Ochin Pakhi is a group of young, enthusiastic, spiritually motivated, fun-loving musicians who have presented folk songs from West Bengal and Bangladesh since September 2017. The first ensemble of its kind in Chicago, they call themselves "Ochin Pakhi", Bengali for "The unknown bird" and refers to their heart. The phrase was first used by Lalon Fakir (Shah), a prominent Bengali philosopher, mystic, songwriter, social reformer, and thinker, in one of his famous songs, “Khachar Bhitor Ochin Pakhi”.

The highly collaborative music of Ochin Pakhi blends the traditional with other cultural genres. In their compositions, they explore various folk songs from West Bengal and Bangladesh accompanied by a large variety of traditional instruments.  

At their 90 minute long concert at SAI, Ochin Pakhi presented their soulful rendition of music from the Bengal region. For many of us, it was a spirited introduction to Bengali Qawwali music!

Their repertoire includes songs and poems of the Nobel laureate, poet, and philosopher, Rabindranath Tagore; Bengali philosopher, mystic, songwriter, social reformer, and thinker Fakir Lalon Shah; the national poet of Bangladesh Kaji Nazrul Islam, as well as traditional folk songs of Bengal and several of their own compositions.

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