Handloom weaving is an ancient practice that has existed for thousands of years. Artefacts like spindles discovered at the Indus Valley Civilisation in India are suggestive of the practice. Every dynasty contributed to the distinctive styles and techniques that helped the craft develop. The art of
Many things are deeply associated with Purba Bardhaman district, and among them, the folk theatre tradition is undeniably renowned and popular. Folk theatre was once very popular all over Bardhaman, but it has dramatically declined in recent years. In this near-extinct condition, two forms of folk theatre are still found
OThere is a strange kind of sieve of acceptance and rejection within the world of theatre. According to me, "Bengali theatre," means the people associated with theatre in Bengal. Bijon Bhattacharya has been respectfully set aside, kept outside our familiar and practiced circles. The one
There are singers, great singers and then there is Kishore Kumar, God’s gift to mankind. An unschooled singer who had no classical training, Kishore Kumar was a genius, a master of all trades — be it his mellifluous, deep baritone voice that could breathe life into
Is Tollygunge just a bustling neighbourhood? Well, even if it is one today, there was a time when it was the name of a long road stretch covered with dense forest land called Russapugla with an abundance of mangrove vegetation. This was until the British
“Elephants belonged in their stables, horses in theirs” – that is how royal palaces are often described in Bengali folktales, right? Or even in mythological stories, the king of the gods, Indra, rides a mighty elephant named Airavata. Again, just before the festival season, the divine
Whenever we think of premium chocolate, Belgium comes to mind—the world’s top-tier confectionery hub. The largest exporters of cocoa beans to Belgium are Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, and Ecuador. In Asia, the top chocolate producer is Malaysia. But many do not know that India produces
On July 4, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) celebrated the birthday of the iconic Toy Train. Now in its 144th year, the Toy Train was honoured with a special celebration for the first time at Sukna Railway Station. This event, called ‘Toy Train Day,’ was organised jointly by
In Satyajit Ray's Nayak, Arindam, played by Uttam Kumar, said, “Shankar-da used to say that unless there is a dramatic backdrop, an ornate frame, and those wide, glazed eyes, true devotion doesn’t quite arise.” And indeed, when we think of Durga, we remember the grand
