Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

        Today is 'Ghetu Sankranti', the fields of Bengal are covered with Ghetu flowers, the kids of rural areas are visiting households with lantern and garlands of Ghetu flowers by singing 'Ghetu Gaan' (songs in praise of Ghetu). It is the ritual and custom of traditional rural Bengal. On tomorrow morning they'll visit households to sing 'Basi' (old) Ghetu song ("Ghetu Bhai, Ghetu Bhai...).

Dakshinkul, Nalikul: Dakshinkul Primary School: Ghosh Para, Bandipur: High School, Bandipur: School ground, Bandipur: Bandipur:

Yesterday I visited some rural areas of Hooghly district in Bengal. I've seen Saraswati puja in the locality. School Para, Nalikul: Bani Mandir High School, Nalikul: Naopara, Nalikul: Naopara Primary School, Nalikul: Near Rly. Station, Nalikul:

I visited the Sati Shaktipeeth Kankalitala with my own and my younger brother's family last winter. It was a pleasant journey by car from Rampurhat of Birbhum district. We started our journey at about 9 am from my elder sister's house at Rampurhat. On the way we took rest at some market place for breakfast. After that, we again moved by car for our destination Kankalitala.            Finally, we crossed about 63 kms and reached at the desired Shaktipeeth after one and half an hour.           When we reached there, we saw that a good number of beggers were sitting on both side of the entrance road. We slowly crossed the road and entered into the main premises of the temple. The temple is a traditional 'pacca' construction with adjacent 'Nat Mandir' for the devotees and pilgrims. At that morning time, some of family's were busy with the rituals of goddess and some of them came for marriage also. Then I'