“Mere marnay pe laakh royenge/ Mere ronay per kaun marta hai?” (Millions of people will cry after my death/ But who dies when I cry?) – (by Urdu poet Jaun Aelia) This aptly surmises Bollywood’s iconic film diva, Meena Kumari’s tragic life. But Meena Kumari was
Lakshmi baskets were once preserved in almost all households in Medinipur, Bankura, Hooghly and Purulia districts. The baskets were usually opened for worshipping Goddess Lakshmi and contained an idol of Lakshmi, mounted on a brass elephant along with separate idols of Narayan, Kartik and Ganesh
Crisp, orange and coiled, Jilipi of Bengal is anytime different from India’s Jalebi. Its unique and its taste is mesmerizing. The very process of making them is no less drool-worthy than the final product on the plate. The fascinating act of dolling out the bright
In the modern world, the boundaries between displacement and migration are blurred -- climate change that destroys livelihoods, environmental pollution, natural disasters, persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations as well as the widening gap between winners and losers of globalization. The global intent on closing
The Bhakti movement or the Vaishnava movement is known worldwide for its preachings of acceptance. Due to the rigidity and the exploitative nature of Brahmanism or the varna system, many people who belonged to the lower castes became influenced by the Bhakti movement and their
Apart from a variety of decorations on clay walls, there was a long prevailing practice in rural areas of Bengal of displaying paintings on walls. This form of folk art was introduced and have been taken primarily by rural population. Even today, folk paintings can
Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, the god-gifted singer who emerged as the pride of the entire nation, was not just another musician but creator of immortal tunes and melodies that still remain evergreen. Even today, we often debate about whether he was a better singer or a music
This is a story that began long, long time ago. In the south-eastern hilly regions of Chattogram (Chittagong) in Bangladesh flows Ruposhi aka Sangu (it means a conch shell), a fast-flowing river. The foamy stream rushes through the emerald-green valley and its gurgling shatters the
As the Queen of Fish reigns Bengali kitchens during monsoon, flooding the markets in abundance, a Dried Hilsa form is often ignored. But Nona Ilish has been an age-old form of the Hilsa that has been considered one of the most pricey fishes on either
Many tales have weaved a complex tapestry around the Jorasanko Thakurbari. The illustrious sons and daughters of the Bonedi Bari are no doubt well known, but the gourmet delights born within these walls are also popular. Currently, in a world where we are losing connection to our roots,