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...

Seminar: Ramkrishna Math (Jogodyan): Swami Shubhokarananda will talk about "Sri Sri Ramkrishna Kathamrita" at 4:30pm. Drama: Academy: "Jagyaseni Agnikanya" (3pm) by Bhawanipur Shishikkhu, "Ek Mancha Ek Jiban" (6:30pm) by Purba-Paschim. Misc. - Harish Park: Vivek Mela (5pm-10pm) Rajdanga Maath: Rajdanga Utsav & Pithe-Puli Utsav. Organiser- Rajdanga Club Samannoy (রাজডাঙা ক্লাব সমন্বয়). Laha Bari: Classical Music Concert (5pm) - artists: Shahid Parvez Khan, Joytirtho Mebhundi etc. Organiser- Sutanuti Parishad, Chorbagan Ancholik Committee. Rabindra Sadan: Singer Ajoy Chakraborty (4:30pm). Then, dance by artists of Mongolia. Organiser- Heritage Bengal.

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).

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...

3-days long 122nd Poush Mela has started today at Shantiniketan (Bolpur) with Baidik upasana and Rabindra Sangeet on the ground (pic below). This fair is specially meant for folk culture, handicrafts and baul songs. Once upon a time, this Poush Mela used to held at the ground (pic below) initiated by Debendranath and nurtured by his son Rabindranath Tagore. Now, this is a heritage site.

Panchmura village - about 150 kms from Kolkata, is the home of traditional terracotta artists of Bengal. The annual terracotta fair will be held here on 4-6 November, 2016. Shoppers who delight in ethnic art-ware can choose from a range of traditional toys, small household artefacts, decorative items and jewellery, all made of terracotta.             The long-necked horse seen everywhere is the typical toy manufactured here by the clay artists. During this festival, the houses of artisans would be decorated by various terracotta products, from where anyone can buy. There will be no stall of these handmade products in the fair.               Panchmura village of Bankura district, near Bishnupur, is the home of about 300 artists making terracotta items. Terracotta means baked clay. The crafts persons colour their products with clay itself and fire them in kilns with the help of dry eucalyptus leaves. Various anim...

Bird lovers are watching various birds at the Rath Mela of Moulali Ramlila Maidan, Kolkata now, as usual like every year. -- A. B.

A fair of Bangla taant saris now running at Milan Mela of Kolkata. From traditional to fusion, heritage taant to silk kota - you can find everything here. There are traditional taant, jamdani, garad as well as cotton handloom, taant zardousi and Madhabilata made from resham and matka. And the prices are very attractive also. Taant saris will cost Rs. 200-5000 and taant zardousi starts from Rs. 900 whereas colourful cotton handloom saris will cost Rs. 1200 and Madhabilata Rs. 5000. Attractive silk kota will cost Rs. 1400 and tasar tangail starts from Rs. 1000. You can find embroidery saris on silk surface at the cost of Rs. 750. And discount also available. Not only saris, mekhla and dokhna of Assam are also available here. More or less one thousand taant shilpi or taant sari makers attended the fair this year and it will be a great success. The fair will remain open till 28 March 2012.-- A. B.

-- A. B.

Kolkata Phool Mela or Flower Fair 2012 in picture, organised at Eden Gardens. -- A. B.