Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

Kolkata Phool Mela or Flower Fair 2012 in picture, organised at Eden Gardens. -- A. B.

After 8 years, ropeway of Darjeeling opened again from today. On 19 October, 2003 four tourists including kids and females were dead and many injured by the accident of ropeway. Since then, the famous ropeway of hill station remained closed. But the new government of West Bengal decided to re-open the main attraction of Darjeeling - ropeway. The tourists now can enjoy the unique scenic beauties of queen of hill station. This new ropeway have 10 trolleys, 4 persons can ride per trolley and the fare is INR 120 (per adult), INR 60 (per child). From Singsari to Takbhar, the trolley will take 15 minutes. -- A. B.

The famous beautician Keya Sheth organises a competition to select best miss and misses across Bengal. But not only the beauty, total smartness, merit and IQ will also be the criteria. Moreover, not only Bengal, residents of Bangladesh can also participate. The audition will start from 9 February at Madhyamgram of north 24 parganas. Aroma-specialist of international fame - Keya Sheth said that the selected participants will be groomed and then the competition will commence. The age bar of miss: 16-25 and for online registration of names, participants should log on to www.bestofbengal.com -- A. B.

Rotary International District 3291 Youth Activities Committee 2011-12 organises Drive Out Polio-Car Rally at Salt Lake Stadium on Sunday, 5 February, 2012 from 8:30am in association with Ramakrishna Race Performance Management. Lead host club: Rotary Club Of Calcutta North East. -- A. B.

After the defeat of East Bengal by Prayag United in I-league at Salt Lake Stadium yesterday, the supporters of EB agitated for the defeat and surrounded the car of officials of their dear club. They also surrounded the team bus agitated by saying that there would be no hope to win the derby match next Saturday and almost lost the I-league. The supporters feeling sad that their dear club lagged behind in the race of championship. On the other hand, Mohun Bagan won the match against Chirag Kerala last night by 3-1 from two penalties scored by Odafa and other one by Barreto. And it was unusual to witness two penalties in a single match and marching order for two players. So, Bagan-Chirag match made history and all are now looking for the result of next derby match. -- A. B.

Winter marked for circus. Kids love to watch play of elephants, horses and camels alongwith fun of jokers. In winter, various circus owners come in Bengal to entertain kids alongwith their parents. In Kolkata, number of circuses now running successfully. And now, the rural Bengal also like to enjoy the fun & frolic of circus. Here in this picture, a famous circus erected their tents in rural Bengal to start the shows shortly. -- A. B.

Dumping places of garbages in Kolkata being replaced by Compactor - a modern machine. In near future, there will be no places marked for vat in the city of joy. This machine is a movable compactor installed in car. The garbages will be collected and stored on this compactor then the car will be sent to Dhapa dumping ground. The authority said, the movable compactor will run from April. Moreover, stationery compactor will also be placed at the existing vats. And it will be covered by iron plates, so there will be no chance to scatter the garbages on road and the existing vats will be renamed as Transfer Station.-- A. B.

The media exposed with the explosive statement of Guild that the power cut at Kolkata Book Fair this evening at the time of press meet was deliberate as the time of next programme was already up. But the question is, there might be other substitutes to end the said programme. Eminent writers of Kolkata also expressed their views that the awkward situation might be averted. Although the power cut was only for a minute, it was not desired. Later, the eminent ex Pak cricketer Imran Khan delivered a lecture in memory of recently departed cricketer of India - Pataudi. Imran said, Pataudi was his idol. And he learnt how to play test cricket with patience, tolerance and total skill from Pataudi. Imran also said that excessive play of 20-20 cricket is the main cause of failure in test cricket for Indian cricketers. The short over cricket only for entertainment and money but test cricket is the original cricket we should play well. Sharmila Tagore later delivered the thanksgiving

Poulami Ghatak of Kolkata is again the Champion of National Table Tennis for the seventh times. She beat Samini in Lukhnow by 4-0 (11-9, 11-4, 11-8, 11-7) game. After 11 years, Bangla again the champion of National Junior Volleyball. They defeated Kerala in the final easily by 25-15 25-14 15-25 25-13 points at Durgapur yesterday. Bangla again the champion of B C Roy Trophy in football by average goal rate in Shiliguri yesterday. Although Jharkhand defeated Bangla by 2-1, but as the runners Mizoram beat by Karnataka, Bangla became the champion. -- A. B.

-- A. B.

Roadside puja in rural Bengal. -- A. B.

-- A. B.