Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

To commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, 12 January declared as the 'Yuba Diwas' or Youth Day. On this day, at 6:31am, with the call of siren, the auspicious moment of Swamiji's birth will be marked. Later, at 8am, two rallies will start, one from Goal Park, and another rally from College Square. And overall programmes of various youth activities, public services, cultural functions will be organised across Bengal. -- A. B.

The Chief Minister of West Bengal just unveiled a bronze statue of 'Bharat Pathik' Swami Vivekananda at Dakshineswar Temple to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Swamiji, who was very much concerned with Dakshineswar Temple. -- A. B.

Now the second Derby match being played at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata between the ever rivals of the city of joy - East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan. East Bengal played without any concrete plan during first half. On the other hand, Mohun Bagan played very well, without giving East Bengal any scope to score. The first goal by Odafa was good, but Sandip Nandy was responsible for the goal also. The best goal of first half was by Manish Bharguv - a fantastic header. -- A. B.

Gangasagar Mela of the year 2012 will start on 13 January and will run upto 15 January on Sagar Island. Already about 50 thousand pilgrims arrived on the island. All the arrangements are made to run the mela smoothly. The holy dip will perform from the dawn of 14 January for 24 hours. The pilgrims shall worship the Kapil muni also at the temple on the island. -- A. B.

Bollywood's item girl Rakhi Sawant now in the city of joy to act in 'Om Shanti' - new Bengali film directed by Shatabdi Roy. Yesterday, she was on the set with the director to dance with the song "Rakhi, toke kothai raakhi". -- A. B.

Primary work of beautification of the riverbank from Armenian Ghat to Bajekadamtala now nearing completion, This part will be opened to public on 26 January. A blue print already prepared to decorate the parks and roads of Kolkata. The railings of parks will be painted with blue and white colours. Season flower trees will be planted inside the parks. Various species of fruit trees will also be planted to attract birds. Roads will be provided shady trees and pavements will be flooded at night by LED lamps. Deviders of the roads will be decorated with beautiful bushes. Mobile vat on pavements will also be provided. At first, beautification work of 19 roads and 657 garden parks of the city will be completed within next month.-- A. B.

Zubeen Garg of 'Ya Ali' fame live at Vintage & Classic Car Rally 2012 at Eastern Command Sports Stadium, Kolkata on Sunday 8 January 2012 10am onwards.-- A. B.

Eminent American philosopher Martha Nussbaum recommended 'The Essential Tagore' as the best book of the year 2011. The 800 pages book is the largest anthology of Tagore's literary collections translated in English by a group of eminent translators of India and Bangladesh. The US edition of the book published by Harvard and south-asian edition by Visva-Bharati. -- A. B.

'Shibalik' - the house at the riverbank of Khardaha, near Kolkata going under river Ganges (Ganga) as it is very old house where Rabindranath stayed four times. The poet used to like the light coldness during winter here and stayed in this house from the year 1932 and in total, he stayed here for 54 days. During this period, the poet wrote poem-letters like 'Har' 'Kalo Ghora' 'Maranmata' 'Marichika' 'Ratrirupini' 'Yatra' 'Pasarini' 'Godhuli' 'Aprakash' 'Puspacharini' 'Bhiru' and many more. Later, these poems placed in the collection of poems 'Bichitra' and 'Bithika'. He wrote the last part of 'Malancha' also in this house. Now, the residents of Khardaha alongwith numerous admirers of Rabindranath want the administration shall take concrete steps to conserve the heritage house in memory of Rabindranath Tagore.-- A. B.

If you want to fly to reach Shantiniketan or Mandarmoni, Sagar Island within half-n-hour, helicopters of Behala Flying Club are ready to offer a ride in exchange of a nominal fare. If you only want to watch the city from above, the copter also ready to give you the opportunity. Hence, the joy ride must be a new feather in the cap of the city. -- A. B.

The artists of Kolkata will sit at Dharmatala on 10 January 2012 at noon in protest of exhibitions of fake paintings of Rabindranath Tagore in the city of joy. -- A. B.

The city of joy will walk for the kids of Anurup & Sagarika on 9 January 2012 from Rabindra Sadan to Rabindra Sarobar. Abhigyan & Aishyarja - two kids of less than three years old now under the custody of an organisation in Norway. But the couple of Bengal want to get back their children. So, Kolkata decided to support their parents and will walk to protest it. -- A. B.

Millions of pilgrims visited Dakshineswar temple of Kolkata on 1 January 2012 on account of Kalpataru Utsav. The event commemorates the day on 1 January 1886 when his followers believe that Sri Ramakrishna revealed himself to be an Avatar, or God incarnate on earth. Photo published on newspaper.-- A. B.

Wishing a very happy & prosperous new year :) -- A. B.

It's midnight. Passed 2011 and entered 2012 with a new hope and aspirations. The city of joy now on the roads, hotels, restaurants and discotheques to celebrate the new year. Lights, songs and firecrackers marking the historical moment of advent of new year 2012 - Happy New Year! -- A. B.

3 January 2011: legendary singer Suchitra Mitra died. The news shocked the city of joy. Then came Makar Sankranti - Gangasagar Mela. Pilgrims across India came to Sagar Island via Kolkata. In the meantime, we lost two famous icons of city - actor Geeta Dey and singer Pintu Bhattacharya. Kolkata mourned but then came Kolkata Book Fair - the annual gathering of book lovers. Saraswati puja observed in the city alongwith Bengal with traditional devotion and festivities. Then came March - the month full of colour - Dol or Holi celebrated Kolkata with fun and frolic. Supermoon came to give delight to the city of joy by became 10% bigger and 30% brighter. 3 April Suchitra Sen turned 80 years old. 14 April Bangla new year's day observed Kolkata traditionally. In May, Kolkata celebrated birthday of two icons - Manna Dey and Satyajit Ray. Then came the birthday of Rabindranath Tagore - Kolkata observed the completion of 150th birth centenary and death anniversary in August en

A brief pleasure trip for the city of joy - double-decker train introduced by the Indian Railways for West Bengal recently. It is running between Howrah and Dhanbad. -- A. B.

Circus one of the main attraction of winter in the city of joy Kolkata. This year six Nigerian attracting kids by their tricks of balance. Once tiger and lions were the main attraction of circus. But due to ban on the show with these ferocious animals, circus owners planning to introduce new items in circus. Those African youth performing the new item well alongwith play of elephants, camels, horses, dogs, birds etc. -- A. B.

Kolkata's first theme park near Jorasanko inaugurated yesterday by the Mayor. KMC decorated the park with vivid colours and greens depicting Tagore's literary creations like extracts from 'Amal O doiwala' (excerpts of 'Dakghar' or 'The Post Office'). The theme park named: 'Rabindranath O Paribesh' (Rabindranath and environment). It is the Dr. Jatindra Mohan Park, near Girish Park. KMC has plans to create more theme park in the city. -- A. B.

100 years ago, on this day, "Jana gana mana" - created by Rabindranath Tagore, was sung for the first time, at the convention of Indian National Congress in Kolkata. To commemorate this occasion, a programme organised at Town Hall of the city this evening by the Govt. of West Bengal. Eminent film director Rituporno Ghosh will conduct the function.-- A. B.

Christmas day - 25 December. And Sunday also; to celebrate the day apart, a joy ride through Maidan area also experienced the city of joy. -- A. B.

Park Street, St. Paul's Cathedral, Bow Barracks of Kolkata started to celebrate the festival of joy and love - Christmas, when the bell tolled 12 midnight. Enthusiastic people across Kolkata now gathered at Park Street and enjoying the fun & frolic of Christmas with jingle bells and within garlands of colourful lighting. Bow Barracks of the city also decorated with lights and kids of this area gathered to get gifts from Santa - chocolates, sweets etc. St Paul's Cathedral crowded with enthusiastic people praying now with candlelights. Christmas carols now can be heard inside all the churches of the city of joy.-- A. B.

Book fair is the main attraction of this year's Poush Mela at Shantiniketan. Literary collections of Rabindranath translated in 26 languages will be exhibited here for the international tourists. Moreover, souvenir collections published to commemorate Tagore's 100, 125 & 150 birth anniversary will also be exhibited, translated in Indian and foreign languages. Tourists and foreigners started to come here already. Apart from this, usual items of rural handicrafts will also be there. The mela is officially open for 3 days (23-25 Dec) but unofficially it will run upto 31 December. -- A. B.

Christmas - 3 days to go. Park Street of Kolkata adorned with garlands of light to celebrate Christmas Eve. -- A. B.

Delicious 'ras' of date-palm tree - a joyful item of winter in rural Bengal. Here in this picture, a squirrel tasting it happily. I loved this picture published on newspaper. -- A. B.