Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

            Raja Ramram Mitra was Diwan of Nawab of Murshidabad. He belonged to Dakshin Raarh Kayastha (দক্ষিণ রাঢ় কায়স্থ) community and Mitra family of Konnagar, Hooghly. Once, he came to Gobindapur (now Kolkata) from Murshidabad and had started living here. Ayoddharam was Ramram's son. Their family became prosperous during the time of Ayoddharam. After the War of Plassey, he had to construct residence at Mechobazar (মেছোবাজার) because his earlier residential area was occupied by British to erect new fort (Fort William) there. Ayoddharam had two sons - Kriparam & Jagannath. During the time of property division - Kriparam went to Shunra (শুঁরা) which is now under Beleghata-Phulbagan area (Raja Rajendralal Mitra was the descendant of Kriparam) and Jagannath stayed in his ancestral house. Jagannath's son Ramsundar Mitra (খ্যাদা রাম মিত্র) constructed the palace-like house at 84, Muktaram Babu Street of Chor Bagan. Once that big house was affected by earthquake. Then, i

            Jagatram Dutta was Diwan of import-export division of East India Company's Patna warehouse. He was the grandson of architect Ramchandra Dutta of Hatkhola area in Kolkata. Jagatram built a big mansion at 78, Nimtala Ghat Street after leaving his ancestral house in the year 1785 approximately. As per the custom of that time, Jagatram too initiated Durga and Kali Puja in his own house at Hatkhola. The mansion was very remarkable as a beautiful architecture, but now it is in dilapidated condition for want of proper maintenance. The conditions of walls and ceilings of Thakurdalan (ঠাকুরদালান) are very poor. The walls and ceilings are cracked, even the beams of ceilings are in extremely bad condition. Rain water drops through the cracked ceiling of roof and as a result, the walls became damped, deformed and the parget by plaster on walls are damaged. They usually cover the damaged portions by curtains during puja and other festivals. Goddess Kali is here as Dakshina Ka

                Jagannath Prasad Mitra was the founder of Dorji Para Mitra family. He belonged to Dakshin Raarh Kayastha (দক্ষিণ রাঢ় কায়স্থ) community. Jagannath came to Sutanuti area (now Kolkata) from Ariadaha in search of fortune. His grandson Durgacharan was the 'Court Jeweller' of Nawab Siraj-ud-doula. Besides, he was engaged in several business and had Dewani of Salt. Nilmani Mitra - nephew of Durgacharan was also an honourable person at that time. Prankrishna Mitra - grandson of Nilmani Mitra once made an idol of goddess Kali in his childhood. But by error, he set the left foot (instead of right) of goddess Kali on the chest of lord Shiva. Since then, the family worshipping goddess Kali by keeping the error of Prankrishna made while making the idol. One of the main feature of this family is offering (নৈবেদ্য) butter to goddess Kali by this way: at first, they put a decorated big banana leaf on a big brass container (থালা) and a banana leaf, betel leaf use to put o

                Gurucharan Pramanick was one of the bell and brass metal traders of Bengal and belonged to coppersmith community. He came to Kolkata from Sahagunge of Hooghly district in the first half of eighteenth century and constructed a residential house at Chorbagan-Kansaripara area of central Kolkata. Later, his son Tarak Pramanick was able to flourish the business manifold. He established a dock named Caledonic too in Howrah. Their family is now not in the trade of bell and brass metal, but, the custom of worshipping weight and weighing machine on day after Kali Puja is still in vogue in Pramanick family residing at 154, Tarak Pramanick Road. By the effort of Gurucharan and his son Tarak, - Rathyatra, Raas and Janmastami festival were used to observe by the family. Later, Kali Puja and Durga Puja too included in the list. They worship goddess Kali according to Kalika Puran. The image of scorpion is painted on the left foot of goddess Kali here. They never offer 'anna

We're becoming conscious of world resources more and more. In spite of that, some countries are remain not fully conscious about the conservation of their resources and heritages due to ignorance of some people. India is one of them. In view of this, UNESCO has started observance of World Heritage Week (19th November-25th November). It is to be mentioned here that, our Ajanta, Ellora, Sanchi, Hampi, Tomb of Humayun or the rock art paintings of Bhimbetka along with Kajiranga, Keoladeo or Manas Wildlife Sanctuary are among the list of world heritage. But, how many people know that creations of famous architect Le Corbusier have now been enlisted as world heritage? And the waiting list from Bengal and the country is not so short - Terracotta temples of Bishnupur and Namdhapa or Neora Valley National Park are amongst them. The World Heritage Week is observing Kolkata too to create mass awareness about the importance of conservation of heritages. On 19th last, the functions began on af

After the war of Plassey, to pave the way of construction of new fort (Fort William), the inhabitants of the then Gobindapur (now Kolkata) were been rehabilitated to various areas of Kolkata. The head of this family - Ramgobinda Mitra was Diwan of Nawab Siraj-ud-doula. He was one of the resident of Gobindapur. During the rehabilitation, he constructed his new house (ভদ্রাসন) at 26, Chakraberia Road of Bhawanipur and had started puja of goddess Kali and Durga at 'thakur dalan' (ঠাকুরদালান) of his new house.      It was the middle of nineteenth century. The house was called 'Bhawanipur old Mitra Bari' as there were more Mitra families. The original house (ভদ্রাসন) of Mitra family at Bhawanipur was divided among the members in course of time. Now, the main 'thakur dalan' (ঠাকুরদালান) of 26, Chakraberia Road is not in shape as it was in old time - the four arches (খিলান) out of five were broken gradually and now the puja's are performed at the only 'thaku

Maha Kali Puja is now being processed at Dakshineswar.

1-3) Golden Jubilee Of Dorji Para Durga Puja 4-7) Durga Puja Pandal of Tamer Lane.

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

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Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra came to Kolkata yesterday at St Xaviers College to promote their new film 'Barfi' directed by Anurag Basu, which is slated for release on 14 September. When the stars arrived at college, huge crowd cheered them. -- A. B.

Crowded Millennium Park in this Festive season. -- A. B. y

Sweating much in humid weather of May? Weather office looking for clouds too. Heat of summer noon. So, you want a relief within reach? Just go to Nicco Park and meet the only sea-beach of Kolkata - 'Wet-O-Wild'. The main attraction of this summer is the wave pool of this little sea. You can swim on the waves of sea, or just wet and dance in 'Rain Dance'. Moreover, a 'Multiple Wave Runner' is there, 'Kitpool' for the kids and 'Beach Café'. And the most remarkable news is that, you need not to pay extra money to enter at the sea beach - as it is a part of Nicco Park. And the opening time of this artificial sea beach is from 11:30 in the morning to 6:30 in the evening. So, why are you thinking? Just take a bus, and go to the sea-beach. -- A. B.

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5-day long Rabindra Mela in the city of joy for the birth anniversary of Tagore. At Rabindra Kanan of Beadon Street, the fair inaugurated this evening by the CM. Various cultural programmes will be held for the next five days at this beautifully decorated garden. -- A. B.

Would you like to visit the places in the city of joy memorable for Sri Ramkrishna and Swami Vivekananda? The state-run tourism deptt. announced a package tour in AC bus to visit the places: Balaram Mandir, the house of Girish Ghosh, Kashipur Udyan Bati, Belur Math, Dakshineswar, the house of Vivekananda and the house of Sarada Ma at Bagbazar. The tour would be conducted on each Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 7:30am to 6pm. Booking from 7 May, 2012. -- A. B.