There is a twist to every tale. And to every historical event is linked a modern discovery. Present cannot exist without the past. But when way back in the 1960s, an ancient Bengali book printed in Kolkata, was located in the desert lands of Broken
Those sweet, sugary white strands with the perfectly geometrical round brown balls dashed into it --- one of the most exclusive sweets made in Colonial Bengal. Guess what? Sitabhog ofcourse. Speak of Burdwan and the plates of Mihidana and Sitabhog are to die for once
He has been one of the greatest scholars of Bengal -- a social reformer, educator, writer and philanthropist. But Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar will be more remembered as one of the greatest intellectuals and activists of the 19-century and the ‘Father of modern Bengali prose.’ He is
Durga Puja this year will be like no other, no matter what happens. This much is clear to all of us. However, for the women of Bhangor, in 24 Parganas (South) district, their basic purpose for performing the Puja remains the same as when they
The date was May 7, 1911. Rabindranath Tagore’s 50th birthday. The large Thakur family at Jorasanko decided to celebrate the occasion on a grand scale. A long list of invitees were drawn that included members of the extended family, friends and well-wishers. Elaborate arrangements were
‘My ornaments are fruits, my garments leaves, woven like cloth of gold and crimson dyed---’ may be the autumn Goddess bespoke of her own saaj, ornaments that happen to be every woman’s pride. Devi Durga in all her splendour, makes a grand entry, decked like
Edward VII, Victoria Memorial Entrance Gate Indranil Halder is an entrepreneur living in Australia who is enthusiastic about preserving the heritage of Bengal If you walk down the southwest corner of Dalhousie Square you will come across the beautifully sculpted statue of the Maharajah of Darbhanga, the
Devi Durga’s idol did not change much in form for over two centuries. This form was quintessentially Bengali in nature, known as ‘Bangla Chaler Thakur.’ Due to constrictions of religious scriptures, even today, ‘Bonedi barir pujo’ or the elite class households of Bengal worship this
The first time I met Sharbari Dutta, she was busy organising an exhibition of her clothes, and didn't have much time for a rookie reporter with little or no idea of the Indian fashion scene. But matters subsequently improved to the point where she called
He was a self-taught artist. Yet, he excelled in his art forms. Gaganendranath Tagore, Abanindranath’s brother, was one of the first modern painters of India, who brought in global art forms to Bengal. He was the first to learn Japanese brushwork from Kakuzo Okakura and