Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

This year, the main programme of vasant utsav at Shantiniketan would be held at Purbo Pally maath (the Poush Mela maath), instead of Ashram maath. The function will start from morning till night when the dance drama of Tagore - Shapmochan will be staged there at 7 pm. The 'Vasant Bandana' would be performed at the Malancha house of Rabindranath (Kinkar Udyan), on the eve of Dol Utsav. Dol or Vasant Utsav will be held on 27 March. Pic: Malancha house of Rabindranath. -- A. B.

1) Rabindranath 2) Abanindranath 3) Abanindranath 4) Abanindranath 5) Gaganendranath 6) Gaganendranath 7) Gaganendranath 8) Abanindranath 9) Rabindranath 10) Rabindranath 11) Rabindranath -- A. B.

The rich and famous families or old Kolkata used to worship their family god or goddess on the thakur dalan, specifically made with altar there. 1) Thakur dalan of Madan Mohan Mitra 34/2, Ramdulal Sarkar Street. 2) Thakur Dalan of Jadulal Mullick of Pathuriaghata where Sri Ramkrishna was arrived. 3) Bijoyradhaballav - the family god of Bankimchandra at his residence of Kathalpara, Naihati. 4) Madan Mohan - the family idol of Gokul Mitra, Bagbazar. 5) Thakur Dalan of Sharat Chandra Mullick, Chorbagan. 6) Shamsundar temple of Birbhadra Goswami, founded in 1575 at Khardaha. 7) Idol of Madan Mohan Jeu at residence of Raghab Pandit - the follower of Sri Chaitannya at Panihati. 8) Family god Narayan of Ramlochan Ghosh at Khelat Bhaban, 47, Pathuriaghata Street. 9) Shamsundar - family idol of Bijaykrishna Goswami. 10) Gopinath Jeu 11) Thakur Dalan of Gopinath Jeu - Sovabazar Rajbati - 36, Raja Nabakrishna Street. 12) Darbar Hall of Madan Mohan, Bagbazar. 13) Radhaballav te...

Kids of slums and homes (some of them are mentally and physically handicapped) have seen and boarded on metro rail for theke first time yesterday. Five NGO's with the authority of Kolkata Metro, organised the memorable event. They made the journey from Kabi Subhas to Dum Dum joyful and melodious with songs and recitations. -- A. B.

Handloom Industry of various items made by hands are exhibited at the fair of Kanchanjangha stadium, Siliguri. Dolls made of jute are being exhibited here in the pic. -- A. B.

massive fire broke out in Surja Sen market near Sealdah in Kolkata on Wednesday morning. Seventeen people were killed in the fire. Five bodies have so far been rescued. Twenty-five fire engines were sent to the spot to bring the fire under control. The deaths were mainly caused by suffocation. The reason of the fire was yet to be confirmed. Sources said the market complex had inflammable items like paper and plastic piled up inside. The fire was detected around 3.50 am and most of the victims and the injured were sleeping at the time. Thirteen bodies were taken to the NRS Hospital and Medical College Hospital besides many injured, till the latest reports came in. Nine people had been rescued from the building while nearly 60 more feared to be trapped inside. -- A. B.

Yesterday, Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra was shoots for the Hindi movie Goonday at Bantala. Here in this picture, she is on board of a cart with some dehati women. -- A. B.