Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

According to the writings of Sister Nivedita, Swami Vivekananda had immense respect for Lord Shiva. He always searched the inner sense of Lord Shiva within women. Lord Shiva is the foremost god of Hindus. For this reason, Kolkata has many temples of Shiva. It was almost customary that ancient rich and aristocrat families of the city must establish temples of Lord Shiva either in their houses or on the bank of river Ganga. In the year 1856, there were 24 temples of Lord Shiva and only 5 temples of goddess Kali in Kolkata. At Alambazar, beside the bathing ghat, a rich man named Baranasi Ghosh established 6 temples of Lord Shiva (pic no. 4) He built a big house at Jorasanko. It was then Baranasi Ghosh Street, but now it is known as Tarak Pramanik road. At 59/1B, Bagbazar Street, a temple of Lord Shiva, about 150 year's old, is there, which was made of 'atchala' style. In the year 1835, this temple was built by Dr Prasanna Kumar Mitra (pic no. ...

India's first AC tram will run from today in Kolkata. It is single coach tram. In the morning, the tram will run between Esplanade and Shyambazar via Dalhousie and between Chitpur and Esplanade via College Street from 7-9am as Heritage Tour. The same tram will run between Esplanade-Khidirpur-Esplanade via Maidan from 3-5pm, 5-7pm, 7-9pm as mobile cafeteria. Both of services will remain stopped on each Monday & Thursday. Booking: Rs 260/- per head including snacks. Booking counters are at Esplanade tram depot (IRCTC counters). 5% discount on group booking of 10 persons or more. -- A. B.

Tomorrow is Phalaharini Kali Puja. -- A. B.

Durga puja in October. But this idol of Durga is now going to Los Angeles from Kumortuli. -- A. B.

1) Mini zoo of Purulia. 2) Alipore zoo, Kolkata. -- A. B.

The poet of Bengal - Kazi Nazrul Islam was born on 25 May, 1899 at a village of Bardhaman district. But spent major part of his life in Kolkata. But he had to spent the days here like a nomad. He changed his residence about 100 times. At first he came to stay at 71 Kailash Bose Street to get admission in military. It was the year 1917. Then in 1920, he came to stay at the mess of 20 Ramkanta Bose Street fora couple of days.The house is no more there. Instead, Maharaja Manindra Chandra College is there. Then Nazrul used to live at 32 College Street (the 2nd pic) - the house opposite of Kolkata Medical College. Many eminent poets and writers used to come to this house and the patrika 'Dhumketu' was first published from this house on 11 August, 1922. In that year 1920 Nazrul used to live at the house of old 8 Turner Street (now Nabab Abdur Rahman Street) in Central Kolkata. But that house has been replaced by a multistoried building. Nazrul spent a few days at 14/2...