In Bengali families, it was once customary to compose verses for weddings. Surprising as it may sound, this tradition was very much alive even forty years ago. And it wasn’t limited to Kolkata alone—other districts practiced it too. On wedding evenings, when guests gathered, colorful printed copies in
In 1966, All India Radio transitioned Mahalaya from a live broadcast to a pre-recorded format
For Bengalis, Durga Puja is the greatest festival of all. We spend the entire year waiting eagerly for these five days. Boss’s scoldings, pending EMIs, even the upcoming board exams—everything feels tolerable only because of Puja. In the nineteenth century, Hutom in his sketches wrote: “Gradually, the days of
Bengal has always been a home for harmony
How about one of the largest festivals of Bengalis being used as a Swadeshi platform against the British. Though Durga Puja is held with great fanfare in Bengal over decades with competitions and various artistic nuances displayed along the streets of Kolkata and districts, before Independence, Durga Puja was
Ican still clearly recall how excited we were to finish the half-yearly exams. We were still buried in books, but the city outside was already bustling with preparations—pandals forming, hoardings rising. We would then rush home with excitement in our hearts as soon as the
In the scorching heat of summer, the dying Ajay River flows slowly, its banks covered in layers of white sand. Beneath the bright blue sky, a farmer rests under an unnamed tree standing at the corner of open paddy fields. A Toto hums past, breaking
It is often believed that when we dance or sing in front of God, our devotion directly connects to them. And dhunuchi nach is such an offering to Goddess Durga. It is a spiritual dance form and one of those timeless traditions that captures the spirit of
The leaders of pre-independent India showed how secular politics should be practiced. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose replaced ‘Vande Mataram’ to avoid religious biases, keeping harmony and strengthening the spirit of unity among all Indians. During pre-independence, Indians used to sing “Vande Mataram” for protests and political assemblies. Since the song
Devi Durga is not only a goddess, she encapsulates strength, compassion, and protection. She has existed in countless forms in the ages. She can appear fierce while taking the form of Maa Kali, or appear gentle while taking the form of Maa Chandi. She comes