Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

Kids of slums and homes (some of them are mentally and physically handicapped) have seen and boarded on metro rail for theke first time yesterday. Five NGO's with the authority of Kolkata Metro, organised the memorable event. They made the journey from Kabi Subhas to Dum Dum joyful and melodious with songs and recitations. -- A. B.

Handloom Industry of various items made by hands are exhibited at the fair of Kanchanjangha stadium, Siliguri. Dolls made of jute are being exhibited here in the pic. -- A. B.

massive fire broke out in Surja Sen market near Sealdah in Kolkata on Wednesday morning. Seventeen people were killed in the fire. Five bodies have so far been rescued. Twenty-five fire engines were sent to the spot to bring the fire under control. The deaths were mainly caused by suffocation. The reason of the fire was yet to be confirmed. Sources said the market complex had inflammable items like paper and plastic piled up inside. The fire was detected around 3.50 am and most of the victims and the injured were sleeping at the time. Thirteen bodies were taken to the NRS Hospital and Medical College Hospital besides many injured, till the latest reports came in. Nine people had been rescued from the building while nearly 60 more feared to be trapped inside. -- A. B.

Yesterday, Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra was shoots for the Hindi movie Goonday at Bantala. Here in this picture, she is on board of a cart with some dehati women. -- A. B.

Swami Vivekananda Divas was being observed at 1A, Jhamapukur Lane (Jhamapukur Rajbati) i.e. the residential house of Raja Digambar Mitra. Ramkrishna Sangha observed the occasion yesterday by special rituals and puja, devotional songs etc. -- A. B

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The museum of Sabarno Roychoudhury at their 'Baro Bari' of Barisha usually remains open throughout the year. But a special exhibition is running now from 10-13th February 2013. They're paying homage this year to Sri Sri Ma Sarada and Nati Binodini. The things used by Ma Sarada are being exhibited there such as the flower of her dead body; the 'amsattwa' (dried slice of mango) made by Ma Sarada etc. Audio-visuals of Nati Binodini's songs; clips of her life are being presented there. Moreover the the first postage stamp is being exhibited there in ' Chitrarekha' section where silver coins of the year 1835 and many paintings are being produced. 'Music Of India' - the book written by William Jennes published in the years 1834; the personal Tanpura (type of lyre) of Allauddin Khan; violin of theke years 1721 and Ektara (the musical instrument consists of single chord) of the year 1830 are also being exhibited there. -- A. B.

Saif Ali Khan pulling the rickshaw and Sonakshi Sinha is the passenger here for the shooting of Hindi movie 'Bullet Raja' at Dalhousie area of the city of joy Kolkata. -- A. B.

Another great puja or festival of Bengal Saraswati Puja is now only 6 days to go. So the clay artists are now very busy to complete the work in time. -- A. B.

Total 7 (seven) films of Bangladesh would be screened at 5th Bangladesh Film Festival 2013 at Nandan of Kolkata. The festival will run for 3 days from 8th-10th February, 2013 with the films Monpura, Doob santar, Chandragrahan, Lal tip, Dooratwa, 3rd Person Singular Number. Guerilla. -- A. B.

It is the famous Shiva Temple of Swami Vivekananda's childhood where 'Bile' used to play with his playmates. One day his playmates discovered 'Bile' was under meditation inside the temple and a poisonous snake was standing near him. They got feared and called his mother Bhubaneswari Debi from the adjacent house. She came and drove away the snake. Later 'Bile' told all that he was unaware about the whole thing as he was under deep meditation. This temple is situated still at Gour Mohan Mukherjee Street (Simla Street) - the area of Swamiji's ancestral house. -- A. B.

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