Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

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Durga Puja of Kolkata just indexed in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in the 16-members meeting of UNESCO held in Paris yesterday. It is a proud moment for not only Bengal, but for entire India. Out of 48 nominations there in the meeting, Durga Puja of Kolkata is the first of its kind in Asia. /> Now, it is proved that Durga Puja of Kolkata is not only a festival, but an emotion of entire nation. All the leaders and common people of the country are very happy to hear this news. /> Durga Puja of Bengal, especially of Kolkata is the biggest festival of the year, we know. But, recently, we witnessed the immersion carnival of Kolkata's Durga Puja at Red Road which was a great success. By organising this carnival - the whole world came to know that Kolkata has an old tradition and heritage of Durga Puja which belongs to Bengal's culture strongly. /> While considering Durga Puja of Kolkata as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the authori...

Mahalaya marks the end of "Pitri Paksha" and the beginning of "Devi Paksha". People believe that Lord Shree Rama invoked Ma Durga on this day of 'Mahalaya Amavasya' for her blessings, just before his journey to Lanka to fight with Ravana and rescue his wife Sita. Some people believe that on this auspicious day Parvati - the wife of Lord Shiva started her journey from mount Kailash to her father mount Himalay's residence for five days. This annual arrival of Parvati is called Durga Puja in Bengal. The Bengalees worship Ma Durga with due devotion and dedication. Irrespective of castes and creeds, all the people enjoy this festival - young & old. Traditional pujas are performed in 'Banedi' families of Kolkata and Bengal. 'Baroari' puja also a phenomenon where Durga Puja is concern. The Bengalees wait throughout the year for this biggest festival of the year.  Another significance of 'Mahalaya' is  "Tarpan". At the end ...

Jhulan Yatra is one of the most important festival of devotees of Lord Krishna. It is the third biggest festival of Vaishnavas after Dol Yatra and Janmastami. It usually falls in the Bengali month Shravan. According to Gregorian calendar July-August is the month when Jhulan Yatra occur. This year it will begin on 1 Bhadra,  according to Bangla calendar (18 August) on the day of Ekadashi. It will run for 5 days and on Purnima (full moon day) Jhulan Yatra will end. The day is called Jhulan Purnima.        Jhulan Yatra is the religious occasion for Hindus and Vaishnavas. It mainly observed in 'Bonedi' families and in Moth and temples,  but the children especially are enthusiastic to decorate 'Jhulan' in the entrance of their houses during all 5 day long, with sand, stones, woods, clay dolls and toys, small trees, puppet huts and wooden swings for the jhulan of Radha-Krishna. The family members use to perform rituals and puja of the house-god ...

In old Kolkata, Rath Yatra celebration was very gorgeous. It was the British Raaj in India, the aristocrats used to observe Rath Yatra in Kolkata with pomp and grandeur. Sheth and Basak family of Bowbazar used to organise rally of Rath on the road with their Kul Devta Govind ji. The Rath was 70 feet high. The Rath used to pull on Bowbazar Street upto Laldighi of Dalhousie.  A gorgeous Rath used to run at Posta area of Kolkata. People of all ages used to enjoy the rally with colourful flags in hand, khol kartal were the musical instruments used to play throughout the rally. Some used to spray atar, keora, aguru and sandalwood water among the devotees.  Batasa was the prasad used to throw from the chariot amongst devotees and they used to pick those. Ramkanai Adhikary's Rath of Bowbazar was very famous in old Kolkata. It was almost 150 years old. But now a small chariot use to pull within family.  A silver Rath was very famous in old Kolkata.  Its owner was Rajchandr...

Jhulan Yatra or Swing Festival is the religious festival of Hindus dedicated to Lord Krishna and Radha. It is observed in the month of August. And this year, this festival is being started from today. Kolkata has lost many of its traditions but still, in some houses at central Kolkata, it is observed very enthusiustically.      The house at 63, Dhiren Dhar Sarani is one of them. The house is called 'Srimanta Villa'. In this house, Jhulan Yatra is being observed gorgeously (this year it is being observed from 22-26 August). Jhulan utsav of this house is about 80 years old. Srimanta Pandit was the founder of this 'Srimanta Villa'. His son Chandan Pandit was so enthusiast about this festival that he decorated 'Jhulan' with dolls on their outside sitting place (রক) alongwith his friends. It was the year 1935. After three years, he started a new item - showed sunrise, sunset, moonrise and position of various stars and planets at night projecting on screen, run b...

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...

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 ...

For the first time in Kolkata world standard puppet festival is about to held (26-31 October 2017) in which England, Germany, Peru, Portugal, Italy, Lithuania, Brazil, Singapore and India will participate. In this PUN (Puppets Unite Neighbours) Puppet Festival, 15 artists will participate, 7 from India. Puppet show, theatre will be shown to the students of several schools, free of cost. The artists will perform show at Quest Mall free of cost too. One function at P C Chandra Garden will be held by tickets only.

The historical Raas utsav of Nabadwip observed peacefully. Today is the rally or 'arang' (আড়ং) in the town and for the first time, the electric supply would be unaffected as the underground power supply is functioning there.            The variety of idols of god & goddesses at Nabadwip is the main feature of this festival. Vaishnab, Shakta, Buddhist (বৈষ্ণব, শাক্ত, বৌদ্ধ), - all the idols are part of worship here. The Raas utsav here is famous with other names like Raas Purnima, Raas Kali Puja, Pat Purnima (পট পূর্ণিমা) etc. Some people call it 'Shakta Raas' (শাক্ত রাস). Who founded this festival and when, - the information is unavailable. But it is sure that it was initiated in post-Chaitanya period.              Bada Shyama (বড় শ্যামা), Mejo Shyama (মেজ শ্যামা), Chhoto Shyama (ছোট শ্যামা), Shob-Shiba (শব শিবা), Elane Kali (এলানে কালী), Muktakeshi (মুক্তকেশী), Bhubaneswari of Boral...

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...

Uttam Kumar Film Festival 2013: Venue: Nandan 1 Date: 24 July-30 July, 2013 24.07.2013 - Sare Chuattor (3 pm). Shilpi (6 pm). 25.07.2013 - Lal Pathar (3 pm). Mon Niye (6 pm). 26.07.2013 - Dhanraj Tamang (3 pm). Bipasha (6 pm). 27.07.2013 - Jodu Bangsha (3 pm). Ekti Raat (6 pm). 28.07.2013 - Shuno Baronari (3 pm). Sabar Upore (6 pm). 29.07.2013 - Agni Pariksha (3 pm). Harano Sur (6 pm). 30.07.2013 - Dui Prithibi (3 pm). Saptapadi (6 pm). Tickets: Rs 30, 40, 50 (from 19.07.2013 at hall; 1-7pm). Organized by SILPI SANGSAD -- A. B.

Yesterday, I went to Mahesh, the ancient village of town Serampore in Hooghly district, to observe the holy festival of Lord Jagannath - Rath yatra - the biggest after Puri, and grabbed the colourful hues of its vividness and enthusiasm amongst people of not only locale but across Bengal. It was so crowded that you can't imagine. I liked the day very much in spite of excessive heat and humidity in the air. -- A. B.

Viswakarma puja is on coming Monday. Hence, the idols are ready to go to puja pandals. It is the festival of kites also. So, the big colourful kites like pet-kata, chandial, mayurpankhi, mukhpora, ball marka, mombati, ghoila, chowrangee - are ready to fly on Monday. -- A. B.

Next Monday, 17 September Viswakarma Puja. And hundreds of colourful kites will occupy the sky on this occasion. So, the craftsman is busy as you're seeing, with the kites to make them the most prestigious. -- A. B.

Uttam Kumar was fond of delicious spicy foods like prawn malaikari, kaju chicken, chingri macher paturi, palang paneer kofta, bhetkir kanta chachari, mangser do-peaji, sagar doi, doi ilish... Chef Sushanta Sengupta is there at 6 Ballygunge Place till 16 September with these favourite dishes of Uttam Kumar for you. Price Rs 20/- to 750/-. -- A. B.

Bengali film festival in London for the first time, at Harrow Arts Centre from 18-20 May 2012. Bengali film personalities like Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Rudraneel Ghosh, Paoli Dam, Swastika Mukherjee, Locket Chatterjee, Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury and Aneek Dutta will present on the stage. The title, date & time (London time) of the films are:- Balukabela.com : (world premier) Saturday 19 May at 1pm. direction: Partha Sen, *ing Bratya Basu, Parambrata, Shashwata, Locket, Rudraneel. Egaro : Friday 18 May at 7:30pm. Direction:Arun Roy Aparajita Tumi : Saturday 19 May at 4pm. Direction: Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, *ing Prosenjit, Padmapriya, Kamalini. Elar Char Adhyay : Saturday 19 May at 7pm. Direction: Bappaditya Bandyopadhyay, *ing Indraneel, Paoli Dam. Royal Bengal Rahasya : Sunday 20 May at 12pm. Direction: Sandip Roy, *ing Sabyasachi Chakraborty, Bhooter Bhobisyat : Sunday 20 May at 3pm. Direction: Aneek Dutta, *ing Parambrata, Swastika etc. Nobel Chor : Sunday 20 May at ...

'Europe In Love' is the theme of 17th European Film Festival organised by Cine Central, Kolkata. 25 films from the member countries of European Union will be screened during 20-28 April at Nandan and Max Müller Bhavan. -- A. B.

The 'Charak' festival in early Kolkata was observed mainly in the month of March-April and saw an amazing and quite natural subversion of social conventions. Low caste devotees of Lord Shiva performed this penance, when people swung from ropes with an iron hook embedded into their backs. In 1865, the practice of 'charak' (binding a person to a hook and suspending him from a high pole) was banned on grounds that it was a cruel practice. A week before the charak puja, men of the lower orders wore anklets around their necks, and the sacred thread, went dancing around grog shops, brothels, and courtyards of people's houses to the beating of drums. They went from house to house gathering sannyasis, ie, servants who would then undertake the ritual penances associated with this festival. In the evening, the children thronged to see the Jhula Sanyas when sadhus were swung over bales of hay set on fire. As the sky darkened, the city looked alto...