Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

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.

Digha Beach Festival Mandarmani Udaypur 2012 Attractions: - West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the Samudra Utsav (Beach Festival) 2012 at Udaypur Beach this evening, which is just 4Km far from New Digha. All the sea beaches from Udaypur to Mandarmani including Digha, Tajpur all are decorated for Festival. Food Stalls containing sea foods, & other delicious foods, various cultural programs will be organized and an exclusive firework exhibition will also took place at Digha Sea Beach Festival 2012. Most importantly, to attract more tourists to Digha, Mandarmani beaches, from now on Water Sports will be available at Digha- Mandarmani Beach. Rose Valley took the initiative to produce Water Sport Boats and brought two expert Water Sport players from Goa.

Digha sea beach is the nearest beach to Kolkata where weekend can be spent. The government of West Bengal trying to upgrade the standard of Digha beach to decorate it as the finest tourist spot near the city of joy. For this purpose, Digha Beach Festival being organised at a place near Digha. It will run from 13 January to 16 January 2012. Various events and functions are being organised to give the festival a grand success. Water sports would be introduced for the first time in Digha, as well as at the nearby Tajpur and Mandarmani beaches. The water sports will include: para- sailing, water skiing, snorkelling, water zorbing, etc. Beach volleyball, beach kabaddi and a half-marathon will be the beach sports events at the Digha beach festival. There will be an all-terrain bike competition too. Live musical bands will perform on specially erected platforms on the beach. The food festival organised during the festival will offer delectable seafood, including local fa...