Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

Tomorrow is 'Dol' in Bengal, 'Holi' in northern India, 'Madan-Dahan' or 'Kamayan' in south India, 'Hori' in central India, 'Shimaga' in Goa-Kankan' area and 'Dolotsav' in Odhisa. But, the characteristic of this festival of colour is the same everywhere. On the eve of this festival, the kush-putul use to burn - this event is called Holika Dahan according to Puranas. The tyrant demon Hiranyakashipu wanted to burn his son Prahlad, who was the worshiper of his enemy lord Vishnu. So, the king called his sister Holika to burn Prahlad. She entered into the fire with Prahlad, but lord Vishnu saved his admirer Prahlad and Holika died in fire. Hence, the people of the state played Holi the next day happily. Since then, the social festival of Dol or Holi is being observed across the country. Holika Dahan in Bengal is called 'Nera Pora' or 'burir ghar porano '. The room of Holika is being made on this day in B...

The festival of colours 'Dol' utsav is on Sunday, 16 March, 2014. But, before it, the students of Rabindra Bharati University of Jorasanko campus celebrated the festival with traditional fun and joy. -- A. B.

The history of transport in Kolkata is one of the main attraction of country's first and one & only Heritage Transport Museum. It is situated at Bilaspur-Taoru Road of Gurgaon near Delhi. From the baboo-culture of ancient Kolkata, to the evolution period of transportation in 19th & 20th century, the old fragrance is being tangled in the part of this museum. One can find here the old mail van, covered bullock cart, chevrolet of 1947, phaeton car, old photographs, hand-pulling rickshaws, vintage cars, train, plane, bus, boat, scooter, and even the past time has been presented here lively. Original poster, advertisement, photos of yesteryear's (100-150 year's old) have been shown here. Paintings of old Calcutta by Daniel, Solvence etc in which old transports like palanquin (palki), phaeton, bullock cart etc had been shown, are the main attraction of this museum. And these paintings are in original. After these paintings, palanquin, howdah, and then th...

On the occasion of Women's Day, all women bike rally is being organised in Kolkata for the first time, on 8 March, 2014. To register, log on to www.womenbikerally.com today. -- A. B.

-- A. B.

The beautification work of river bank in Kolkata is going on. In the mean time, the projects from Prinsep Ghat to Baje Kadamtala Ghat, Floatel to KMDA Millennium Park foot over bridge and Fairley jetty to Armenian jetty have been completed. The renovation of Nimtala Ghat and Rabindranath Tagore Memorial Garden are going on and the renovation of Sri Ramkrishna Samadhi prangan has started. The foundation stones of the projects Babughat to Floatel and Nimtala Immersion Ghat have been laid recently. Cement railing all along the river Ganga in Kolkata, according to Victorian style, beautiful paver block for the pedestrians, cast iron bench for the walkers, reconstruction of ghat and mandap, lightings of trident, greens, music system and landscaping are the items these beautification work includes. -- A. B.

A 4-day long utsav has been started yesterday at Jhamapukur Sri Sri Ramakrishna Sangha to mark their 35th Foundation day. The utsav is now going on at their ashram yard till Sunday. The Sangha is following the rules and guidelines of Ramakrishna Mission since inception. Pic courtesy: Newspaper -- A. B.