Remember the award-winning French short film, Red Balloon by Albert Lamorisse, elegantly capturing the adventures of a boy who befriends a seemingly sentient balloon and follows it through the streets of Paris? The vast expanse of the sky has always been synonymous with freedom, fuelling
Professor Benoy Kumar Sarkar is a forgotten name today and very few of us remember this versatile and prolific author, who for 42 years of his life wrote and lectured to develop what was known in his own time as ‘Sarkarism.’ It was an attempt
“Ashwiner sharodo prate beje utheche aloko manjira”, all Bangalies are very close to this verse, where they find emotion and the traditional taste of the grand Durga Puja. Mahalaya brings alive the epic story of Mahishasur Mardini, depicting the victory of the Goddess over the
What started as a weaving phenomenon centuries ago in a small village called Baluchar in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal, has now turned into an experimental revolution with new techniques and new line of products introduced from Bengal’s heirlooms. If we were so long
Duckback is the original back-to-school gear
This is an era when West Bengal’s Malda was known as Gour Bangla. During the reign of Sultan Hussain, Chaitanya Dev also known as Gaurango came here. It was in Gaur that he preached the language of love to Roop and Sanatan. And it was this
When a historic 116-year-old heritage prison is transformed into a well-stocked and well-documented museum, then it turns into a paradise for history and heritage enthusiasts. Even for the common man, for students, professors and teachers. Unlike place to visit, after all a prison, but Alipore
Uttar (North) Dinajpur would probably not feature prominently on a list of Bengal’s most popular tourist destinations. But that trend is gradually turning, thanks to such attractions as the Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary. Popularly known as Kulik Bird Sanctuary because of the Kulik river running alongside it, this
When dark clouds gather over Kolkata and raindrops start dropping on the roads, the city’s appetite turns towards warmth, spice, and soul-soothing comfort food. Among the many monsoon favourites that grace Bengali kitchens, one dish stands out not just for its rich, creamy indulgence but also
Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a major freshwater weed found in lakes, rivers, and other water bodies across the globe. With high rates of regeneration, survival, and growth, it is generally difficult to clear water bodies infested with the weed. Water hyacinth forms dense colonies