The Kite Festival Of Bengal

Not only in connection with the fiction and writings, kites are actually popular for the kite lovers. History says, Hiuen tsang initiated kite flying in India. Kite has different names in various countries - it is called Tako in Japan, Cerf volant in France, Papalote in Mexico, Vileers in South Africa, Plakwaaier in Belgium, Fung jung in China, Dutch says Vileger, Drachen in Germany, Layang-layang in Indonesia, Aquiline in Italy, Youn in Korea, Drage in Norway & Denmark, Pipas in Portugal, Saranggola in Philippines, Letuchij zmeij in Russia, Cometas in Spain, Drake in Sweden, Wan in Thailand.

But, what's in a name! Kites are popular all over the world. On the day of Akshay Tritia of month Baishakh in Bengal and on 17th September on the day of Viswakarma puja and 'Arandhan' in Bengal household, the custom to fly kites is in vogue particularly in Kolkata. And in villages and other towns of Bengal, kite flying is like a festival on the day of 'Poush Sankranti' - the last day of Bengali month Poush. The mood of then 'Babu culture' of Bengal was blended with this festival of kites.

Nabab Wajed Ali Shah came to Kolkata (then Calcutta) along with famous 'Ustads' of Lucknow who used to fly kites very well. Kite flying became popular by their activities in Kolkata. পেটকাটি চাঁদিয়াল, ঘয়লা, ময়ুরপংখী, মুখপোড়া, বল মার্কা, চৌরঙ্গী, শতরঞ্জি - so many types of kites - এক তে, দেড় তে, দু তে (small, medium and big) and লাটাই, লাট্টু, সুতোর লাট, ঘুড়ির প্যাঁচ, মাঞ্জা, বাদাম প্যাঁচ, ভোকাট্টা - intrusion of so many words on the sky of kites.

So many colours of kites were there - red, black, blue, white, green, yellow etc and all were made of papers and thin wooden sticks. Nowadays, plastic papers occupied the place of tearable papers - which is a 'bad' evolution in my opinion. There was competition between two boys and sometimes more than that - who'll catch the stray kites. And sometimes the snatched kites even torn.

Moreover, the stray kites were used to seen on the branches of mango trees or on the wire of overhead electric lines. And gradually it becomes torn. It was very common scene in Bengal. The মাঞ্জা are several kinds - dust of glasses, সাবু, sand and colour - all blended to make মাঞ্জা which is the life of flying kites. That 'হাত-মাঞ্জা' or মাঞ্জা made by hands were famous, popular and innocent too. But, the 'China Manja' of these days is very dangerous for the flying birds and human too. It is banned in Delhi after some untoward incidents.

500 Year's Old Nimai Tirtha Ghat - Reminiscences Of Sri Chaitannya Deb

It says that Nimai Sri Chaitannya Deb once came to district Hooghly for the pilgrimage of Tarakeswar. So he bathed in river Ganga on the bathing ghat of Baidyabati. Then had started his journey to Tarakeswar on foot. It took about 12 hours to reach Tarakeswar. Later, the bathing ghat was named on him and now known to all as Nimai Tirtha Ghat. So, the ghat is about 500 year's old. Kabikankan Mukundaram mentioned this ghat in his mangal kabya, about 400 years ago. Raja Harishchandra of Seoraphuly constructed Nistarini Mandir and Bhadrakali Mandir in the year 1827 beside NimaiTirtha Ghat. then, lakhs of pilgrims take bath on river Ganga from this ghat and take holy water, visit Ma Nistarini and Debi Bhadrakali near, then use to go for Tarakeswar on foot to pour that Gangajal on the shiblinga of Baba Taraknath. The pilgrims use to go to Tarakeswar on the month of Shraban (July-August). Pic 1) The gate of Nimai Tirtha Ghat; Pic 2) The pilgrims are taking bath at the said gha

Highest Jagadhatri Idol Of Chandannagar : Fatakgora

No other idol of Jagadhatri will compete in regard to height with the idol of Fatakgora (height: 31 feet). -- A. B.

Kripamoyee Kali Mandir Of Baranagar

Kripamoyee Kali Mandir of Baranagar, popularly known as Joy Mitra Kali Bari, is situated on the bank of river Hooghly at Baranagar of Kolkata. Baranagar is a very old place, more than 500 years ago this place was existed. Famous zaminder Joyram Mitra of Sovabazar established this temple in mid-April of the year 1851. He bought about 3 bighas land at Baranagar from some James saheb and established the temple there similar to Brahmamoyee Kali temple of Mulajor of Shyamnagar.The goddess here is Dakshina Kali (দক্ষিণা কালী). If you walk from 'Kuthi ghat' of Baranagar river bank a few steps ahead, you'll reach to the temple - 171 years old this temple is situated by the side of Hara Kumar Thakur Strand. Twelve temples of lord Shiva are there beside the main temple. The array and formation of these Shiva mandirs are very innovative. Ramakrishna Paramahansa dev used to visit this temple frequently. This temple was erected as 'Navratna' art. But it is not the formal slop

Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

Search This Blog