Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

Theme of Nalin Sarkar Street is very sensitive and emotional - mentally handicapped childrens are still neglected in our country, normal relatives of them seldom contacts the patients stay in mental development centres. The hapless childrens are often victims of social injustice and negligence. But they need sympathy and concern from their parents, relatives and friends. The puja committee has depicted this social message for all by showing thousands of unattended letters hanging overhead, wheel chairs and many post boxes installed there. Anandabazar Patrika has chosen the Puja as best puja of Kolkata.

The Durga idol of Kumartuli Sarbojanin is excessively good. Anandabazar Patrika has chosen the idol of devi Durga as best among the pujas of north Kolkata. The theme is good too - the profession and distressful life of clay artists of Patua para (Kumartuli) is depicted here in the puja pandal. Soumitra Chattopadhyay - the veteran actor and poet has narrated the life of a clay artist or 'Poto'.

Yesterday, on Panchami, I went to North Kolkata to see the Durga Puja there. At first I visited Ahiritola Sarbojanin. The unique pandal is very gorgeous. The idol of Devi Durga is unique too. And beautiful.

           Kolkata will observe 77th death anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore on 8th August'17 (22 Shravan). On this occasion, a special programme will be held at Gandhi Bhavan of Jadavpur University. The inaugural song will be presented by the students of varsity. "Varshamangal" (বর্ষামঙ্গল) - a compilation of Tagore's rainy season songs will be performed by 'Kanikadhara' (কণিকাধারা) of Shantiniketan under the supervision of Priyam Mukhopadhyay. Prof. Sukanta Chowdhury will deliver speech on the subject "দেশকাল ও রবীন্দ্র-শিক্ষাভাবনা" (The country and time and ideas of Tagore about education). After that, VC Suranjan Das will talk about the internationalism of Tagore ("রবীন্দ্রনাথের আন্তর্জাতিকতাবাদ"). Shankha Ghosh, Nabanita Deb Sen and Sourin Bhattacharya will present there at the function.            Various programmes will be held at 'Rabindra Tirtha' of New Town from 8th August to 27th August'17 to mark the occa

'London' is the theme of this year's Durga Puja pandal of Santosh Mitra Square in Kolkata. But, the sarbojanin puja committee has decided to engage famous fashion designer Agnimitra Paul as the 'costume designer' of debi Durga and her family. What will be your reaction if you see 'costume design' of debi Durga and her family? Sure it will be a novel idea. The costume of debi Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartick, Ganesh and Asur will be made by the way costumes made for Bollywood stars. But, the traditional fragrance of costumes must be there in the design.             Agnimitra said, golden touch would be fitted for the sari of debi Durga. And thought some specific ideas for the costume of Lakshmi & Saraswati. But she think, it would be most pleasure for her to do the costume design of Asur. At the same time, Agnimitra will take care that the traditional sentiments will not hamper. So, it is very 'challenging' for her to do this job without br

I visited the Sati Shaktipeeth Kankalitala with my own and my younger brother's family last winter. It was a pleasant journey by car from Rampurhat of Birbhum district. We started our journey at about 9 am from my elder sister's house at Rampurhat. On the way we took rest at some market place for breakfast. After that, we again moved by car for our destination Kankalitala.            Finally, we crossed about 63 kms and reached at the desired Shaktipeeth after one and half an hour.           When we reached there, we saw that a good number of beggers were sitting on both side of the entrance road. We slowly crossed the road and entered into the main premises of the temple. The temple is a traditional 'pacca' construction with adjacent 'Nat Mandir' for the devotees and pilgrims. At that morning time, some of family's were busy with the rituals of goddess and some of them came for marriage also. Then I'

On 157th birthday of Rabindranath Tagore, upasana (prayer) was performed this morning in Upasana Griha (কাঁচঘর) of Shantiniketan-Bolpur.

On 157th birthday of Rabindranath Tagore, songs, poems & writings of the poet are being performed at the yard of Jorasanko Thakur Bari now. The artist: Swapna Ghoshal