In the olden times, mats were an integral part of the social fabric of Bengal, and Madurkathi mats were used to sit on and as bedding. These mats are non-conductive and sweat-absorbing, making them an essential household item in West Bengal’s hot and humid climate. These mats
Ranjini Guha is an academician and passionate food blogger It was during a walk in the busy Dalhousie area with a friend amidst the din and cacophony of tired people returning home I heard my friend inquiring about Phalsa with a fruit seller. The name Phalsa reminded me
During a period when society did not readily accept women in the job, when working in the film industry was considered an impossible career for women, in that era, Devika Rani played the role of a trailblazer. She chose a way that few others dared
Representative image An ancient handwritten manuscript with multi-coloured pictures of Tulsidas’ Ramayana Ramcharit Manas, owned by the royal family of Mahisadal under Tamluk subdivision of Midnapore district has become an interesting subject of discussion among the art historians of today. The language of the manuscript is close to the Abadi
The sun may have set on his stardom long back, but the 84-year-old Biswajit Chatterjee is still remembered for the effervescent, romantic roles he played in both Tollywood and Bollywood during 1960s. Old timers can vividly recollect Biswajit’s acting prowess as the sweet chocolate- boy
It is our misfortune that most people in India as well as abroad know Satyajit Ray almost exclusively as a brilliant world-class filmmaker. There are others who are a little more aware of the maestro’s multi-faceted talents and know him not only as a master film director
Rabindrasangeet has a universal appeal and is not an exclusive domain for Bengalis. Tagore’s compositions have reached all corners of the world and have been widely accepted as a specific genre of world music. People have been attracted to his music despite their inability
Asoft glow illuminates the pristine sky as dusk descends, interrupted only by the non-stop chirping of birds returning to their nests. A pall of gloom sets in gradually. Nestled amid huge evergreen trees, a magnificent two-storied worn-out tin-shed ‘castle,’ raises its head proudly. The architectural
That gooey and sugary yellow swan or the pink tomb that stood atop a puja prasad in our childhood days, often attracted children and their taste buds more than the humble batasha did. So were the pristine white Kadma, that needed a really strong tooth
Somnath Kutty is the son of respected Bharatnatyam and Mohiattam maestro, Thankamani Kutty. At present, Somnath is associated with the Kalamandalam, Kolkata. It all began in the year 1954 when the little Thankamani (meaning Lakshmi in the native language) happened to watch a dance programme of