Bengali Lifestyle Archives - KolkataFusion https://kolkatafusion.com/category/bengali-culture-and-lifestyle/bengali-lifestyle/ Bangalir Adda Zone Thu, 22 Dec 2022 06:32:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.5 https://kolkatafusion.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/favicon.ico Bengali Lifestyle Archives - KolkataFusion https://kolkatafusion.com/category/bengali-culture-and-lifestyle/bengali-lifestyle/ 32 32 176560891 Harbingers of Winter for the Bengalis (Winter in Bengal) https://kolkatafusion.com/harbingers-of-winter-in-bengal/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=harbingers-of-winter-in-bengal https://kolkatafusion.com/harbingers-of-winter-in-bengal/#respond Thu, 22 Dec 2022 05:30:00 +0000 https://kolkatafusion.com/?p=4337 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 …

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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 accessory during the Kali Pujo pandal hoppings and lighting firecrackers. Then there’s the unmistakably sweet yet heady scent of the Chhatim flowers forming a canopy over us around this time.

Chhatim flowers bring in the Winter in Bengal
Chhatim flowers bring in the Winter in Bengal

The evenings during Winter in Bengal

Chhatims don’t come alone. They invite the Shyama Pokas (green leaf hoppers) as well. So the army of Shyama Poka swarms each evening following various illuminating lamps, causing hindrances like itching or disturbing our tiny moments of peace during tea or Adda. But this used to add charm during our evening study time, and the same charm reflects today in the kids as we, now the parents, struggle to make them focus on their books. And why won’t it? After all, the primary combating technique involves switching off the lights for an hour or so!

However, the enticing charm of winter gets sided by the exam pressure, which has been scheduled during these precious months for ages.

Winter Vegetables

Winter in Bengal is the time when we comfort our eyes by visualizing the fresh green seasonal vegetables like Cabbages, Cauliflowers, French Beans, Peas, Spinach, Radish and Radish greens and so on. Although the long, red carrots are the late entrants. Ahh! Goodbye Bhindis and Potols, till the summer comes! It’s the best season for the gourmets when they can savour various cuisines.

Winter Vegetables available in Bengal
Winter Vegetables available in Bengal

While the vegetables get ready to fill our platters, fruits also do not take a seat back. Winter noon and oranges are unbeatable partners. The very smell of oranges in the fruit shops reminds us of the warm winter noons spent with syllabus books before exams & with story books after exams.

Comes out the Warm Clothes

The warm clothes are taken out from their coffins, smelling heavily of naphthalene balls and spread under the sun for a few hours. It’s still some time for the cold to set in, but Bengalis are always prepared with their sweaters, mufflers and monkey caps. But, alas! The monkey caps have yielded their place to balaclavas these days. The ‘image conscious’ Bengalis find them cooler than their predecessors.

The Best Time for Picnics & Sports

The other thing that winter in Bengal is very famous for is Picnics, which are now commonly known as day outings. Be it a school picnic, or parar picninc, the enthusiasm starts from the onset of winter and continues until the D-day arrived. The planning includes gathering friends, collecting money, deciding the venue, and what not! Nowadays, while picnics are not so common, one thing that continues is Sports Day & various other tournaments in different nooks and corners of Kolkata.

Picnics - a very important harbinger of winter in Bengal
Picnics – a very important harbinger of winter in Bengal

Along with these things, another sight had also stayed the same in the case of Bengali winter. That’s the sights of young boys and girls playing badminton inside the parks, corners of the roads, narrow bylanes – almost all over where it’s possible to squeeze in two players, two racquets, a badminton net and a shuttle cork.

And the Dryness of Winter in Bengal

Winter comes with the banes of chapped lips, dried skins, cracked heels and chilblains. Whatever may the skin problem be during the winter, the Bengalis always have one solution – the dark green, humble-looking tube of the Borolin ointment. We guess, almost all the Bongs will swear by Borolin as their one-stop winter skin problem solution and the unforgettable nostalgic aroma of the Lanolin, the principle ingredient used in making Borolin.

Come what may, it seems, these familiar harbingers of Bengali winter will always remain the same. The chhatims, the amateur badminton players, the ritual of sun warming the winter clothes, blankets and quilts, the Borolin, oranges – every single thing, for, the Bengalis, thrive over the nostalgia painted by these Winter Harbingers.

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Itu Pujo, Nabanna and worshipping Sun – the goddess of fertility https://kolkatafusion.com/itu-pujo-nabanna-and-worshipping-sun-the-goddess-of-fertility/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=itu-pujo-nabanna-and-worshipping-sun-the-goddess-of-fertility https://kolkatafusion.com/itu-pujo-nabanna-and-worshipping-sun-the-goddess-of-fertility/#respond Wed, 14 Dec 2022 15:54:57 +0000 https://kolkatafusion.com/?p=4316 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 …

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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 sisters Umno and Jhumno performed the Itu Pujo as taught by them by the other worshippers in a village near the jungle.

It’s the last Sunday or the last day of Agrahayan (Bengali month falling between November and December) when the womenfolk perform the Itu Pujo in Bengali households. The ritual perfectly intermingles with the mild winter and the heavenly smell of the Payesh (a type of rice pudding sans the egg) of newly harvested jaggery and Gobindobhog Atop rice (perfumed short grain rice locally grown in Bengal) from the kitchens.

The auspicious pitcher of Itu Pujo which is worshipped by the devotees. P.C: eisamay.com

The Itu Pujo is a unique Bengali ritual, along with different Shosthis and Bhaiphota, which does not need a Brahmin priest to perform. Instead, the Bengali women, primarily married women, take the initiative to carry the annual Itu Pujo in their respective households. Though the women performs the Itu Pujo ritual, the mantras or the recited hymns ask about Itu’s blessing for their fathers’ and their brothers’ prosperity signifying the prevalence of patriarchy since the old times.

The other thing that this ritual is quintessentially connected with is its famous prasad (offering), Nabanna-  prepared with new fruits and newly harvested ingredients. Before exploring Nabanna, let us understand the essential Itu Pujo ritual and its meaning.

Itu Pujo Ritual:

The word ‘Itu’ comes from ‘Mitu’ or ‘Mitra’, meaning Sun. The Bengali womenfolk worship Itu as the goddess of fertility, representing an incarnation of the Sun. A ritualistic ‘Ghot’ or Pot is placed in an auspicious corner of the house along with different herbs and leafy vegetables like Water Spinach, Mustard greens, and other grain seeds like sesame, barley, paddy etc.

Itu Pujo heralds the time for the harvest of a few crops and the time when short-term crops are sown which would be harvested during Spring or Makar Sankranti. Bengal is endowed with the natural gifts of fertile land and rivers, which results in quite a few sowing and harvesting seasons in a year. Itu Pujo is one ritual where nature is thanked for its natural resources.

The Itu Pujo was initially meant for the preservation of the seeds of the winter crops that would be harvested in the month of Poush (December-January). Before the Pujo starts, an earth-filled bowl and a pot of water is kept along with other household god idols. Earth and Water, both stands important for the cultivation activity.

If we take a look on the Itu Pujo mantras, we can find how almost all the prayers are asking for bountiful agricultural crops and prosperous home.

Itu Pujo Mantra:

“Oshto Chaal, Oshto Durba, Kalashpatra Thuye

Itur Katha shobey pran ekmon hoye

Itu den bor

Dhono-dhanye putre-poutre baruk sansar………….”

(We place 8 grains of rice, 8 grass strands on the auspicious water pot and listen about the Itu Goddess. Itu blesses us with a promise of prosperous family.)

Preparation of Nabanna Prasad

Nabanna is a food prepared as the principal offering on the last Sunday of the Itu Pujo. First, the newly harvested Gobindobhog Atop rice is soaked for some time and then grounded coarsely. The pasted rice is then mixed with milk which serves as the base. Next, Notun gur or freshly harvested date palm jaggery is added as a sweetener to the base. Later, all the available fruits like apples, bananas, sugarcane, orange, pear and other dry fruits are chopped and mixed with the rice-milk-jaggery base to be served as Nabanna.

Nabanna P.C: YouTube

The above preparation details were shared to us by Rakhi Roy Basu, Parna’s sister-in-law. Itu Pujo was performed in her ancestral maternal home during her childhood. As she shared about the Nabanna preparation, she could vividly describe the same taste from her childhood. She described the beautiful aroma of the freshly pounded rice blending well with that of the cut fruits and the new date palm jaggery filling their senses before it fulfilled their appetites.

Significance of Itu Pujo in the Bengali culture

If Saraswati Pujo ushers in the Spring for us Bengalis, Itu Pujo welcomes the winter. Though the latter is not as famous as the former one, it celebrates the nip in the air, the tastes and smells that define the winter of the Bengali countryside which culminates with the Poush Sankranti’s Pithey Parbon. As the days go by, the ritual might also get drowned in the sands of time, but, the celebration of the advent of winter with Nabanna seasoned with Notun gur will keep continuing in some forgotten corners of a few Bengal villages.

(Recommended Read: Joydev Kendulir Mela – The fair that celebrates humanity and music)

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Pre-independence Bengali Swadeshi Companies, still in business https://kolkatafusion.com/pre-independence-bengali-swadeshi-companies-still-in-business/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pre-independence-bengali-swadeshi-companies-still-in-business https://kolkatafusion.com/pre-independence-bengali-swadeshi-companies-still-in-business/#comments Fri, 12 Aug 2022 05:36:00 +0000 https://kolkatafusion.com/?p=4275 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 …

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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 of the Indian Swadeshi products on the then-British economy. Still, there’s no doubt that those Swadeshi companies laid the foundation of the Indian economy after the independence. Amidst the now liberal economy where global companies are showing up in India every other day, quite a few of those old Bengali Swadeshi Companies are still present in oblivion, still delivering, still profiting.

In this article, as we observe the 76th Independence Day of India, we will take a step back and dig into the Bengali Swadeshi companies. People with different backgrounds started these companies in Kolkata during the British era. Some are common household names, but we never consider when they started or by whom.

Swadeshi Companies Started in West Bengal

1.     Bengal Chemicals

Prafulla Chandra Ray, the father of chemical science in India, established Bengal Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (BCPL), formerly Bengal Chemical & Pharmaceutical Works Ltd. (BCPW), in 1901. The Indian Government now owns it. The story of this company started from a rented house in Kolkata to nurture the entrepreneurial spirit among the Bengali youth. Now it has three divisions – Industry Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals & Home Products.

Bengal Chemicals Factory Kolkata- Swadeshi Company
Bengal Chemicals – Swadeshi Company – P.C: Wikimedia Commons

Our regular products like naphthalene balls  & pheneol are some of the products of this brand.

2.     Boroline

Starting from chapped lips to burns & cuts, Boroline has been a one-tube solution for ages. It comes in a green tube with an elephant logo and can be found in most Bengali households from the onset of winter, if not throughout the year. In rural India, it’s also known as the “hatiwala cream”. But who started it? When the Swadeshi movement was at its peak, a Bengali merchant name Gourmohan Dutta launched the product. Today it also owns products like Suthol, Penorub & Eleen. To know more about Boroline and your nostalgia for the product, read our article The World of Boroline.

Boroline
Boroline -P.C: Wikimedia Commons

3.     Sulekha

In Bengali, Su-means good & lekha-means writing. Thus, giving the true meaning to Sulekha, the ink pot – good writing. Just pause, and think of your childhood – when you were first introduced to a pen, it was a fountain pen, not a ball pen. And that ink pen’s partner was no one other than the trusted Sulekha inkpot.

Another by-product of the Swadeshi movement –Sankaracharyya and Nani Gopal Maitra, both freedom fighters, started Sulekha in 1934 in the Rajshahi district. Sulekha suffered when people started choosing ballpoint pens over fountain pens, but now with a renewed interest in owning and writing in fountain pens, Sulekha has made a grand comeback.

Sulekha
Sulekha -P.C: Anandabazar

Grab a Parker Fountain Pen at a discounted rate.

4.     Calcutta Chemicals Company

Remember the Neem soap Margo & the dark red packaging of the perfumed Aramusk soap? These, along with Chek Detergent & Lavender Dew Powder, are from the house of Calcutta Chemicals. On 28th September 1916, K.C. Das, B.N. Maitra, and R.N. Sen started the Calcutta Chemicals Company as a pharmaceutical company. It was to make a mark against the British products and encourage the feeling of Indianization among the masses.

Margo Soap
Margo Soap- P.C.: Dainik Jagran

5.     C K Sen and Co. Pvt Ltd

The lineage of C K Sen and Co Pvt Ltd goes back to the time of Vaidyas (practitioners of traditional Ayurvedic medicines) when cosmetics didn’t need a special mention of “organic”. They were mostly “trees tales”, without the touch of commercialisation. Chandra Kanta Sen (C.K. Sen), who started this company in 1913, was from one such family of eminent ‘Vaidyas’. His business acumen motivated him to take the family knowledge to ordinary men. He started with Jabakusum hair oil and added other products like Basanta Malati lotion. The products are still available in the market, and the quality is just the same.

Basant Malati
Basant Malati – P.C.: Zubacorp

To know more, click here.

6.     K.C Das Pvt. Ltd.

Krishna Chandra Das, son of Nobin Chandra Das, who invented Roshogolla, started ‘Krishna Chandra Das Confectioner’ in 1930. He was the first sweet maker who pioneered making canned desserts in India in the pre-independence days. He invented Roshomalai and started selling Roshomalai and Roshogolla in vacuum-packed containers extending their shelf lives.

Craving for rosogollas already? Order from Amazon

k c das rasgulla - Swadeshi Companies
k c das rasgulla – P.C.: Amazon

Presently, the K.C Das Pvt. Ltd. Is known as K.C Das Grandsons and is regarded as one of the front runners of the Bengali Sweet making industry.

To Conclude

Swadeshi was not just a revolutionary movement; it was an emotion. As we get swayed by the aura of globalisation, at times, we must pause to contemplate the challenging journey of the Bengali Swadeshi Companies and the grit that helped them run their businesses for centuries. And which other time could be better than our Independence Day? If you know of some other products, share them in the comments box.

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HALLOWEEN AND BHOOT CHATURDASHI: CELEBRATION OF THE TWO MYSTIFYING EVENT https://kolkatafusion.com/halloween-and-bhoot-chaturdashi-celebration-of-the-two-mystifying-event/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=halloween-and-bhoot-chaturdashi-celebration-of-the-two-mystifying-event https://kolkatafusion.com/halloween-and-bhoot-chaturdashi-celebration-of-the-two-mystifying-event/#respond Thu, 04 Nov 2021 13:45:00 +0000 http://kolkatafusion.com/?p=4110 We live in different countries, celebrate various festivals with other names, but a thin thread attaches all these festivals. Halloween & Bhoot Chaturdashi is one of these festivals, celebrated so differently yet so similar to each other. Let’s see how…. Most of the Western world countries are marked by the arrival of Halloween. And its relationship with the world of the dead at the end …

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We live in different countries, celebrate various festivals with other names, but a thin thread attaches all these festivals. Halloween & Bhoot Chaturdashi is one of these festivals, celebrated so differently yet so similar to each other.

Let’s see how….

Most of the Western world countries are marked by the arrival of Halloween. And its relationship with the world of the dead at the end of October.

During the same time of the year, a part of India, especially West Bengal, pays respect to their forefathers by performing the ritual of Bhoot Chaturdashi. And marking the victory of light over darkness.

STORY BEHIND THE SPOOKY HALLOWEEN

Halloween is one of the most renowned occasions throughout the world. Observed on the last day of October, this ritual had its root from the primitive Celtic festival of Samhain celebrated in Ireland. It was marked by the end of summer and crop harvesting season. And the commencement of the gloomy and cold winter season, which witnessed many human deaths.

Celts had a belief that on the night of October 31, the border between the living and the dead world became faint, and the ghosts returned to the earth.

Primarily celebrated in Western countries, Halloween is nowadays marked by funny and weird activities like trick-or-treating, carving Jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, dressed up in ghostly Halloween costumes and eating treats.

Orange is the significant color of Halloween. It’s also the fall color as well as the changing color of trees. Before the onset of the gloomy winter, it’s probably the last event celebrated in dazzling colors. 

So, what does bhoot chaturdashi have to do with Halloween?

SIGNIFICANCE OF  BHOOT CHATURDASHI

Hindus, especially the Bengalis of West Bengal celebrate Bhoot Chaturdashi or Narak Chaturdashi in the month of autumn. According to the Saka era calendar, the custom is performed on the 14th day of Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Kartik, on the eve of Kali Puja. 

The Bengalis believe that, on this day, the boundary between the material and the spiritual world fades off. And the ghosts and spirits, particularly their forefathers, wander the living world. As we believe the wicked power is stronger on the night of Bhoot Chaturdashi, we conduct rituals to forbid these evil forces.

The Bengalis light 14 earthen lamps or candles at their doors to welcome the spirits of 14 generations of their forefathers (Choddo Purush)  and wave off evil spirits. We lit up every dark corner of the house with lamps or candles. We also have a ritual to eat 14 different kinds of leafy greens (Choddo Shaak) cooked together.

On both the days of Kali Puja and Bhoot Chaturdashi, people worship Goddess Kali, to keep their family and kids safe from the evil forces.

Read: Unveiling Durga Puja in Kolkata

SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE TWO EVENTS

Although Halloween is a western concept and Bhoot Chaturdashi is totally an Indian concept, they are pretty similar to each other despite their diversities.

Both have evolved a long time ago and highlighted living beings’ never-ending interest in life after death. On the night of Halloween, the mischievous forces are dominant in the living world. Similarly, there is a notion that the last 14 forefathers of a family visit their relatives on Bhoot Chaturdashi.

We practice both the rituals in the autumn season when the days are shorter and the nights are long. People harvest crops, marking the arrival of a foggy and chilly winter season.

There is also a similar custom of using vegetables and consuming them at the end of the fest. While a variety of pumpkin dishes follows Jack-o-lanterns, Bhoot Chaturdashi has 14 different types of leafy greens cooked together.

THEY DIFFER FROM EACH OTHER

For Obvious Reasons

Due to the difference in cultural backgrounds, the celebrations are quite different from each other.

On Bhoot Chaturdashi, we illuminate our houses with lamps or candles. Whereas, in the West, they hang lanterns, mostly made by cutting pumpkins around the house on Halloween.

Unlike Halloween in western countries, marked by Jack-o-Lanterns, get-togethers and trick-or-treating in ghostly costumes, we perform the rituals of Bhoot Chaturdashi through various traditional activities, followed by scary ghost stories.

But irrespective of any political and international boundaries, the celebration of both Halloween and Bhoot Chaturdashi unquestionably brings human minds closer to each other, which is undoubtedly the prime aspiration of any festival.

Read: The legacy of the Bengali Agomoni Songs

Image Courtsey: Souptima Basu

 

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My Freedom https://kolkatafusion.com/my-freedom/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=my-freedom https://kolkatafusion.com/my-freedom/#respond Sun, 15 Aug 2021 05:25:00 +0000 http://kolkatafusion.com/?p=4052 Diptanu Chakraborty India is celebrating 75th Independence Day this year. We, the KolkataFusion team are honoured to present to you a poem by our Guest blogger, Diptanu Chakraborty. The kid has not only understood the meaning of freedom but has beautifully put it in words. COVID-19 has put shackles on our freedom and we are dying to go out. How the country must have felt …

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Diptanu Chakraborty

India is celebrating 75th Independence Day this year. We, the KolkataFusion team are honoured to present to you a poem by our Guest blogger, Diptanu Chakraborty. The kid has not only understood the meaning of freedom but has beautifully put it in words. COVID-19 has put shackles on our freedom and we are dying to go out. How the country must have felt when it was under the restrictions of foreigners?

Related Read: Role played by Bengal in the Indian Independence Movement (Part 1) – Rise of British Paramountcy in Bengal

When I can enjoy freedom

I have no need of staying home.

I get to go outside, get to have fun

Until the day is done.

Covid has made my life worse

My freedom has gone, what a loss !!

The wind runs merrily,

Pulls along the old clouds crookedly.

The streams surf speedily,

The birds chirp splendidly.

They are all enjoying freedom,

But I am missing out, in boredom.

Chained Feet Bondage Stopping Freedom

P.C. Max Pixel

If this is how I feel now

I wonder what pain people felt somehow

200 years of sadness and captivity

The freedom fighters fought for eternity

Related Read: Role played by Bengal in the Indian Independence Movement (Part 2) – The Struggle Begins

Freedom Fighters of India

P.C.: MyGov Blog

Some got killed, yet fought bravely

Mothers, fathers, people mournedP sadly

Our heroes are no more

But still their souls live in us

We need to be in peace and not make fuss.

Read Next: Role played by Bengal in the Indian Independence Movement (Part 3) – Rise of Political Awakening in Bengal

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Making Yourself Up With Some Useful Makeup Tips https://kolkatafusion.com/making-yourself-up-with-some-useful-makeup-tips/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=making-yourself-up-with-some-useful-makeup-tips https://kolkatafusion.com/making-yourself-up-with-some-useful-makeup-tips/#respond Sat, 29 May 2021 06:22:00 +0000 http://kolkatafusion.com/?p=3923 That’s one of the things I love about makeup. You can change your whole attitude by just doing your eyeliner or lipstick differently. – Beyonce During this pandemic time, a bit of makeup might lift up your mood and give you that right attitude to face the daily hurdles. Our guest blogger, Madhuparna Kar has shared some simple and useful makeup tips, and her journey …

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That’s one of the things I love about makeup. You can change your whole attitude by just doing your eyeliner or lipstick differently.

– Beyonce

During this pandemic time, a bit of makeup might lift up your mood and give you that right attitude to face the daily hurdles. Our guest blogger, Madhuparna Kar has shared some simple and useful makeup tips, and her journey into this world of beauty.

Madhuparna Kar Makeup Tips
Madhuparna Kar

Am I beauty obsessed?

I first became aware of my passion for skincare when I developed severe dull skin during my postpartum.

Back then, the maternity leave was just 3 months; so, the thought of showing that face to work gave me nightmares.

I started researching the Internet. I read about a zillion articles on the web about skincare and then followed the routine which suited me.

This fixed my skin within six weeks’ time! I was so inspired by the impact and positive change in my life that I decided on never taking my skin for granted.

That’s how I became what I am today – a beauty obsessed!

Makeup came way later into my life. I mean, I never was aloof to the art of making myself attractive. I knew the basic functionalities of a kajal, eyeliner, foundation, compact, and a bit of eyeshadow too back in my college days. But that was it! High-end and drugstore products, contouring, highlighting, baking, cut crease, or kabuki brushes- these terms were alien to me.

While skincare is more important in the long run, that does not mean we should consider makeup our enemy.

Makeup can do so much for you and the best part is that it comes off at the end of the day and you can experiment with so many things every day.

Read More: Fitness Starts With I

Madhuparna Kar our Fashion Blogger

Simple Makeup Tips

Have dark circles or redness you want to cover up? Color correctors are your BFFs.

Have blemishes or scars? Concealer will save the day.

Have enlarged pores and fine lines? A primer will fill it all and make a smooth base.

Have uneven skin? A foundation will take care of it all.

Need to chisel out your face? Contour it out.

Want to look lit from within? Highlighter! and the list is never-ending.

Just remember that the main principle behind makeup is to enhance what we already have: natural beauty.

Makeup is not a mask to hide behind. It is just a smart way to cover some imperfections.

And that is how the fine lines between skincare and makeup began to blur. Even the beauty industry is now infusing skincare with makeup, offering the best of both worlds.

In the end, I would say the choice for makeup is yours. Good skin is the key to great-looking makeup. Even if your skin is perfect most of the time, there may be breakouts now and then and makeup can be a quick fix.

Simple Makeup Tips from Madhuparna Kar

My Go to Brands

I personally am not a high-end brand person. Come on let’s face it, I am no Beyonce!! So, I try to pick products that are pocket friendly and still do the job right. Here is a list of my goto products which I use.

Concealer and correctors

The perfect destination:  L.A Girl PRO. Conceal concealers/correctors. I am totally bowled over by its performance. In terms of coverage, shade selection and of course money, this one clearly is a winner!

Price:  Around Rs 600 for 8g

Buy the L.A Girl PRO Conceal online.

Primer: Lakme Absolute Blur Perfect Makeup Primer

A perfecting primer that instantly blurs imperfections and reduces the appearance of pores for up to eight hours.

Price:  Around Rs 700 for 30g

Buy Lakme Absolute Blur Perfect Makeup Primer online.

Foundation: Maybelline New York Super Stay Full Coverage Foundation

Nothing is as perfect as this. Been my bestie for years now. A vast range of shades to choose from.

Price – Rs 750 for 30ml

Buy Maybelline New York Super Stay Full Coverage Foundation online.

Highlighter: Maybelline New York Face Studio Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter

Absolutely nothing comes close to this. And the glow it gives is legit.

Price – Rs 550

Buy online the Maybelline New York Face Studio Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter.

Contour: Kay Beauty Contour Stick

This one was tricky. I was searching for a contour stick to suit my wheatish complexion but failed to find one. And then I bumped into this holy product. It melts in the skin like butter. The pigmentation is just perfect.

Price – Rs 600

Buy online the Kay Beauty Contour Stick.

Makeup Kit - Pixabay
P.C: Makeup Kit – Pixabay

Bottom Line: Keep it Sweet and Subtle

Makeup is important, but too many women make the mistake of wearing so much that they lose its benefits.

Be mindful of the impression you want to make, and focus on using makeup to enhance your natural beauty.

I would be lying if I said I am a makeup expert, but yes, I am learning. Makeup is an art form, which requires extensive research and practice to master. But at the end of the day, creating a new look does give me a feeling of euphoria. A smokey eye, a cut crease, or a dewy look, you name it, and Google will provide you with more videos than you can think of.

I would say if you have the time, energy and inclination, go for it. I promise you will feel the difference!

My Inspiration

I have been following this angel for quite some time now on Instagram and Youtube. Her name is Malvika Sitlani Aryan. Her makeup tips are unbeatable – she makes it look like a cakewalk.

Insta Handle: malvikasitlaniofficial

Down below are listed 3 videos of her youtube channel where you can learn the basic makeup tips. It helped me with the basics, so just go for them.

Class 1 – HOW TO GET THE PERFECT BASE | For beginners | Malvika Sitlani

Class 2 – How to Contour, Blush & Highlight | For Beginners | Malvika Sitlani

Class 3 – EYEBROWS & EYESHADOW | For beginners | Malvika Sitlani

About Madhuparna Kar

A techie by profession, Madhuparna Kar is a fashion enthusiast. She lives in Kolkata with her cute little six-year-old son and hubby. She not only enjoys dressing up but also has loads of useful tricks and tips in her kitty. Besides taking care of her external beauty, she’s a fitness freak. Check out her Insta handle @madhuparna4u, for some fitness and makeup tips.

Disclaimer: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a small commission if you purchase products via our website. Your purchases support us in bringing you informative and fun-filled articles.

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Super Cyclone Amphan and Us https://kolkatafusion.com/super-cyclone-amphan-and-our-experience/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=super-cyclone-amphan-and-our-experience https://kolkatafusion.com/super-cyclone-amphan-and-our-experience/#comments Tue, 25 May 2021 06:15:00 +0000 http://kolkatafusion.com/?p=2433 Just a year after the super cyclone Amphan, we are again getting news of another cyclone – Yaas. Though its intensity is forecasted to be lesser, we don’t want to take risks. We have started taking precautionary measures like securing the trees and getting the plants inside our house. Click to get Cyclone Yaas Live Updates. KolkataFusion contributors recapitulate their experiences of living through the …

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Just a year after the super cyclone Amphan, we are again getting news of another cyclone – Yaas. Though its intensity is forecasted to be lesser, we don’t want to take risks. We have started taking precautionary measures like securing the trees and getting the plants inside our house. Click to get Cyclone Yaas Live Updates.

KolkataFusion contributors recapitulate their experiences of living through the super cyclone Amphan

Amidst the extended lockdown, around the second week of May, we heard about the approach of a super cyclone named Amphan. As the day of the predicted landfall came nearer, we started bracing up for the worst. The cyclone’s path, expected landfall zones, had been registered in our heads by the umpteen regional news channels repeatedly.

The approaching Amphan   P.C: nytimes.com
The approaching Amphan P.C: nytimes.com

We had an experience of the Aila cyclone disaster in 2010. And a lot of us didn’t expect Amphan to be more severe than Aila. In our regular conversations, just a day before the Amphan was to fall, we reminisced about Aila and how we coped with it. However, Amphan proved us wrong – it was indeed one of the fiercest cyclones in Bengal in the last 100 years. 

Fell like a pack of cards P.C: indiatoday.in

Amphan hit Bengal on May 20, 2020.

It was 3rd super cyclone to hit West Bengal since 1582, after 1737 and 1833, and the strongest.

Central Avenue – Shyambazar Area

In the traditional North Kolkata neighbourhoods, almost all joint family households have at least a living room and kitchen adjacent to the terrace. Our 100-year-old house conforms to the rule as well. The vacant portion of the terrace which ran in between the living room and kitchen stays guarded against rain, wind and sun by a thick tarpaulin sheet fitted over a sturdy wrought iron frame.

Around the expected landfall time, that was around 4 – 4:30 PM, the wind became so strong that we had to tie coir ropes around the tarpaulin-wrought iron frame to keep it off from flying away with the strong wind that flowed around our terrace. As time progressed, we could hear a deep, loud whooshing sound of the strong winds advancing over our area.

The advancing cyclone lifted up and down the asbestos sheets covering a few portions of the roofs in our neighbourhood. We could hear thumps and thuds around and predicted the sound of a falling tree, or a falling asbestos sheet or the earthen flowering pots on all the terraces in our neighbourhood.

The old house tried hard to put up with Amphan. Although our thick wooden windows and doors were bolted, rain waters kept invading in. The branches or leaves that the cyclone brought along clogged rainwater outlets in our terrace. In an attempt to keep the outlets free of waterlogging, we braved the rain and kept clearing the outlets to drain off the rain waters. At times, we were even pushed past by the cyclonic winds as they raged through our terrace.

Thankfully, as our electric lines ran underground, there were no power cuts in our area. As we ate the dinner silently in the night, I felt fortunate to have a roof above my head and food on my plate. That night, I couldn’t stop thinking about the people whose houses and livelihoods got destroyed by Amphan.

Newtown, Kolkata:

While one is a 100-year-old building, already seen a lot, the high rises in New Town are too young. The constructions seem to be so fragile that we often fear a strong earthquake will easily shake them off. And when we started reading about Amphan, we silently hoped that the wind’s speed shouldn’t be as high as expected. We had power back-ups, water supply. But we didn’t know if the glass windows and doors would bear the wind’s pressure.

A glass door connects our drawing room with the balcony, where we have a few plants and had a lovely money plant. Though WhatsApp messages kept flowing in and the NTFN group kept us posted on the real-time scenario, initially, we underestimated Amphan. And thought it was one of those typical storms faking up with the sounds as it entered our society through the open space and a large number of trees.

The storm makes the slow entry

Suddenly, the wind’s sound changed and it seemed thousands of wolves were howling outside. The sound was so shrill that my kid snuggled beside me like a puppy! And we three kept looking at each other, not knowing what’ll happen next. The windows rattled, and as the evening progressed, our balcony door started shaking so vigorously that we had to push the sofa to support it. After all subsided, we got to know that some of the neighbourhood windows couldn’t bear the force and had surrendered, causing a water mess in their houses.

We are blessed to have a safe and secure house. So, for us, Amphan was a day’s experience. But for many in the Sunderbans and other parts of Kolkata, it has caused a lifetime disaster. Just like my money plant tree, they have been uprooted and are still battling to survive!

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Memories of Saraswati Puja in Bengali households https://kolkatafusion.com/memories-about-typical-saraswati-puja-celebrations-in-bengali-households/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=memories-about-typical-saraswati-puja-celebrations-in-bengali-households https://kolkatafusion.com/memories-about-typical-saraswati-puja-celebrations-in-bengali-households/#respond Mon, 15 Feb 2021 06:45:00 +0000 http://kolkatafusion.com/?p=3411 Saraswati Puja is an important yet not so a grave affair in the Bengalis’ lives. Students worship the Goddess of Knowledge with all the devotion in the morning. And, as the day progresses, the traditional event eventually gets a contemporary touch. P.C.: Souptima Basu Adorned in bright yellow sarees or kurtas, the adolescents go out meeting friends. Saraswati Puja in Kolkata and other parts of …

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Saraswati-Puja-2021

Saraswati Puja is an important yet not so a grave affair in the Bengalis’ lives. Students worship the Goddess of Knowledge with all the devotion in the morning. And, as the day progresses, the traditional event eventually gets a contemporary touch.

P.C.: Souptima Basu

Adorned in bright yellow sarees or kurtas, the adolescents go out meeting friends. Saraswati Puja in Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal is also the day when the Bengali boys and girls would dare slipping in love letters in the hands of their respective crushes or declare their love to each other openly. It has been the Bengalis’ very own ‘Valentine’s Day’ for ages.

It’s a sheer joy to see the teenagers flocking in the malls or going for pandal hopping and making restaurant trips, mostly in groups. Their yellow attire is so bright that it’s bound to lift up your moods. The broad smile on their faces, the giggling, and the random chattering fill up the entire ambience. Even the parents can’t stop them that day – after all, Goddess Saraswati is exclusively theirs that day! Her blessing is supreme for excelling in exams and to get her blessings, studying should not be strictly done on the Saraswati Puja Day!

Saraswati Puja Celebration. P.C. Tusk Travel

However, our lives have been different!

If you read our previous posts, you would know, both of us had our schooling at Carmel Convent High School. And like most Christian Missionary schools in Durgapur, our school also didn’t organize Saraswati Puja. Thus, all through our school days, we missed the active participation, as we had for Christmas. But, we haven’t been wholly deprived of creating our sweet memories surrounding this occasion.

Childhood Days

As far as Parna remembers, the night before Saraswoti Pujo, her parents used to be on night vigil, lest the neighbourhood boys vanished their flowering plant pots. Once, her mother caught one young boy stealing a marigold plant from the garden. He promised to water it regularly until he returned it. The marigold plant adorned their handcrafted cane pandal for a few days.

For Parna’s mother, the occasion of Saraswati Puja was the busiest one. She used to cook khichuri, alur dom and chutney on the day of the Puja before leaving for her school. At her school, the preparation was done in full swing. Parna’s mother spearheaded the Puja Committee and actively participated in mixing the Dadhikarma (a prasad made of Mishti Doi, flattened rice or Chire, fruits and sweets) along with her colleagues.

And as far as Neha’s memory goes, this day used to be utterly uncontrolled. It was the only day when the cousins of her age used to drape sarees and actively participate in the Pujo. Regardless of gender, the night before the Puja, they used to stay in the pandal until late at night, giving final touches to the preparation and dancing on the then-recent Hindi numbers. Sounds great? So, what was the challenge?

Neha’s parents! Her dad was strict against pandal hooliganism (thanks to her pathetic immunity). And her mom was not ready to drape the saree on her. After all, Neha could hardly carry it. First, she used to swell her eyes crying out for the saree, then within few minutes, the pleats used to be all messed up, and by the end of the Anjali, she once again used to start crying for her incompetency in carrying a saree.

Saraswati Pujo

Even today, she considers saree as one of the most elegant attire. But, she can’t carry it as per her self-expectations.

Anyways… that can be a separate blog all together – The Saree Misadventure, might be!

So,

On The Day After

We observe the Shitala Sasthi on the next day of Saraswati Puja where we eat everything cold, cooked a day before. On the day of Shitala Sasthi, nothing is cooked in our houses. As kids, we really loved this day! Though served cold, we used to hurry back to our houses on that day after school to savour the cold rice, gota chocchori (gota seddho), alur dom and kuler chatni. In Neha’s house, they used to prepare three types of fish also – sorshe maach, maach bhaja and maacher tok. Guess it was the exceptional coldness of the spread that enhanced the taste.  

Macher Tok

Neither Parna nor Neha had been much religious during her school or college years. While Neha worshipped her grandmother, whom she had lost in a fatal accident, Parna worshipped her grandpa’s photo frame. Parna’s mother had assured her that her deceased grandpa had a blessing hand over her until his last day.

Post-Marriage Saraswati Puja

It was a completely different scene in Giridih’s Saraswati Puja. Parna went to stay in Giridih for a few years after her marriage and pursued a B.Ed Course alongside. The Puja in the B.Ed college lacked the essence of typical Bengali festivities, but the offered prasad appeared pretty unique to Parna. They offered sweet, red carrot, sweet turnip or Jicama, and Boondi with dried sweet juice. The college did not have any Bhog cooking activity; thus she used to end up cooking Khichuri herself at her home.

Having spent six years away from Bengal after Class XII, Neha and her husband had started feeling distanced from this day. And until her son was three years old, their only way of celebration was through satisfying the foodies in themselves.

Saraswati Puja’s Hate Khori

Saraswati Puja's Hate Khori

Goddess Saraswati is considered the mother of the Vedas and the guardian of Brahma’s creative intelligence. So, on this day Bengalis introduce their kids to writing. Hate khori means “chalk in hand”. But thanks to the current education system and the scarcity of chalk and slate, Neha’s child had been introduced with pencil and colours from 2.5 years, at his daycare. Yet, they had celebrated his hate khori during Sarawati Puja 2018. Whereas, Parna had uniquely celebrated this occasion by taking her child on her first book fair trip.

After all, it’s a milestone in our kids’ life. So, we had to celebrate.

Saraswati Puja 2021

This year’s Saraswati Puja is on 16th February.

But will the Puja be celebrated with the same zeal this year, too? We are yet to see.

We have plans of enjoying khichuri with the spread of fries and chochhori. What’s your plan?

Sculpture made by Nilabja basu

Featured Image: Souptima Basu

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The 14th Parbon of the Bengalis – The Kolkata Book Fair https://kolkatafusion.com/the-14th-parbon-of-the-bengalis-the-calcutta-book-fair/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-14th-parbon-of-the-bengalis-the-calcutta-book-fair https://kolkatafusion.com/the-14th-parbon-of-the-bengalis-the-calcutta-book-fair/#respond Thu, 04 Feb 2021 05:30:00 +0000 https://kolkatafusion.wordpress.com/?p=1200 According to a recent Hindu article, Kolkata Book fair 2021 may be held in June, once the situation stabilizes. But this isn’t the first time that the event is canceled! In the meanwhile, the districts are organizing mini book fairs for avid readers. But, how fulfilling are they? A Bengali proverb goes like this – “Bangalir Baro Maashey Tero Parbon” which means the Bengalis celebrate …

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According to a recent Hindu article, Kolkata Book fair 2021 may be held in June, once the situation stabilizes. But this isn’t the first time that the event is canceled! In the meanwhile, the districts are organizing mini book fairs for avid readers. But, how fulfilling are they?

Kolkata Book Fair
P.C.: Souptima Basu

A Bengali proverb goes like this – “Bangalir Baro Maashey Tero Parbon” which means the Bengalis celebrate 13 festivals in 12 months. Bengalis love celebrating their culture, traditions and age-old rituals in a grand way so much so that every month we end up celebrating some festival or the other with food, fun and fiesta. The Kolkata Book Fair happens to be one of these Bengali festivals.

Not only religious rituals, Bengalis dearly love reading and discussing literature with each other. With the International Kolkata Book Fair, we grandly celebrate our affinity with books every year, listing it as the 14th Parbon or festival of the Bengalis. How did it all start? Let’s trace back to the history of the fair and see how far the fair has come.

History of Kolkata Book Fair

1974

Back in 1974, a few young publishers met in Coffee House for their regular Adda session. They discussed about organizing an annual meet up of the book lovers from near and far which can boost up the sales of the books as well. In 1975, keeping the meet up in focus, The Publishers and Booksellers’ Guild was founded.

1976

In 1976, the first book fair which would be later known as the ‘International Kolkata Book Fair, was organised by the Guild. It set up 56 stalls and 34 publishers participated in the fair. The venue was the ground opposite the Academy of Fine Arts. In the same year, The Publishers and Booksellers’ Guild participated in the World Book Fair and the Frankfurt Book Fair. The latter was the primary inspiration behind the organisation of the Kolkata Book Fair.

1983

The year 1983 was an eventful year for the Book Fair here. Visitors like the delegates from the International Publishers’ Association, Frankfurt Book Fair attended the fair with thousands of visitors from different countries. In the same year the Kolkata Book Fair got international accreditation.

1988

Gradually, the size of the fair grew thanks to the increasing participants. To accommodate a large number of stalls and book lovers, the venue was shifted to Maidan in 1988.

1991

From 1991, the book fair started to have a focal theme. Initially, Indian states became the focal themes and since 1997, a foreign country started becoming focal theme every year. The literature and culture of the focal theme state or country was highlighted during the entire span of the event.

Another major cultural development occurred simultaneously in the Maidan grounds during the Kolkata Book Fair during the 90s. It was the development of the concept of ‘Bangla Music Band’. In the early 90s, talented singers spearheaded by ‘Mohiner Ghoraguli’ founder Goutam Chattopadhyay could be spotted performing impromptu songs in the Maidan ground when the book fair was underway. They would sit with a guiter and go on singing the numbers they composed.

Musical gigs at the Calcutta Book Fair  P.C: flickr.com
Musical gigs at the Calcutta Book Fair P.C: flickr.com

Crowds would gather around maybe with their just bought books in hands and spend hours mesmerized with their performances. The songs told about the common livelihood, common joys and sorrows. The Bangla Band members instantly struck a chord with the fair-goers. Gradually, the Kolkata Book Fair became synonymous with everything the Bengali Culture is all about – Books, Adda, Music, Tea and Food.

1997

The year 1997 was a catastrophic year for the book fair. On the 6th day of the fair, a fire broke and almost all the book stalls got destroyed. Each publisher incurred heavy loss due to the fire. As phoenix rises from the fire again, the book fair was reorganized with the undying initiative and determination of the Guild, book lovers and the State Government. Huge discounts were available on the books. Many visitors bought books in huge numbers just to support the publishers and lend a hand in solidarity.

The crowd at the Calcutta Book Fair  P.C: forbesindia.com
The crowd at the Calcutta Book Fair P.C: forbesindia.com

2007

However, in the year 2007, the Guild lost the ongoing case filed against them by a few environmentalists. The venue had to be shifted to the Salt Lake Stadium within a day. The footfalls decreased due to inclement weather and poor commuting facilities but the book lovers braved against all odds to attend the fair even in such circumstances.

2008

The Guild organised book fair did not happen in 2008. The Calcutta High Court ruled against the Park Circus Maidan as the prospective venue. The Guild members decided to postpone the annual fair and move to the Supreme Court for legal assurance regarding the book fair venue. Another group organized a smaller fair named ‘Book Fair 2008’ but its efficacy was questioned.

2009

In 2009, the Calcutta Book Fair got a permanent address in Milan Mela Fair Ground. A theme song, “Oi Daakche Boi (Books beckoning)” was made. The organization created different pavilions for the visitors. And the book lovers loved the arrangements. The turnover was huge.

Little Magazine Stall at the Milan Mela Ground  P.C: commons.wikimedia.org
Little Magazine Stall at the Milan Mela Ground P.C: commons.wikimedia.org

2011

In 2011, the Guild decided to make entry to the book fair free for all.

2014

From 2014, Kolkata Literary Festival was started getting organized during the Book Fair. The eminent writers started to join in the event to discuss the latest trends in literature and take part in healthy criticisms.

2018

In 2018, the address of the Kolkata Book Fair changed again. As the Milan Mela Complex was under renovation, it was held at the Central Park Mela Ground.

Kolkata Book Fair 2020
Kolkata Book Fair 2020

Since 2018, the Central Park Mela Ground had been witnessing a considerable number of footfalls of book lovers, writers, publishers and the likes. Just when people have started to think that physical books are a passé, the crowd gathering in different stalls to buy their favourite books, meet their favourite authors and join listening impromptu musical performances have started proving them wrong, in the Fair fortnight, like every other year. 

2021

However, due to the current pandemic situation, the Kolkata Book Fair 2021 had been postponed indefinitely. We would be revealing the Kolkata Book Fair 2021 dates after the Guild fixes them.

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The Coffee House at College Street https://kolkatafusion.com/the-coffee-house-at-college-street/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-coffee-house-at-college-street https://kolkatafusion.com/the-coffee-house-at-college-street/#respond Sat, 09 Jan 2021 06:15:16 +0000 http://kolkatafusion.com/?p=3146 Featured Image: Souptima Basu – A pedestal of cultural heritage of Kolkata When one takes a flight of stairs upward beside Sarada Book Stall, he or she will catch a myriad of sounds and sights all coming from the Coffee House. With the smooth rattling of cups and saucers, there would be people talking, singing, discussing and debating. The staff here still wears the livery …

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Featured Image: Souptima Basu

– A pedestal of cultural heritage of Kolkata

When one takes a flight of stairs upward beside Sarada Book Stall, he or she will catch a myriad of sounds and sights all coming from the Coffee House. With the smooth rattling of cups and saucers, there would be people talking, singing, discussing and debating. The staff here still wears the livery reminiscent of the colonial past of Kolkata. The buzzing sound you can always hear while approaching the entrance has become an integral part, a signature of this iconic eatery of Kolkata.

Location of the Coffee House

The quaint place is located at Bankim Chatterjee Street, just opposite the Presidency University (erstwhile Presidency College). Although it’s not on College Street, this branch of Indian Coffee House has been immortalized as the College Street Coffee House.

The Coffee House   P.C: KolkataFusion
The Coffee House P.C: KolkataFusion

History of this iconic eatery

The present building was once known as Albert Hall, established in 1876. Later, in 1942, a coffee joint came up here. Many noted citizens started coming to this coffee joint. After the Indian Independence, in 1947, this coffee joint got its present name.

During the 1950s, the management decided to close it down due to the heavy losses incurred. But, then, the students and the teachers of the Presidency College fought against the decision. They sent a petition to the government to save and protect it as a heritage place. During the same decade, co-operatives were formed all over India to run all the branches of the India Coffee House.

Cultural Heritage of our coffee house, Kolkata:

Among the other Indian Coffee House branches running in Kolkata, this one has got more fame and popularity among the city’s intelligentsia. This might be because of the famous patrons who had come and spent a few hours here on Adda.

Writers, poets, painters, musicians, filmmakers, politicians used to come and still come here. It was one of the famous Adda sessions that gave birth to the Kolkata Book Fair, political movements as well as cultural revolutions that took place across the breadth of Kolkata.

Read: Role played by Bengal in the Indian independence movement.

This coffee shop can be termed as the birthplace of ideas, cultural exchanges at their nascent stages, which would get to be shaped in a later course. As put in words by noted lyricist Gauriprasanna Mazumder and sung by the immortal voice of Manna Dey, –

‘Koto Shopner Rod Othe

Ei Coffee House e

Koto Shopno meghe dheke jay

Koto jon elo gelo kotojon asbe

Coffee House ta shudhu theke jay…..’

Dreams rise and dreams fall here. People come and people go, but it remains.

Food and Ambience

The most challenging thing upon getting inside the place is getting a seat and a waiter to get your orders listed. It’s Non-AC, but you won’t feel any heat inside. All the heat here is caused by intense Adda Sessions!!

The Cold Coffee with cream has just the right amount of cream. You can try out their Infusion, too, you won’t regret it. Among the accompaniments, do go for their cutlets – especially Chicken Kobiraji Cutlet (Coverage Cutlet) and Mutton Afghani Cutlet. Here, the chicken sandwich is prepared from the Classic British recipe with boiled chicken and veggies sans the mayo sauce and other bland condiments.

This cozy place has always been about the phrase, ‘My House, My Rules, My Coffee.’ Would the new replicas like Coffee House New Town or Asansol Coffee House give us the same vibes? Only time is there to say.

The feature image is illustrated by Souptima Basu.

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