Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

On the occasion of Janmashtami, Madan Mohan temple of Cooch Behar is being decorated. At first, rajmata of Cooch Behar used to worship Lord Krishna in her palace. But, in the year 1928, when Madan Mohan temple was erected, Lord Krishna is being worshipped there till date. Tomorrow, on the occasion of Janmashtami - naru, taler bora, murir moa, sweets and 5 fruits would be the 'bhog' of Madan Mohan. No 'anno bhog' would be there on this auspicious occasion, - the 'paron' or 'anno bhog' would be served to Lord Krishna on the next day with rice, 5 items of fry, 'panchamel' sabji and sweets would be there. Janmashtami puja would be performed tomorrow from 8:57 pm onwards. -- A. B.

Sanatan Dinda: Again the theme-maker of Barisha Club, just like last year. But, while he is making the idol of 95 Pally, pandal is creating Debatosh Korke. Sanatan Dinda is also making the theme of Darpanarayan Thakur Street's puja. Bhabatosh Sutar: He is creating the theme of 4 puja pandals - Naktala Udayan Sangha, Chetla Agragami, Shikdar Bagan Sarbojanin again, and one at Byantra area of Howrah. Amar Sarkar: Theme-maker of 66 Pally of Bhawanipur and Tala Baroary (for the last 5 years). Ron Bandyopadhyay: Behala Nutan Dal Prashanta Paul: He is the theme-maker of BRS 3 Sangrami, Lalbagan Nabangkur & Bengal United Club (for 4 years). Shib Shankar Das: Pally Sharadiya of Khiddirpore, Beleghata 33 Pally, Kashi Bose Lane. Gopal Poddar: Theme-maker of Hatibagan Nabin Pally. Somenath Mukhopadhyay: The theme-maker of Bhawanipur 75 Pally, Rainagar Unnayan of Bansdroni, Gopalpur Municipality of Rajarhat, Dum Dum Pally and Purbachal Shakti of Garifa area

The artist Bhabatosh Sutar is now busy to create the idol of goddess Durga by stone for this year's puja of Naktala Udayan Sangha. -- A. B.

The nation is celebrating 67th Independence Day. -- A. B.

On this 63rd year, 66 Pally Durga puja is adopting the theme 'Aamar Durga' or My Durga. The theme is about the struggle of common women to achieve the goal. The theme has three parts. On the first part, LED lighting. And mythological. On the second part, the achievement of women self-help group would be depicted. And devi Durga will be there on the third stage. The height of the pandal would be 120 feet and breadth 80 feet. Amar Sarkar is the artist. 15 artists of art college are working hard to implement the theme. -- A. B.

22 Degree Halo of sun on 16 July, 2013 at 10:09 am on the sky of river Ganga in Kolkata. -- A. B.

Debi Durga would be decorated by ancient arms of India as shown in this model at the puja pandal of Kakurgachi Bagha Jatin club. Anirban Das is the theme-maker. The members are entrusted with the responsibility of collecting those ancient arms.

Jivan Smriti 'Selective Memories' : a film on Rabindranath Tagore by the eminent filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh will telecast DD National on 8 August, 2013 at 10:30 p.m. Rituparno made the film well earlier of his untimely death. But it was not released due to some reasons. The Cultural Ministry of Govt. of India produced the film. And NFDC is the executive producer. The director has tried to depict the life, feelings, ups & downs of the poet from his young age to old age in this film. Samadarshi Dutta has played the role of 18-30 year's aged Rabindranath and Sanjay Nag has played the role of matured Tagore in the film. Raima Sen has played the role of Kadambari Debi. -- A. B.

It is Shravan month of Bangla calendar. So the month of Lord Shiva. And therefore, the local railway station is being drcorated with colourful equipments for the pilgrims of Tarakeswar to carry holy water of river Ganga with them during walk. -- A. B.

-- A. B.

Today is 24 July - in the year 1980 on this day Mahanayak Uttam Kumar was died. He was the only matinee idol of Bengalee cine-goers. I spent the days of childhood by seeing the films of Uttam Kumar. Many colourful romantic moments of college life spent with the movies of Uttam Kumar at cinema houses. And used to absorb myself copying the look, mannerisms and walking movements of our matinee idol just like any other Bengalee youth. Imitate him, love him, his films - still now. He had performed so many vivid characters... still a surprise. He is no more. But he is always with us. Still now. -- A. B.