Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

Exhibition: Gaganendra Shilpa Pradarshashala: Annual Photography Exhibition (2pm-8pm) organised Bengal Photography Institute. Seminar, drama: Dakshineswar Temple: Swami Balabhadrananda will speak on "Brahmananda Lilakatha" (ব্রহ্মানন্দ লীলাকথা) (4:30pm-6pm). Ramkrishna Math (Jogodyan): After 'Sandhyarati' (সন্ধ্যা আরতি), Sri Abhijit Chattopadhyay will speak on 'Dance of Shiva' (শিব নৃত্য). Subhas Institute Mancha: Drama- 'Abiswaser Bastab' (অবিশ্বাসের বাস্তব) presented by Howrah Jonaki (6pm). Academy: Drama- 'Medel' (মেডেল) by Bahurupi (বহুরূপী) at 6:30pm. Misc. - Sovabazar Naat Mandir: Quiz on literature for the children and adolescents, organised by Hiran Library. Rabindra-Okakura Bhavan: Literature festival and little magazine fair (2pm-8pm). Rabindra Sadan: Culture Festival Of East And West' at 4:30pm, organised by Heritage Bengal. Football: Competetion final at 2pm, organis...

Swami Vivekananda's Birthday: Sovabazar Rajbari: At 2pm Swamiji's birthday and in memory of Chicago speech a programme presented by Shankha Ghosh, Srijata, Joy Goswami, Shankar etc. Organiser - Ritabak. Ramkrishna Mission (Golpark): Swami Vivekananda Music Festival (9am-8:15pm). Misc. - Baguiati Sports Council: Exotic bird exhibition (2pm-7pm) upto 14th January'18. Pithe-Puli Utsav (পিঠে-পুলি উৎসব): At Rajdanga Maath, organised by Rajdanga Club Samannay (রাজডাঙ্গা ক্লাব সমন্বয়) upto 16th January'18.

Exhibition: Nandan - 4: Exhibition of photographs taken by various artists (2pm-8pm). Organiser - DG Photo School. Gaganendra Pradarshashala: Annual exhibition at 2pm, organised by Sky Watchers' Association. Seminar, drama: Ramkrishna Math (Yogodyan): Swami Stabapriyonanda will talk on the subject "শ্রীশ্রী রামকৃষ্ণ পুঁথি" at 4pm. Muktangan (মুক্তাঙ্গন): "প্রত্যক্ষদর্শী" (eye witness) drama by Rangapith at 6pm. "পরশমণি" (the touch stone) drama by Chetla Theatre Group at 7:45pm. Misc. - Hedua Park (হেদুয়া পার্ক): Inauguration of Science & Technology Fair at 6pm by Sri Shankha Ghosh. Organiser - Paschimbanga Bigyan Mancha (পশ্চিমবঙ্গ বিজ্ঞান মঞ্চ).

Ramkrishna Math (Yogodyan) (যোগদ্যান): Swami Shibapradananda will talk on the subject- "স্বামী বিবেকানন্দ: নিবেদিতার মননে" (Sister Nivedita<seen Swami Vivekananda) (4:30pm). Ramkrishna Mission Ashram (Barahanagar): Swami Shibamritananda will talk on 'Karmayog' (কর্মযোগ) (6:30pm). Ramkrishna Mission (Golpark): Swami Shibadananda, Swami Pragyatmananda and Swami Kripakarananda will talk about "Life &Teachings of Holy Mother Sri Sri Sarada Debi" (5:30pm). Shimla Bayam Samity and Kali Singhi Park:  Swami Shibamayananda will inaugurate Vivekananda Milan Mela. After it, classical music (5:30pm). Muktangan (মুক্তাঙ্গন): Drama: Aurangzeb (ঔরঙ্গজেব) by Sovabazar Pratibimba (6:30pm)/ Drama: Rivu by Kalighat Kumar Roy Natya Academy (7:45pm). Organiser: Chetla Theatre Group.  Misc. - Dance programme in memory of Guru Bipin Singh - "Khurumjari" (6:30pm). Organiser- Guru Bipin Singh International Classical Dance Forum. It w...

Chemould Art Gallery: Exhibition of paintings of various artists of Bengal (11am-7pm) upto 13th January'18. Address - 12F, Park Street, Queens Mansion (opp. Park Hotel), Kolkata - 700016. Ramkrishna Math (Shyampukur bati): "শ্রীশ্রী মায়ের কথা" (the tale of Shree Shree Ma) by Bandita Bhattacharya (6pm). Ramkrishna Mission Ashram (Barahnagar): Goutam Adhikary will talk about "Shri Chaitanya Bhagavat" (6:30pm). Vivekananda Society: Achintya Mukhopadhyay will talk about "Shri Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita" (6:30pm). Muktangan (মুক্তাঙ্গন): "Jatileswar" - by Kolkata Natyasabha, organiser- Chetla Theatre Group (6:30pm). Misc. - Karunamayee Mela Ground: Bidhannagar Mela (2pm-9pm) upto 21st January'18. BITM: '43rd East Indian Science & Technology Fair' (10am-5pm) upto 13th January'18. Ramkrishna Math (Barahnagar): 'Youth Day' celebration to mark the 150 birth anniversary of Si...

Exhibition: CIMA GALLERY: Silver Jubilee exhibition "Re-look" (2pm-7pm) upto 3rd February'18. ICCR: Annual art exhibition organised by Rabindra Bharati University (3pm-8pm) upto 9th January'18 (today open at 4pm). Nati Binodini Memorial Art Gallery: Exhibition of paintings and photographs by various artists - "Saakar 2018" (2pm-8pm) upto 13th January'18. Seminar: Speech by Swami Debrajananda on 'আত্মপ্রকাশে অভয় দান' (4:30pm) at Dakshineswar Kali Temple. Ramkrishna Math (Yogodyan) : Speech by Swami Bimalatmananda on "স্বামী বিবেকানন্দের পাশ্চাত্য ও প্রাচ্য শিষ্যবৃন্দ (4:30pm). House of Swami Vivekananda: Swami Purnatmananda will deliver speech on 'Sri Mad Bhagavat Geeta' at 6pm.  Ramkrishna Math (Bagbazar): Speech by Swami Chidrupananda on "গীতা ও শ্রীরামকৃষ্ণ-জীবন আলোকে কর্মযোগ" at 6:15pm. Bangiyo Sahitya Parishad (বঙ্গীয় সাহিত্য পরিষদ): Sovabati Das Ghosh Memorial Speech on "বাংলা ...

                 It is the golden jubilee year of Satyajit Ray's film 'Nayak' where Uttam Kumar was the Hero. To mark the event,  22nd Kolkata Film Festival has arranged an exhibition on Uttam Kumar at Gaganendra Pradarshashala (গগনেন্দ্র প্রদর্শশালা) where rare posters, booklets of cinemas of Uttam Kumar and informative biography with filmography of this legendary actor are being exhibited. The exhibition has all the documentations of Mahanayak and his film related contents. The rare photographs of Uttam Kumar were taken by Nimai Ghosh, Mona Chowdhury, Subinoy Das and Satyajit Ray. On 12th November, 2016 veteran actress Madhabi Mukhopadhyay inaugurated the exhibition at 5pm. She said, "All the Bengalees have tremendous respect for Uttam Kumar. I afraid, another Mahanayak will never come. Uttam Kumar was one & only Mahanayak." The exhibition will run upto 18th November, 2016.

An exhibition on Rabindranath Tagore and his thoughts about environment is being held at Muktodhara (near Goal Market) of New Delhi. It will run till 7 September. -- A. B.

Exhibition of news photographs by students of The Statesman Print Journalism School. Venue: Genesis Art Gallery, 8B, Middleton Street, Kolkata 700 071. Date & Time: 15-17 May 2012 (4pm-7pm). All are cordially invited. -- A. B.

A rare painting exhibition on forest conservation will held in Kolkata. Campaigns have been done on various forums, but rarely have they been routed through art. Forests, with all their natural splendour, colours and wildlife, will come alive on canvas at a unique painting exhibition at the Birla Academy of Art and Culture from May 15-20. Titled 'Earth Voices', the exhibition will have 45 paintings that catch various shades of nature, jungles and even jungle lore. They have been painted by Indian Forest Service officer V K Yadav and his wife Alka. The idea is to spread awareness about jungles and wildlife and sensitize people about the need to protect them, says Yadav. "We have got some brilliant artwork that brings alive the beauty of forests. They also carry a subtle message that won't be lost on the audience. If this inspires even a few to take interest in nature and wildlife and do their bit for conservation, we would have done our job,...

Once upon a time, musical instruments used to export in Japan through China and Korea. Again, a few instruments came from Iran and Afghanistan. As a result, Indian heritage of musical instruments enriched. Many music lovers of Bengal stepped forward to preserve musical instruments. Raja of Pathuriaghata - Sir Sourindra Mohan Thakur was one of them. In the year 1875, Sourindra Mohan, Jatindra Mohan and Rani Swarnamoyee gifted several musical instruments to Kolkata Museum. Amongst them, a few instruments of 'Bengali Band' played at the reception of 7th Edward, came to Kolkata as Prince Of Wales. We came to know from the book 'Universal History Of Music' (1896) by Sourindra Mohan that in the year 1878, at the time of his Japan tour, the then Emperor Mikado gifted him various musical instruments like flute, organ, harp, veena and drums of different sizes. The big drum was painted by traditional Japanese paintings and in the name of famous ancient warrior '...