Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

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The legendary singer Manna Dey sings 4 Bengali songs in memory of his wife Sulochana for Asha Audio. Lyrics of the songs are: 1. Jani jani abar dekha hobe 2. Ei sei ghor 3. Emono hote pare 4. Tomar jonno na mela hisab. Lyricist Debaprasad Chakraborty. The CD will publish on his 94th birthday - 1 May, 2013. -- A. B.

Just beside Swabhumi, you can see the Ice Lounze. It has been opened recently. All the amenities to get relief from hot summer has been made here by special technology. The temperature inside is -11 degrees. The entire ice has been imported from Canada. The engineers and technicians of Canada made the chair table sofa and ice curving. It is matter of balance. Variance in temperature may fall you from bar stool to floor due to melting of ice. But don't worry, the whole system is being supported by three power back-up all the time. Once you enter, the lounze assistant will come and a bill of Rs 1000/- would be made for a mocktail. If you want another mocktail or cocktail, then you have to pay more. If you want more food, then you've to go to adjasent restaurant. You have to wear eskimo dress there. It would be a thrilling feelings. Besides, you've to wear gloves, gum boots too. Inside the restaurant, you'll find various lights - candle-like lights also (winter-proof). A...

Last evening, a cyclonic storm hit Kolkata at 116 kmph. As a result, about 50 big trees have fallen in the city and due to power off in overhead wire, train services have been disrupted for the night. Traffic signal posts along with lampposts have also been fallen on the bypass. Alipore weather office said that the storm was as strong as 'Aila' of 25 May, 2009 at least for a couple of minutes. -- A. B.

Yesterday was Basanti puja. The priest was performing 'pranpratistha' of goddess Basanti here in this picture at Kumortuli yesterday. -- A. B.

'Sandesh' - a Bengali monthly for children, running successfully in Bengali language for the last 100 years. It was published for the first time on Poila Boishakh, and in the Bengali year 1320 - just 100 years ago. It is a monthly magazine for children, running by four generations of a distinguished family of Kolkata. Upendra Kishore Roychowdhury(1863-1915), first published the magazine 'Sandesh' on Poila Boishakh, 1320 from his residence of Sukiya Street. So, on this Poila Boishakh of 1420 the magazine has completed 100 years of publication, although it was not published for a few years due to some unavoidable reasons. However, it is a record that a magazine only for children is being published for the past 100 years. Upendra Kishore used to publish 'Sandesh' by the banner of U. Roy & Sons till his early death at new residence of 100, Garpar Road in the year 1915. After his death, his son Sukumar Roy handled the duties of editor of th...

The businessmen and common people - Bengalees are observing the first day of Bangla new year 1420 with special pujas to the idols of temples of Kolkata and Bengal. -- A. B.

After 22 years, Basusree cinema hall of Kolkata again organising Poila Boishakh morning Jalsa now. Here is the pic of that function in which veteran singer Banasree Sengupta just performed a few songs of her yester years. -- A. B.

Today is the 1st day of Bangla calendar year 1420 - Poila Boishakh. Kolkata Blog wishing all the well-wishers a very happy and prosperous new year. -- A. B.

Today's the Charak puja on the occasion of Charak Sankranti. It is the last day of Bangla calendar year also. The devotees of lord Shiva, who observed Sannyas during this month of Chaitra, are breaking this brata by performing the rituals famous in Bengal since civilization. Here in this picture, you can see one of the devotee is performing the traditional strenuous art of ritual at the old venue of the city - Chatu babu-Latu babu's bazar. -- A. B.

It's time to sing 'Shiber gajon' (the song in praise of lord Shiva) in Bengal on this auspicious Neelpuja. So the 'song' are roaming now across Bengal. -- A. B.

It is Chaitra - the last month of Bangla calendar year. Devotees of lord Shiva who are under 'Sannyas' for the whole month, are going to Tarakeswar temple of Hooghly district for rituals with holy water of river Ganga. -- A. B.

It is only April. But the sun is pouring fire from now on. So the scenario of Bengal is very hot. People are craving for shades, rests and protections. -- A. B.

What Bengal thinks today, India will think tomorrow. This saying is not only some words but the whole thing is that, it is true. The clay artists of Ghurni, Krishnanagar, Bengal are now busy to finish the idols to be used for decorating Mumbai airport. -- A. B.

9th Sutanuti Boi Mela inaugurated by Sri Bikash Singha on 8th April at 6 pm with Brahma Sangeet at Sovabazar Raj bati Natmandir premises. Associate organiser of the fair is Chittaranjan Mistanna Bhandar. Goutam Bhadra, Chinmoy Guha, Ganesh Halui were the other guests presented on the occasion. The items of the cultural programme are vivid and interesting : kirtan, speeches, film songs on gramophone records, film shows, debate, publication of biography of kabiyal Bhola Moyra, homage to playwright Khirod Prasad Vidyabinod for his bicentennial birthday, old Bangla songs, pay honour to various personalities etc. The closing ceremony of the fair would be held by sweets of Chittaranjan Mistanna Bhandar. The speeches would include movies, football, deshi aristocrat personalities of 19th century, tragic actings, kabigaan etc. The orators are - Sanjay Mukhopadhyay, Prasun Bandyopadhyay, Sarbananda Chowdhury, Surajit Bandyopadhyay, Soumitra Srimani etc. One of the attraction of t...

Once upon a time, there used to held Jalsa (musical function) on the morning of Nabo barsho (Bengali new year's day) at Basushree cinema hall of Kolkata. Eminent singers of golden era such as Hemanta, Sandhya, Shyamal, Arati, Dwijen, Nirmala, Dhananjoy Pratima, Tarun, Akhilbandhu used to gather there to sing. Uttam Kumar was a regular guest of that function. Since the death of Mahanayak the function was postponed. This year, it would again be a joyful revival of that function at the same place, same day. And the artists will be Dwijen Mukherjee, Purnodas Baul, Arati Mukherjee, Nirmala Mishra, Jatileshwar Mukherjee, Haimanti Shukla, Banashree Sengupta, Indraneel Sen, Sriradha Bandyopadhyay and many more. 'Nabo barsho Udjapan Samity' is the organiser of this function. -- A. B.

Bengali year about to end. So, the vendors nowbusyto sell the garments of oldstock st reasonable prices. They'll open a new account in the new year - 1420. -- A. B.

Singer Shreya Ghoshal, music director duo Vishal-Shekhar came to Kolkata recently as the reality show 'Indian Idol Junior' judges for the audition of Kolkata region. -- A. B.

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Evergreen Suchitra Sen - again on 6th April - again her birthday celebrating Kolkata - the city of joy! Suchitra Sen was decided to live a life far from the glamorous world of silver screen about 34 years ago. But still, she is in the mind of common people as ever before. Today is the birthday of this evergreen star. -- A. B.

On 6th April, 100 nos. of Buddhist Bhikshu will come to Kolkata from Thailand for special prayer. So, Mahabodhi Society of the city is getting a new look. -- A. B.

IPL 6 would be inaugurated this evening at Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Salt Lake. Shah Rukh Khan of KKR will organise the inaugural function as the champion of last season. First match would be held on 3 April at Eden Gardens between Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils. This pic showing the long que of enthusiastic cricket lovers for the tickets of inaugural match to be held at Eden Gardens on 3 April. -- A. B.