Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

Jamai Sasthi is a traditional custom of Bengal. This ritual is from the 'parban' of Debi Sasthi. It is a tradition since the time of Veda.         On the day of first Sasthi tithi of Jaisthya month, it is observed in the first hour of morning before a painted picture of Debi Sasthi or before a 'ghot' as idol of debi.           Sasthi Debi looks like a mother of our everyday life but with all grace of a goddess. The cat is her 'bahan'. The welfare and wishes of well-being of our children is the main blessings of debi Sasthi. Every member of the family wear new clothes kept in 'malsa' during puja. Fruits, paan, supari, dhaan, durba, handmade fan of palm leaves are the requirements during puja.           Once upon a time, someone housewife stealthily used to eat fish and blamed cat. As the cat is 'bahan' of debi Sasthi, she became angry and thus the child of that housewife was missing. The housewife realised her sin and went to forest and w

25 Boishakh - 160th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore usually observed at Jorasanko Thakur Bari where the poet was born in the year 1861 (7th May). The statue of the poet outside the building use to garlanded and admirers of the poet come here in the compound of Nat Mandir to observe the day. It is the bed room of poet. It is the marble table in the sitting room beside window, where the poet used to write. The chairs used by the poet in the sitting room to talk to outsiders. The mirror used by the poet and his family. The 'Nilambari' (blue) sari of Mrinalini Debi (the photo below), wife of Rabindranath. The 'jobba' of the poet. The kettle, cup, plate used by the poet. The room to take meals by the poet. Above: Bichitra Bhavan where 'Dakghar' play written and acted by the poet was played in the year 1917. Many more dramas of the poet were played in abroad too. The books

On 5th May, 2020 Bengali film actor Koel Mullick gave birth to a baby boy. When her father actor Ranjit Mullick heard this news, he felt very happy. Actor Koel Mullick herself posted the photos above in social media and expressed her feelings with joy and happiness.     Earlier this February, when she conceived, she expressed her joy with these words, " punches and somersault… the sound of a new life beating inside me. Like a glistening silver thread woven into the fabric of my life, our child is longingly awaited this summer".

26th April, 2020, Sunday is the date of Akshaya Tritiya. 'Akshaya' means "unending wealth" and 'Tritiya' means the third lunar day. The day is considered auspicious by Hindus and Jains in many regions of India for new ventures, marriages, expensive investments such as in gold or other property, and any new beginnings. It is also a day of remembrance for the loved ones who have died.    The day is regionally significant for women, married or unmarried, who pray for the well being of the men in their lives or the one they may in future get engaged to. After prayers, they distribute germinating gram (sprouts), fresh fruits and Indian sweets. If the Akshaya Tritiya falls on a Monday ( Rohini ), the festival is believed to be even Fasting, charity and helping others on this day is another festive practice. Very important, and as related to the name of the festival itself is the best of  Akshaya Patra , to  Draupadi , by God  Krishna , during the visit of s

In the time of spring or Vasant, the puja of spring time goddess Durga use to held in the month of March. This year, Basanti puja will be held on 31st March in Bengal. 30th March is Shasthi Adhibas of Debi Basanti, Shasthi is upto 10:42 PM. 31st March is Saptami puja of Debi Basanti, Saptami is upto 10:38 PM. 3rd April is Dashami - immersion of Debi Basanti. Originally, this puja of goddess Durga used to observe in Bengali month Chaitra as the farmers have this time newly cultivated paddy and they could happily performed Basanti puja. Still now, Banedi families of Bengal perform puja of goddess Basanti. Below is the image of goddess Basanti;-                                                                      In the time of spring, the Annapurna Puja is also observe in Bengal. Anna means food or grains, Purna means full. Goddess Parvati here is in the form of Annapurna, giving Shiva the grains. It is symbolic as we like to puja goddess DURGA here as Mata Annapurna. This year Annap

25 February, 2020 is the Janma tithi (জন্মতিথি) of Sri Ramkrishna Paramahansa. Every year, on Shukla Dwitiya of month Falgun, the janma tithi of Sri Ramkrishna is being observed. On this auspicious occasion, various rituals like Puja, Arati, devotional songs are the main functions use to held at Kamarpukur - the birth place of Sri Ramkrishna, organised by Ramkrishna Mission every year. The divotees use to come there on this day to witness the function and pay homage to Thakur Ramkrishna.        

'Heritage Bengal' will pay homage to legendary singer composer Hemanta Mukhopadhyay on the eve of his birth centenary by organising a function on 14th and 15th February, 2020 at Rabindra Sadan, Kolkata. A short film of 35 minutes duration on Hemanta Mukhopadhyay will be screened there. A book named 'Neel Dhrubatara' (the blue northstar) on him will be published there in which complete list of his songs with valuable articles on him by eminent artists are the main attractions of this book. His rare photos also will be there in the book. Shubhajit and Kalyan Sarkar will play some classical based songs on sitar. Hemanta Mukhopadhyay will be remembered ever for his popular songs which will sing Srikanta Acharya and Jayati Chakraborty there at the function. The car used by him shall exhibit there for all. The two-days long programme will be inaugurated by Arati Mukhopadhyay and Soumitra Chattopadhyay. The function will start at 4:30 p.m. daily.