Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

It is Shravan month of Bangla calendar. So the month of Lord Shiva. And therefore, the local railway station is being drcorated with colourful equipments for the pilgrims of Tarakeswar to carry holy water of river Ganga with them during walk. -- A. B.

-- A. B.

Today is 24 July - in the year 1980 on this day Mahanayak Uttam Kumar was died. He was the only matinee idol of Bengalee cine-goers. I spent the days of childhood by seeing the films of Uttam Kumar. Many colourful romantic moments of college life spent with the movies of Uttam Kumar at cinema houses. And used to absorb myself copying the look, mannerisms and walking movements of our matinee idol just like any other Bengalee youth. Imitate him, love him, his films - still now. He had performed so many vivid characters... still a surprise. He is no more. But he is always with us. Still now. -- A. B.

Uttam Kumar Film Festival 2013: Venue: Nandan 1 Date: 24 July-30 July, 2013 24.07.2013 - Sare Chuattor (3 pm). Shilpi (6 pm). 25.07.2013 - Lal Pathar (3 pm). Mon Niye (6 pm). 26.07.2013 - Dhanraj Tamang (3 pm). Bipasha (6 pm). 27.07.2013 - Jodu Bangsha (3 pm). Ekti Raat (6 pm). 28.07.2013 - Shuno Baronari (3 pm). Sabar Upore (6 pm). 29.07.2013 - Agni Pariksha (3 pm). Harano Sur (6 pm). 30.07.2013 - Dui Prithibi (3 pm). Saptapadi (6 pm). Tickets: Rs 30, 40, 50 (from 19.07.2013 at hall; 1-7pm). Organized by SILPI SANGSAD -- A. B.

Good news for Ilish or Hilsa lover Bengalee - 30 tons of ilish had captured the fishermen yesterday at Digha mohana. It is more than last year. And the fishermen expect, record number of silver crop will capture this year from the sea. Today is the full moon. The fishermen expect, after a couple of days, their nets will fill with ilish. So, more & more of ilish will be in the market, and Bengalee can purchase them at reasonable price. Moreover, ilish are coming from Odhisa. The market price has already been slashed. And we hope, market price of ilish will be slashed again, and Bengalee will relish ilish again. -- A. B.

It says that Nimai Sri Chaitannya Deb once came to district Hooghly for the pilgrimage of Tarakeswar. So he bathed in river Ganga on the bathing ghat of Baidyabati. Then had started his journey to Tarakeswar on foot. It took about 12 hours to reach Tarakeswar. Later, the bathing ghat was named on him and now known to all as Nimai Tirtha Ghat. So, the ghat is about 500 year's old. Kabikankan Mukundaram mentioned this ghat in his mangal kabya, about 400 years ago. Raja Harishchandra of Seoraphuly constructed Nistarini Mandir and Bhadrakali Mandir in the year 1827 beside NimaiTirtha Ghat. then, lakhs of pilgrims take bath on river Ganga from this ghat and take holy water, visit Ma Nistarini and Debi Bhadrakali near, then use to go for Tarakeswar on foot to pour that Gangajal on the shiblinga of Baba Taraknath. The pilgrims use to go to Tarakeswar on the month of Shraban (July-August). Pic 1) The gate of Nimai Tirtha Ghat; Pic 2) The pilgrims are taking bath at the said gha...