Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

Durga Puja - 70 days to go. The idol of Debi Durga is going to Los Angeles. -- A. B.

This steam rail engine was built in the year 1954 by a company of Japan. It used to run for 38 years (1955-1992) in the section of Rupsa-Baripada-Bangripusi of south-eastern railway of India. This heritage engine is now being shown at Santragachi rail station. -- A. B.

This evening, I visited Nalikul, a village of Hooghly district to observe Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath. It was a very enjoyable event with traditional enthusiasm, respect, fun, joy and happiness. -- A. B.

Today I visited Mahesh near Serampore of Hooghly district to observe the puja, rituals and rath yatra of Lord Jagannath, after two years. It was the Rath Yatra of 619th year. So, you can imagine how old it is. But, the devotees pay homage to Lord Jagannath with the same enthusiasm, respect, joy and happiness. -- A. B.

To observe the 36th death anniversary of Mahanayak Uttam Kumar on 24 July, 2015, Shilpi Sangsad will organise 31st Uttam Kumar Film Festival at Nandan-1 & Nandan-2 from 24 July '15 to 30 July '15. Total nos. of 15 films of Uttam Kumar including Chiriakhana, Harano Sur, Sanyasi Raja, Deya Neya, Sare Chuattar, Shyamali and Saptapadi will be screened there. Daily show time: 3pm & 6pm. Tickets: Rs 30/- & 50/- will be available from 18 July '15 onwards at Nandan. -- A. B.

15th Children's Film Festival by Cine Central will be held from 17 July, 2015 to 22 July, 2015 at Nandan-1 daily at 4:30pm & 6:30pm. In fact, films for childrens are becoming scanty globally. But, a few directors are thinking seriously about making films for the kids. And as a result, film festivals for the childrens are often held throughout the world. Cine Central is doing this job regularly with sincerity. 41 movies from 17 countries would be shown on this festival including the movies Koni, Anokha Moti, Hire Ki Angti, Charmurti and Padma Patar Jal - all the entries from India. Other countries are China, Japan, Canada, Croatia, Iran, Israel, Russia, Netherlands, France, America etc. A cluster of short films & documentaries made by childrens will also be seen in this festival. 'Animation Greets' - a film of Canada would be the inaugural film on 17 July, 2015 at 6:30pm. -- A. B.

Kadambari Devi - 'Natun Bouthhan' of Rabindranath Tagore was born on 5th July, 1859 at Jorasanko and married too on 5th July but in the year 1868 at the age of 9 to Jyoti dada of Rabindranath. Kadambari Devi was born in the Tagore family but she was incidentally not among the residents of 'andar mahal' of Jorasanko Tagore house. She brought up in the outer house with his father Shyamlal Ganguly who was one of the 'bazar sarkar' of Tagore family. Debendranath - father of Jyoti dada chosen her as daughter-in-law when Kadambari was only nine years old. It was also 5th July, 1868 - Kadambari married to Jyoti dada of Rabindranath - entered into a new life. But, unfortunately, her place in the andar mahal of Tagore family was unwanted, neglected and humiliating. Jyotirindranath never accepted her as wife and tried to avert. So, we may come to the conclusion that Kadambari Devi's childhood was not so colourful yet enjoyed by her, but ...