Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

-- A. B.

-- A. B.

At the age of 10 : Steven Spielberg first came in touch with the city Kolkata through the descriptions by his father. At that time he was only a child of 10. The second world war was about to end. His father was in the US Army. He was a technical sergeant and then posted in Karachi. War between America and Japan was in progress. Remembrance of second world war has been returned again and again in the films of Spielberg as per the descriptions of his father. Spielberg used to listen stories of second world war from his father at childhood. At that time, he knew many things about Kolkata - the beauty and lifestyle of the city made him spellbound. At the age of 25 : Do you know, at the age of 25, Steven Spielberg came to Kolkata for the first time with a friend? He stayed here for 10 days at that time in a Christian family at Park street. Still, he use to recall his tour as 'fantastic" - visited Park Street, Free School Street and other places or interests with backpack - jus

Ganesh Pyne - the veteran painter of Kolkata who always loved the city, who loved to live in this city with all of its flavour, smell, colour, and feelings, died on 12th of this month at the age of 76. He was born in 1937 in Kolkata. After he passed Intermediate, his family admitted him at art college as he had knack in paintings since childhood. His excellence was in tempura and from water colour to bright colour - the long path of his career as a painter was really worth watching. He bagged many prizes from abroad also. And so many exhibitions of his paintings attracted critics. Light & shade was his speciality. He always searched immortality by his paintings and thus a positiveness tangled with his paintings. The painter lost his city. The city lost his painter. The first picture is the funeral of the painter where a group of painters followed his last journey. The second picture is the self portrait of the late painter sketched in 1980. And rest 3 pictures are t

Pop star Jennifer Lopez will come in Kolkata to inaugurate the IPL at Yuba Bharati Krirangan of Salt Lake on 2 April. Shah Rukh Khan would be the attraction of the function alongwith Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif. -- A. B.

Today is the 178th janmatithi of Sri Sri Ramkrishna. On this occasion, special puja is now being performed at Belur Math. Many devotees are now witnessing the rituals there. Special arrangement of vessels has been made on river Ganga for the benefit of devotees. -- A. B.

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.