Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

Today is the inauguration of World Cup Football in Brazil. Craze emerged accross the world. Kolkata also very enthusiastic in this regard. And so, the localities are being decorated with paintings of flags of Brazil and Argentina. The walls are also being painted with the figures of world cup players. Today is the inaugural match of Brazil. So, the wall of Alipore is decorated with the flag of Brazil. -- A. B.

Voices Of Youth - 19th European Film Festival organised by Cine Central Kolkata, will be held at Nandan 2 from 13 June '14 to 19 June '14 and European Union, Nandan & Cine Central jointly venture this festival. 'Voices Of Youth' is the theme of this international film festival. Youth is the other name of revolution, they have the dream to fulfil, they've ambition, joy, happiness, sorrows, loneliness, pride and plight, fear, hopes and hopelessness... so, the films of this festival will depict those feelings, those ups & downs of youth. Love Like Poison, Fresh Air, You & I etc are the prominent films of this festival. Films of 18 countries like Austria, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Lithuania, France would be screened at this festival. 19 award-winning films will be showed here. 'On The Sly' - the movie from Belgium would be the inaugural film. The above still is from the French film 'Love Like Poison'. -- A. B.

(Photo: Radhakanta Nandi playing tabla with singer Manabendra Mukherjee). Radhakanta Nandi was the most efficient and popular commercial tabla player of Kolkata. He accompanied with almost all the famous singers of Bengal. Attending live programmes of Manna Dey, Sandhya Mukhopadhyay, Manabendra Mukhopadhyay accompanied by Radhakanta Nandi were always a pleasant experience couldn't explained in words.   Moreover, he loved to accompany with eminent classical maestros like Pandit Nikhil Bandyopadhyay, Pandit Yashraj and Pandit Manilal Nag. A CD of live programme by Manna Dey will be published on 9 June, 2014 at Press Club. Radhakanta Nandi was on tabla with Manna Dey at this live function. Hence, it will be a big gift for the listeners of this function.  By this way, tribute will be paid to Radhakanta Nandi too. Radhakanta Nandi Institute and Netaji Subhas Azad Hind Foundation will jointly venture it. The title of the CD is "E Kon Jugalbandi". Manilal Na

The latest Bengali feature film by Sandip Ray, comprises of 4 different stories will release in Kolkata and Bengal on 13 June next. It has four short stories 1) Dui Bandhu by Satyajit Ray 2) Pariksha by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay 3) Bateswarer-er abodan by Parashuram 4) Kagtarua by Satyajit Ray. So, Sandip Ray named the film "Chaar". -- A. B.

Jamai Sasthi is the most ancient custom and practice of Bengal. On this day, the son-in-law goes to his mother-in-law's house on invitation and affectionate Mother-in-law offers son-in-law good delicious food and new clothes. On this occasion, famous sweet shops of Kolkata used to make delicious special sweets for the son-in-law's of Bengal. So, here are information of some popular sweet shops of Kolkata who are ready to sell some special items to please all. Balaram Mullick & Radharaman Mullick: 1) Chana Brule (combination of chana, milk & extract of mango) Cup - Rs. 35/- 2) 'Jamai Shasthi' sandesh Rs. 50/- 3) Payes of full litchi Rs 500/- per kg. 4) Gandharaj sandesh Rs. 15/- (with flavour of gandharaj lemon). 5) Ananda Anaras Sandesh Rs 15/- (with frill and pulp of pineapple). 6) Mango Truffle sandesh Rs. 20/- (with frill & pulp of mango and white chocolate). 7) Keshar Kulfi Sandesh Rs. 60/-. Address: 2, Broad Street, Kolkata - 19 Gir

KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS is the champion of IPL 2014 cup, - they defeated King's XI Punjab by 3 wickets in the final in Bengaluru this evening. Gambhir won the toss and elected to field first. But, Punjab scored 199 and set target 200 for KKR. It was not so easy for KKR to score 200 but the stormy score of 94 by Manish Pandey and winning runs by Piyush Chaola ensured the desired win for Kolkata Knight Riders again. -- A. B.

West Bengal is very rich in various art work of cottage industry. Not only in this state, but also in the country as well as in abroad it is now very popular. -- A. B.

Since civilization, bamboo is the foremost ingredient of Bengal by which various art works as well as utilities are being made in rural household. So, bamboo art work is very famous and popular all over the world. -- A. B.

Kantha industry of Bardhaman district is very famous in the country. It is also a household industry. Various designs of sari, and other dresses popular in the state too. -- A. B.

Birbhum district is famous for sola art work. It is a household industry. They make vivid attractive art work with sola like faces of goddess Durga etc and market at rural fair held at Shantiniketan and elsewhere. -- A. B.

Kolkata Knight Riders won the 8th match in a row. And if they win another match, they'll get the cup. This evening, KKR won the Qualifier1 match against Kings 11 Punjab by 28 runs at Eden Gardens. KKR lost the toss, but by dint of good play won the match beautifully. And the contribution of Umesh Yadav proved much helpful in regard to get success. Umesh Yadav has taken today 3 wickets in 4 overs by giving only 13 runs. Hence, Umesh Yadav is today's man of the match. Now, all eyes of KKR's supporters would be on the winner of today's other team - whether it would be Chennai Super Kings or Mumbai Indians. -- A. B.

700 years old Krishna temple situated at Bhandarhati, a village near Haripal, Hooghly district. -- A. B.

The double-decker train is returning from Dhanbad to Howrah (the place is near Howrah railway carshed). -- A. B.

Tomorrow, 27 May Phalaharini Kali Puja - special puja and 'bhog' will be offered to goddess Kali as in the year 1873, thakur Sri Sri Ramakrishna worshiped Ma Sarada as 'Divine Mother' (Tripura Sundari). Special puja would be offered to goddess Kali at Dakshineswar too. At Nistarini Kali Mandir of Behala Sakher Bazar, special puja and rituals would be offered to goddess Kali. -- A. B.

Pat-Chitra of West Bengal is a very popular art became famous cottage industry, particularly a household industry in the district of Medinipur. -- A. B.

Earthen pot is the most common cottage industry of West Bengal - from the simple tea-pot to decorated art work - all kinds of earthen pots can be found in every corner of this state by which the artisans earn their day-to-day foods. -- A. B.

West Bengal is rich of inputs to let flourish the cottage industries. Rural areas of Bengal have plenty of palm trees. And by the palm leaves, various things can be made like 'shitalpati' (a kind of mat), bags etc which are daily utilities of our common lifestyle. Cooch Behar remains one of that district where these kinds of things are being made by plenty of inputs. -- A. B.

An exhibition regarding women in Indian photography is running at Seagull Art Gallery till 24 May, 2014 from 2-7:30 pm. "Subjects & Spaces -Women In Indian Photography" is the subject of this exhibition where lot of rare portrait, film still of Indian women (celebrities, film stars) are being exhibited. All the pictures had been captured very carefully. And those pics are belong to the period 1850-1960.

In post-Rabindra period, the drama of Tagore, ' Dakghar' in foreign countries staged several times was a significant event in the history of Tagore's literary works. In this picture, the countries are mentioned serially, where the famous play of Rabindranath 'DAKGHAR' (The Post Office) was staged. 1. Spain 2. Spain 3. Germany 4. Italy 5.Germany 6. Keniya 7. Germany -- A. B.

The visitors inside the Thakurbari of Jorasanko on 25 Boishakh last, to pay homage the great poet Rabindranath Thakur. -- A. B.

-- A. B.

This is the replica of the special train compartment by which Rabindranath Tagore made his last journey from Bolpur to Kolkata. Last Friday, on the occasion of 25 Boishakh, a little child is noting down this information under guidance of his grandfather. -- A. B.

-- A. B.

Today is Mother's Day. And I think it will be best to remember Mrinalini Debi - wife of the poet Rabindranath on this Rabindra-fortnight. I revisited the room of Mrinalini Debi on last Friday after one year and found the things same. On the wall, a big photo of Mrinalini Debi, in the casket the nilambori saree, curved and designed fan-box with a hand fan used by her are there. On the floor, the chairs and low tables used by Mrinalini Debi are there also. -- A. B.

-- A. B.