Travelling in a local or long-distance train through the vicinity of Santiniketan in West Bengal’s Birbhum district, it is almost impossible to miss them, or their powerful, full-throated, high-pitched singing, which effortlessly overpowers the noise of the running train. Meet the ‘Bauls’ of Santiniketan, a
“Jamu na..amar borer er bhita chhaira ami jamuna..” (I will not leave my husband’s home and go)… The heart-wrenching scene of a woman clinging to the doors of her husband’s home, echoes the pain of many, whose lives were ravaged by the Partition of India.
Handloom textiles and crafts are an integral part of our country’s cultural heritage. Nowhere in the world can so many diverse weaving techniques be found together in one country. But the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in a sudden disruption of businesses across the globe and
The World Senior Citizen’s Day (WSCD) is celebrated every year on 21st of August to raise awareness about the issues that affect older adults and to support them throughout the ageing process. The day also recognizes and acknowledges the contributions of older people to the
The word ‘terracotta’ means baked earth. Simply put, it is what you get when clay is hard-baked, producing a strong, durable construction material that is also naturally resistant to mould and bacteria. And terracotta architecture is something you see in abundance in West Bengal, particularly
He lives in the shallow lakes of faraway North America but has landed up in a Bengal village almost 13,000 km away. No one knows how he arrived – at least he did not travel by air, but yes, he flew across the clouds and
Magnificent, strongly built pairs of cattle, yoked to ploughs, muscles rippling as they thunder and snort through the mud and slush of paddy fields, surrounded by a cheering, festive crowd. This is an average description of 'Moichhara', a time-honoured fertility ritual of rural Bengal, which
They have proved that even in times of an infectious pandemic, they haven’t given up the humanity, kindness and sense of service. Priyanka Mitra and Priyam Dutta have been rescuing abandoned and sick people from the roads when rest of the neighbourhood are shunning them
There are plenty of wonderful things to say about Delo (or Deolo), but the one that any traveller is likely to experience, almost immediately upon arrival, is Delo’s amazing ability to freshen you up. Don’t take our word for it, make the trip and feel
There’s a saying that good deeds should be done with an intention, not for attention because a good deed dies when it is spoken about. And Arup Mukherjee believes this adage and follows it religiously. A constable in Kolkata Police’s South Traffic Guard, Arup Mukherjee