Bengali Culture And Lifestyle is all about the culturescape of Bengal as well as Kolkata – the city with many heritage architectures, sites and lifestyle practices that have become icons over the years. Along with the colonial buildings, there are different heritage sites like century-old sweet shops and eateries, parks, theatres, serpentine lanes as well as unique lifestyle and cultural practices like Adda and music which have become synonymous with the characteristics of the Kolkatan Bengalis around the world.
In this section, we will write and introspect about this rich heritage which is instrumental in shaping our opinions and thought processes. Bengali Culture & Lifestyle section will share with you the history of the heritage places in Bengal, the personalities whose ideologies inspire us until today, our art and music, the books and films that touch our souls. And also some parenting tips and experiences.
What first rings your mind and tickles your nose when you think about winter in Bengal? For us, it’s a plethora of feelings, which start as the annual Kalipujo time tiptoes in. The air gets heavily laden with the smell of the Chhatim or Saptaparni flowers. And, of course, there’s a nip in the air, so the cotton head scarves come out as a protectional … Continue reading Harbingers of Winter for the Bengalis (Winter in Bengal)
Many of us might recall from our childhood how our mothers, aunts and grandmothers would read aloud the Itu Pujo broto katha (mythological stories in Bengali on different rituals) of the two sisters Umno and Jhumno. And their ordeal after they were sent to a jungle by their angry father because they ate his share of Pitheys (rice cakes). To get back home, the two … Continue reading Itu Pujo, Nabanna and worshipping Sun – the goddess of fertility
Though the ‘Make in India’ campaign happened to be initiated around eight years ago, its roots dig deep into the pre-independence era when a fire of passion for Swadeshi companies swept past entire India. Making and using Swadeshi products was thought to be the fitting reply to the British dominance where the Sun had never set. There can be long-drawn arguments on the exact impact … Continue reading Pre-independence Bengali Swadeshi Companies, still in business
With the overwhelming appreciation from our readers for the first part of Quick Tiffin Box recipes, we decided to come up with part 2 – The Instant Tiffin Box Recipes. We had asked for tiffin recipe suggestions from our readers and friends and they had showered with loads of them. So, unfortunately, we can’t share all, just a few selected ones that we felt were … Continue reading 6 More Instant Tiffin Box Recipes
From Sunday to Thursday, every night, most of the moms go to bed with the same thought – Which food to pack in the tiffin box tomorrow? The sole conditions are the food should be healthy, tasty, easy to consume, compact and can be prepared at the speed of lightning! Unfortunately, the two years of lockdown have put us out of the habit of preparing … Continue reading Quick Tiffin Box Recipes
A beautifully written article by Edaan Ghosh. It’ll encourage you to study more about this lesser-known Children’s Writer – Subhadra Sengupta. By the end of the article, you might end up adding some of her books to your Amazon cart. Subhadra Sengupta was an Indian writer based in Delhi. She was born in June 1959 and had a master’s degree in history. She was the … Continue reading Tribute to lesser-known Children’s Writer – Subhadra Sengupta
Ruskin Bond books are timeless and the best picks during this time of disharmony when our minds yearn to be free from stress. Our Guest blogger, Ekta Kubba, an ardent Ruskin Bond fan, has shared some of the best books of Ruskin Bond. The digital world and progressions in technology have altered the way of life. Undoubtedly, it has made students’ life more competitive and … Continue reading Ruskin Bond Books for School Going Children
To us Bengalis, childhood is never complete without the healthy doses of Tuntunir Golpo, Abol Tabol’s verses and the Gupi Gyne Bagha Byne trilogy. And all these evergreen creations are from the same family – the illustrious Ray (Chowdhury) family of 100 A Gorpar Road! Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury created the unforgettable, cute, naughty bird Tuntuni. Through Abol Tabol, his son Sukumar Ray built improbable scenarios, … Continue reading Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury – the renaissance man who understood Bengali children
Christmas is always celebrated in Kolkata with splendour and joy. A drop in mercury with a chilly breeze indicates that Christmas is in the air and it’s time for some rock and roll with a platter of multi-cuisine delicacies followed by some rich fruit cake as dessert. Park Street, Kolkata, with tons of famous restaurants, cafes, pubs, hawkers, becomes the central hub during Christmas. While … Continue reading The Grand Christmas Carnival At Park Street
Good school manners are something that children imbibe from their teachers, friends and peers. And it these manners stay with them for their lifetime – they become their lives’ building blocks. We always want to give the best to our children, but being a parent is not an easy job. Amidst this Covid-19 pandemic, we have noticed that our kids are becoming stubborn and rigid, … Continue reading SIGNIFICANCE OF GOOD SCHOOL MANNERS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CHILD
