Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

Durga Puja although more than three months to go, the clay artistes of Kumortuli already engaged themselves making idols of deities. -- A. B.

Durga puja after the monsoon season, but, the clay artistes of Kumortuli are now already busy to prepare the various parts of idols of deities. -- A. B.

Puppet show of rural Bengal is an old tradition now one can only see in the Rath Yatra fair of villages. This profession is now becoming a hazard owing to the modern technology and reluctance of kids. When I was a kid of 10-12 years, I was fond of this puppet show at that small town where I was born. It was a regular feature of Shiba Ratri Mela. But now, only the untamed enthusiasm of its artists, the art remains. Now, puppet show is running at Bainchi Rath Mela in Bardhaman district of Bengal. But, how many days it will exist? The time has the answer. -- A. B.

Rath mela of the city now running just like a village fair at the Ramlila Maidan of Moulali. And the fair will run upto 20 July. It is just a piece of village, where everything can be found. From colourful plastic bangles, dolls made of mud, trifle utensils, cup-dish, papad, achar, morabba, ghugni, alur dam, phuchka, ice-cream etc etc. But the main attraction is obviously the market of birds - all are foreign birds - finches, java, love-bird, cocktail, badri... the crowds bargaining all the time. This fair is 100 years old. -- A. B.

Spain defeated Portugal in the semi-final and will now play in the final of EURO 2012. Hence, the Spanish football fans are now more elated, more jubilant. -- A. B.

Anti-Drugs Campaign on 26 June in Kolkata. -- A. B.

Director Bappaditya Bandyopadhyay recently announced his new Bengali film 'KOLKATA 2012' at Peerless Inn. It is a film comprising seven stories with a common link. The director of recently released Elar Char Adhyay, Bappaditya said, "A city does not necessarily mean roads, buildings and festivals. It's about the people who live in that city. Kolkata doesn't only belong to the people who regularly appear on Page 3 but also is about people with uncommon professions. I've often hated this city for several reasons, but I can't deny the strong bond I share with Kolkata. My relationship with the city continues to grow with each passing day." He also said about the characters of the film. "There is a Chinese girl who makes chilli sauce and can speak Bengali fluently. There's a female bus conductor and also a boy who falls in love with the Chinese girl because he loves to eat chowmein. I know it sounds weird, but I'm trying to reveal ...