Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

Dantan going to be included as the historical place in the tourist's map of Bengal 'cause the biggest Buddhist Monastic Complex (Boudh Vihar) have been found at Mogolmari of Dantan under Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal. The Archaeological Department of Calcutta University started the excavation work here from the year 2003 and the excavation of last phase i.e. sixth phase was started on 12 March and ended on 25 March. So far as 12 Buddha statues have been found under this project and names of 3 have been found: the statue in the pose of Saraswati with Veena in hands and tangled by snakes named 'Janguli'; the statue in a sitting position with a lotus in hand named 'Abalokiteswar' and the garlanded statue named 'Lokeswar'. Other 9 statues will be named soon. Height of each statue is 42 cms. Before it, two Buddhist Monastic complexes found at Jagjibanpur of Malda district and the other at Karnasubarna near Berhampore in Murshidabad. Thi...

Shah Rukh Khan declared as the Brand Ambassador of West Bengal. The Bollywood icon when came to Kolkata last November to inaugurate the Kolkata Film Festival, the Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee proposed him to become the brand ambassador of Bengal. King Khan then humbly told that he will ponder over it. After a few months, he conveyed his acceptance to the CM and now Bengal gets her first brand ambassador - Shah Rukh Khan. It was a more needed, much coveted matter that Bengal should deserve. Bengal has rich heritage of tourist spots and cultural excellence. But owing to lack of publicity and proper development, the tourist spots and cultural excellence not finding scope to aware the whole world about it. A brand ambassador can do a lot more in this regard. Hence, West Bengal is fortunate enough to get in touch with an international icon like Shah Rukh Khan. -- A. B.

After 12 years, West Bengal participating in Republic Day parade in New Delhi on 26 January with a beautiful tableau of Shantiniketan. According to the final blueprint of tableau, the prayer room, paintings of Kala Bhavan, open air class etc of Shantiniketan will be depicted and images also be there. A group of young dancers will perform through the way beside tableau with springtime dress and song "Neel Digante Oi Phuler Aagun Laglo...". -- A. B.

The cultural and commercial capital of East India is Kolkata; it is also the capital town of West Bengal. Bengalis are very festive in their nature as there are 13 occasions in the 12 months as they say: it called in Bengali language that "BARO MASE… Click here to read the full story --

City of joy Kolkata celebrating today the greatest victory of Trinomool Congress. The city is now full of 'Mamata' - Mamata Bandyopadhyay. After three decades the era of Left Front gone and the city as well as Bengal witnessing the historic change of the political scenario. Kolkata observing the enormous victory of Mamata with joy and enthusiasm that never seen before. Before dawn, enthusiastic and optimist people of Kolkata gathered in front of Mamata's residence in Kolkata to convey their joy and happiness to Mamata. -- A. B.