Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

Rare species of medicinal plants are in Kolkata. Satyendranath Jana, a Bengalee of the city, resident of Behala's Bakultala Raidighi has created a unique garden of rare medicinal plants at his house. He has collected these plants from various countries. Amongst them are: Brahma Kamal (Night Queen - The Lotus Of God), Bishalyakarani (The all-healing plant of Ramayana), Biriyani plant (The Sarbamashla plant of Andaman which has the smell of biriyani), Payes plant (The Annagandha plant which has the smell of payes - the food of God), Chini-Tulsi or Stibia from Australia (the leaf of this plant is 180 times sweeter than sugar), Hing, Rudraksha, Insulin plant etc. This 'Panchajanya' garden of medicinal plant has wonderful plants such as Insulin plant. In Kerala, it is a practice to make use this plant for production of insulin.You can see here the Jaifol tree of Kashmir (the Jaifol tree on the yard of Indian Museum is a gift by Sri Jana). Most of the plants of his...

A collage of various tribal villages of Andhra Pradesh is the theme of Behala Buroshibtala Janakalyan Sangha Durga Puja. Last year, the theme 'maner manush' was bagged various prizes. So, this year, theme-makers Subodh Roy and Amit Halder expect, viewers will be charmed to see the village on 200 acres land. The customs and traditions of a tribal village will be depicted at the puja mandap. The pumpkin within a rope cage is the auspicious sign at a tribal house of Andhra. Four rooms are being made, where the pumpkins would be hanged. Three coconut trees would be used in such a manner that you can think a mother is lapping two babies. An idol of Shiva-Parvati with Ganesh on their lap of 16 feet high would be there outside the main pandal. An artificial canal has been dug where, from fishery to marketing - all the processes can be experienced. The visitors have to cross the canal by wooden bridge to see the idol of goddess Durga. The main pandal would be surrounded b...