saumitra Chowdhury (Queens, NY) and Talk Show, Point of View by Ferdous Khan (Whitestone, NY).
1:30 PM – 2:00 PM: Articles, essays, poems, and stories, led by Ashim Saha (Hollis, NY). Participants: Dr. Sabita Das, Vidya Muralidhar, Banani Sinha, Madalasa Mobili, Benojir Sikder, Ferdous Khan.
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Poetry, stories, and songs from special needs talents (Endeavor 21+ and Music for Life), led by Galilee Damiao and Jeanette Rodriguez. Participants: Anan Saha, Asaf Sucov, Danson Wambua, Vineet Redy, Vivek Mukherjee, Jon Carlos Young.
2:30 PM – 2:45 PM: Reflection on last year’s program by Bonny Mukherjee (Ardsley, NY).
2:50 PM – 3:30 PM: Introduction to selected books in authors’ stalls, leader TBD. Authors: Anuradha Mahapatra, Benojir Sikder, Dhanonjoy Saha, Farhana Elias Tuli, Faqir Elias, Jannatul Ferdous, Md Mizanur Rahman, Suma Rozario, Kaler Kontho, Bimol Sarker, Carolyne Wright, Rockland Poets Group, Juan Mobili, Howard Rankin, Kajal Chakraborty.
3:35 PM – 4:00 PM: Award ceremony: BILS US Award and Boner Majhe Lekhar Khonje Award.
4:05 PM – 5:00 PM: Closing ceremony with song, dance, music, and recitation, led by Mun Mun Saha (Queens, NY) and Sahid Raju (Brooklyn, NY). Songs by Dr. Ruma Chowdhury, Shoubhit RoyChowdhury, Dr. Sabita Das, Tagar Chowdhury, Mulberry Music Group. Poem by Ishrat Bokhari, Dr. Shrabonti Saha. Dance by Nusrat Sikder Kotha.
4:05 PM – 5:00 PM: Vote of Thanks by Dr. Dhanonjoy Saha.
Four options available on a first-come, first-served basis:
Register: Register on Eventbrite
Contact: Call +1 917-693-9291 or visit our website.