When the chants of Bharat Mata ki jai often floats around these days in political rallies, it is indeed curious to note that the very concept of Bharat Mata was born in this very Bengal during Partition of 1905. That was the year when the
Rural and once upon a time urban Bengal were well conversant with adda sessions, sitting together on a mat spread across the floor. These mats popularly known as madoor in Bengal are prepared from a special kind of reed grass, found in places like Sabang
The relationship between Bengal and terracotta has long been a special one. Beginning with mosques and temples, which were made of terracotta in the relative absence of other building materials, the use of burnt clay gradually spread to smaller artefacts and even articles of everyday
‘It is freedom when your spirit conjures up a vision from the inert, to illuminate its every line with the flame of your devotion. You have the magic of life’s touch in your eyes and your dream has come out in a creation in which
Kolkatans of a certain age and beyond will recall a large emporium at Exide crossing, filled to the brim with exciting merchandise ranging from food to exquisite handwoven saris to decorative items to home furnishings – with one common thread running through them – each
Goddess Kali has been conceptualized and expressed in myriad ways by artists. Songs of piety praising her various facets are galore in Bengal as do artistic expressions, depicting her divinity. It is difficult to zero in on when and how the worship of Goddess Kali
Her flowing black mane covers her nudity as she represents the Tantrik Shakti of the Universe. But have you ever wondered who crafts those curly hair of Goddess Kali? Parbatipur is a small village around 40 km away from the city centre of Howrah. It
A large number of British landscape artists started coming to Kolkata during the last quarter of 18th century with the increasing involvement and political dominance of East India Company in Indian affairs. Minimal financial prospects of landscape painters in Britain, the stories of easily-won fortunes
There's a beautiful piece of cloth adorning a wall in the living room of former US President Barack Obama, one that he himself chose to buy over several other works of art. Any Bengali who sees it will recognise it instantly as an example of
Weaving in India has a history of no less than 5,000 years. There was a time when the weavers’ hub in West Bengal --- Phulia, Habibpur, and Shantipur in Nadia district resonated with the monotonous sound of the rotating spindles and bobbins' heads successively knocking