The City of Joy attracts many to its charm and beauty, but many are also drawn by the unique names of the roads here. One would often come across roads like Lenin Sarani, Ho Chi Minh Sarani and so on. Not only revolutionary leaders, interestingly,
In this 3-part series, GB brings a fascinating tale of Rabindranath Tagore’s ancestors, the Pirali Brahmins and how they descended from a converted Muslim of Jessore Hazrat Khan Jahān `Alī, also known as Ulugh Khan and Khan-i-Azam, was a noble under the Tughlaqs, who probably came
Ananda Ashram Balika Vidyapeeth Among the modern Indian religious reformers, Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) was empathetic towards women’s oppression and worked tirelessly for their emancipation. He identified ignorance among women was the main hindrance for the salvation of the country and stressed on the importance of education for
Srijani Shilpagram, Santiniketan, Bolpur Tucked cosily in Bolpur, opposite Prakriti Bhavan, lies Srijani Shilpagram, the hub of Bengal’s art and culture. Despite not being a village in and of itself, it may be referred to as the gramme or griho of Bengal's art and culture. The location is
Should we call it soul food? Comfort food? Or just an easy recipe to soothe you down when you catch a cold? In whichever way one defines this mixture of rice and lentils, Bengal’s khichuri is one of the most delicious dishes of the world. So much
Among the European artists who have depicted Kolkata, Baltazard Solvyns is one of the few to portray Indians, mostly Hindus in their life and work. Born in Antwerp in 1760, Solvyns had pursued a career principally as a marine painter until political unrest in Europe
The rituals and offerings date back to late 19th century in the village of Keshiyari, District Medinipur , West Bengal, India.There is an interesting story about how this puja got started. On a summer evening, the Zaminder (landlord) of Keshiyari village, Mr. Padmolochon Dutta, was on his
It is that sacred time of year when Lord Jagannath, the beloved deity of Puri, leaves his sanctum and embarks on his annual journey to his aunt’s abode. Accompanied by his divine siblings—Subhadra and Balabhadra—he ascends his grand chariot, greeted by oceans of devotees who pull
Boroli fish, also known as 'Ilish (Hilsa) of Teesta' Bengalis and their love for fish need no introduction. Fish is not just a delicious addition to daily food but an integral part of many of the rituals and celebrations too. They are even revered, worshipped
The sweet-makers of Bengal’s villages are no less than Nobel-winning scientists when it comes to their craft. Take boondi, for example, a sweet whose name comes from the Sanskrit word Binduka, meaning tiny drops. Normally, we consider it a bright mix of red and yellow. But Bengali sweet-makers