#8 Spooky Rabindra Sarobar Metro

While metros are under construction in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore, Kolkata metro dates back to 1984. It is, in fact, the oldest metro in India and the least expensive one. And the spookiest metro station is Rabindra Sarobar. The highest number of suicides have been committed at this station – 7 out of 10 people found this place to be the best suicidal point. But obviously, there are multiple stories of people seeing creepy images and figures disappearing with the last train of the day. So, if you want to have a unique encounter, you can try the last train through this station! 

#7 Kolkata Street Food

Talking about interesting facts about Kolkata and missing out on its street – impossible! Kolkata’s street food can satiate any taste bud. Name any state in India, and you will find the authentic dishes of that place with superb customization. The locals love to fill their mouths with spicy phuchkas, chops, telebhajas, ghugni, and jhal muri. You also get stomach filling food like egg mutton roll luchi alurdom, Mughlai paratha, and chowmein. To get some global feeling, you can try out the different varieties of dumplings, pasta, and shawarmas. Kolkata is the birthplace of fusion cuisine which we savour so deliciously as Indo-Chinese cuisine.

According to a Times of India Survey in 2018, it has won the award for the best destination for an astounding variety of street food.

#6 Transportation still has Trams

Kolkata is one of the most well-connected cities in India, and needless to say one of the least expensive ones. You still get trams in Central, North and some parts of South Kolkata, there are buses at regular frequency connecting the city with the outskirts. Metro-rail service has been there since ages, and it’s expanding to connect the areas like New Town and Dakshineswar. You get share autos and rickshaws connecting the gallis and nukkars withthe main roads. And, then there are some costly options like Yellow Taxis and App cabs. 

#5 Calcutta Polo Club

Polo, which has been formalized and popularized by the Brits, has its origin in India – Manipur. They played the game as ‘Sagol Kangjei,’ ‘Kanjai-bazee’, or ‘Pulu.’ Inspired by the game, two British soldiers, Captain Robert Stewart and (later Major General) Joe Sherer wanted to enjoy it with their peers, so they established the Calcutta Polo Club in 1862. Thus this club is the oldest polo club in the world. The first Ezra Cup was held on this ground in 1880, and the ground is still in running condition. The club’s president Keshav Bangur, has introduced special discounts on students’ membership, to know more, click here.

#4 2nd GDP Contributor

One of the cities which has seen the maximum ups and downs is Kolkata. During the British Raj, it was not only the capital of India, but it was also the major port and commerce center in the world economy. Thanks to various socio-economic conditions in the city from the 1960s to 1990, many factories closed down and many businesses got transferred. But do you know the GDP of this supposedly “dying city” is second among all Indian metros? Some GDP facts about Kolkata – nominal GDP is expected to reach US$169 billion in 2030, with a per capita nominal GDP of US$7,400.In 2015, The Brookings Institution, a U.S. based think tank in collaboration with JPMorgan ranked Kolkata second among all Indian metros. And 32nd among 300 major metropolitan economies of the world on overall economic performance for the year 2013-’14.

According to this report, with annualized GDP per capita growth of 4.7% and employment growth of 2.5% Kolkata scored over every Indian city, except Delhi.

#3 Love for Football

Though it’s not a secret, Kolkata’s love for football is worth mentioning when we speak about Kolkata facts. When the world gets geared up for the FIFA World Club, Kolkata colours itself in different shades of Green-Blue and White-Blue. The entire city changes its colour and embraces the charm of football with vigour. Indian Football Association (IFA) conducts the Officer’s Choice Blue Calcutta Premier League 157 mostly Kolkata based clubs and units. Being started in 1898, it is one of the oldest league in Asia and is considered as worls’s one of the oldest football competitions.

#2 A Street that Hosts daily Book Fair

Being the land which has nourished many great poets, and authors, it is a dream place for book readers. It helds a book fair every day on College Street. Approximate footfall in this market on a daily basis is 2 million. It’s widely talked about as the second largest second-hand book market in the world. There is no single book whose copy is not available in this market – but you need to search, and you need to know the correct shops. In fact, it is said that if you couldn’t find a book in College Street, in all probabilities that book never existed!

#1 Howrah Bridge

One of the most interesting facts about West Bengal includes the Howrah Bridge. The inception of the idea of Howrah Bridge dates back to 1871, but the construction started in 1936, and if not for World War II hostilities, the structure would have surely looked different. To taste the capacity of the bridge, a tram passed through it was as the first vehicle. But, since 1993 due to the increase in traffic, Trams are no more allowed on it. Currently, it is the 6th longest cantilever bridge in the world and the only one in our country. As an honour to our first Nobel laureate, Rabindra Nath Tagore, we also call it Rabindra Setu. 

The post Interesting Facts About Kolkata – Our City Of Joy appeared first on KolkataFusion.

As an antiquary, Mr. James Prinsep would not have thought that his memorial building would continue to beckon the generations of people to stop by and admire the beautiful Ganges from its stairs amidst the Adda sessions which constitutes the soul of the Bengalis alike. The pristine white structure is a Palladian porch with Gothic inlays designed by W. Fitzgerald. The foundation dates back to 1843. Initially, the Princep Ghat in Kolkata, West Bengal, served as the principal river port used by the British royals, which gradually paved its way to become one of the oldest recreational spots of Kolkata.

This Ghat had also played a crucial role during the Second World War. The Man of War Jetty, now owned by the Kolkata Port Trust located nearby the Ghat, bears the testimony of those warring times.

A 2 Km riverfront extending till Babu Ghat coming up as a result of a recent beautification drive has been a new feather in the Ghat’s already adorned hat. A functional bit of the Kolkata Circular Railway traverses a part of this Ghat, and then there’s the canopy of the Second Hooghly Bridge stretching out majestically above the monument.

And when you add a dusky evening or a foggy morning with a few illuminated barges floating by, you feel that all have successfully conspired to make the place ethereal.

Now, a few basic details about the Princep Ghat Kolkata. You might be eager to know what exactly can you do at Princep Ghat and how can you reach there –

Activities at Princep Ghat Kolkata:

1. Have a stroll around the riverfront. You can also take a country boat ride along the Ganges and enjoy the light breeze cutting across your face and hair while you chat along with your friends and family.
2. You can visit Millenium Park from Princep Ghat. The distance from Princep Ghat to Millenium Park is only around 2 Kms.
3. You can enjoy delicious ice creams at The Scoop by the Princep Ghat Riverfront.

How do you get to Princep Ghat Kolkata?

There are more than one options. You can take a direct cab to Princep Ghat, or board a public bus to get there.

However, the real thrill would be to take a ferry to Princep Ghat from any of the Ghats, – Babu Ghat, Ahiritola Ghat, Sovabazar Ghat or Bagbazar Ghat. The Ferry Ride would be one of your lifetime experiences.

The circular railway also functions here but you need to look for the updated time table available only at the circular railway stations.

Princep Ghat remains open now and would likely to remain open until further notice. So, make the best of the rest of Kolkata Winter and have an enjoyable day out centering Princep Ghat.

The post Princep Ghat of Kolkata – Where History Stands Still appeared first on KolkataFusion.

However, the ‘Narkel Sondesh’ is something Kolkata and other parts of Bengal still do not know much about. Made exclusively in Dakshin Barasat, a suburb in South 24 Parganas, this dessert is an exquisite example of the local sweet makers’ efficiency.

Related Post: Sweetmeats of Bengal: Part 1

Joynagarer Moa

Joynagar’s ‘Moa’ making season starts from December and continues till the availability of the two primary resources, – Kanakchur Paddy and Nolen Gur (Newly extracted date palm).

The Kanakchur Paddy is used to make Khoi (a type of softer puffed rice). This special Kanakchur Khoi has an amazing aroma. The Kanakchur Khoi is mixed proportionately with the Nolen Gur, crushed Cardamom and Powdered Khoya upon the low flame of an Unun (clay oven) till the desired consistency comes. Posto or Poppy Seeds are also used in the mixture. Before the Nolen Gur is set to heat, the wok is sufficiently greased with pure cow ghee (clarified butter). (Give the ghee link here)

Next, round Moas are shaped with hands and rolled over Pistachio and Cashew Powder finished with raisins on top. The sweet makers take strict care to ensure that the Moa remains soft yet does not leave its definite shape. The Joynagarer Moa got its GI tag in 2015.

As reported by the local residents, the best and authentic Joynagarer Moa is available at the famous shop, Sree Ramkrishna Mistanna Bhander of Joynagar.

Address: Ramkrishna Mishtanna Bhandar, Bangshidharpur, West Bengal – 743395

Location Map

Narkel Sondesh

Not sure if you can call the technique of making a perfect Narkel Sondesh harder than rocket science, this particular dessert is made with locally abundant coconuts (Narkel Naru link) and Nolen Gur. The proportion of desiccated coconut and Nolen Gur used for making Narkel Sondesh is one of the best-kept secrets here.

With each bite, you would feel the harmonious sweetness of coconut and jaggery melting in your mouth. Unless you taste the Narkel Sondesh in person, you won’t understand how optimal use of jaggery and coconut can leave a heavenly taste on your palate. The Narkel Sondesh is also commonly called as ‘Narkel Patali.’

Not far from Joynagar, the best Narkel Sondesh is available in Loknath Mishtanna Bhander, near Dakshin Barasat Railway Station.

Address: Lokenath Misthanna Bhandar, Station Road, Dakshin Barasat, West Bengal – 743372

Location Map.

Present Challenges faced by the makers of Joynagarer Moa and Narkel Sondesh:

• The ‘Shiuli’ community, who are expert in tapping the newly formed date palm juice, has been getting employed in other vocations because the tapping work is a seasonal work that hardly meets up their monetary needs.

• The lack of the availability of Natural Nolen Gur due to the reduction in Date Palm trees has given away to chemical Nolen Gur essence. This Nolen Gur essence is being used by the Kolkata sweetmakers to up the supply of ‘Joynagarer Moa’ to the sweet lovers of Bengal.
• Kanakchur Paddy is a seasonal crop that grows only during winter. The yield of the same has decreased due to a decrease in farmlands.

Related Post: Sweetmeats of Bengal: Part 2

Amidst all these challenges, the sweet makers still continue making these delectable desserts and these sweets reach the homes of Bengali sweet lovers every winter.

An Important Note: Amidst the current Covid-19 Pandemic situation, you can taste the above sweets at the comfort and safety of your homes by placing order at https://www.joynagar.com/.

The post The Sweetmeats of Bengal – 3: Sweets from the South 24 Parganas district appeared first on KolkataFusion.

The Eco Park Kolkata or Prakititirtha was inaugurated in 2013 to provide the visitors a few hours of rejuvenation amidst the serene nature. The different theme parks, wetlands, plants, and the immediate eco-system present in the park gently showers in natural sustainability lessons without preaching nothing to the visitors as they spend some time there.

The Eco Park in Kolkata premises is too huge to be covered in a day, thus becoming an ideal weekend trip destination in Kolkata within an hour’s reach from your respective homes. Let’s now learn about the features of Eco Park in Kolkata before booking the tickets.

Features of Eco Park Kolkata

Thematic Areas: There are 24 thematic areas in the Eco Park, namely, Adda Zone, Artist’s Cottage, Bamboo Garden, Biswa Bangla Haat, Butterfly Garden, Eco Children’s Park, Eco Island, Mask Garden, Food Court, Formal Garden, Fruits Garden, Graffiti Walls, Lake Front Promenade, Meadow Garden, Musical Fountain, Play Area, Rabi Aranya, Rose Garden, Tea Garden, Tropical Tree Garden, Sculpture Garden, Sangraha, Seven Wonders, Japanese Garden. Each of these areas is built around a specific theme.

Activities: One can participate in a plethora of activities ranging from activities like Toy Train Rides, Boat Cruises, Kayaking, Cycling, Land Zorbing, Water Zorbing, Water Cycling, Ice Skating, Archery or simply enjoy solitude by sitting all alone in any corner of one of the Thematic Areas or enjoy the 360° views from the Glass House in the Eco Island. Sitting on the green grasses with one’s legs spread out and looking at the blue sky above can also leave you with a feeling of serendipity.

Eating Joints at Eco Park

Many restaurants are serving in and around Eco Park. For light snacks, visit any of the food kiosks or Wow Momo. You can also dine in an open-air restaurant, Cafe Ekante. Recently HIDCO has also started a drive-in restaurant named Dhaba Ajante.

You can also have your lunch at 6 Ballygunge Place, New Town.

How to move around? It’s tedious to move around the park, and your legs might betray you if you try to cover the entire area in one day. It’s better to take an Eco Cart to travel around the park. The Eco Carts prioritize the senior citizens and kids.

Eco Park Entry Fee

The entry fee to the Eco Park is Rs. 30. Full tickets are required for 3-year-old children and above. For details on the open and closing timings, please visit Eco Park New Town Website.

Precautionary Measures due to COVID-19

According to Debasis Sen, chairperson of HIDCO, and the park’s custodian, social distancing norms are being followed for visitors in the park. Only 50 persons are allowed to remain inside Eco Park, Kolkata, at a time. And only after the existing visors move out, the next tickets will be sold. Mask is compulsory for visitors, and to help them maintain social distancing, large patches are made on the ground. Except cycling, other land and water amusements are suspended for the time being.

If you are traveling by your personal vehicle, to make this waiting time fun, go towards Ekante cottages and spend some relaxing time near the huge lake.

Read more on Times Of India City Page

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A short history of sugar in Bengal: A part of Bengal was known as ‘Gaudabanga’ (northern districts of Bengal). The word ‘Gauda’ came from the word ‘Gur’ or ‘Jaggery’. During the Gupta Era, at around 4^th Century CE, the discovery of refined jaggery or sugar was made. The flourishing sugarcane plantations in the ‘Gaudabanga’ area and the sugar refineries attracted explorers from different countries, specially China, to come and learn the art of refining sugar crystals. Thus, the relationship of the Bengalis and sweets are not born in a day. It seems that they take birth with a sweet tooth each.

As the availability of sugar was abundant, the dessert business also flourished in Bengal. The ‘Moiras’ or the ‘Sweetmakers’ competed with each other to make unique sweets. These healthy competitions added more delectability to the sweet platters of Bengal.

In this post, we are going to visit Bardhaman, precisely Eastern Bardhaman and find out about the sweets that originated there.  

Sitabhog

Sitabhog was invented during the rule of Late Maharaj Mahatabchand Bahadur by an ancestor of Vairabchandra Nag but got recognition after he prepared this dessert on request of the then Maharaj Vijaychand to greet Lord Curzon in Bardhaman in 1904.

Sitabhog has been named after the Sitashol rice that was used to make the flour for preparing the Sitabhog. Cottage Cheese or ‘Chhana’ is mixed with the rice flour. Then the dough is rolled over a ‘jhaanjhri’ or perforated mould that results in short grains from the dough. The short grains are then fried and dipped in sugar syrup. The Sitabhog also contain ‘Nikhunti’ or micro sized gulab jamuns. The pristine white of the sugar dipped grains of ‘Chhana’ and rice flour and the red ‘Nikhuntis’ look absolutely divine when served.

Where to taste:

1. Soudamini Mishtanna Bhandar, Sadarghat Road, Barabalidanga, Bardhaman
2. Ganesh Mishtanna Bhandar, Raniganj Bazar, Bardhaman
3. Ganesh Sweets, Municipality Market, Bardhaman

Mihidana

Mihidana’s invention history can also be traced back to Vairabchandra Nag’s ancestor who invented Sitabhog. He prepared Mihidana for Lord Curzon alongwith Sitabhog and that’s when Mihidana, too, gained popularity.

Most often, Sitabhog and Mihidana are eaten together by sweet lovers. The yellow mihidanas look like mini boondis. The mihidana dough is made of Kaminibhog, Gobindobhog and Basmati Rice, Saffron and Gram flour or Besan. The dough is rubbed through micro boondi ‘jhaanjhri’, fried and dipped in sugar syrup. The Mihidana is also served with the ‘Nikhuntis’.

Where to taste:

1. Ganesh Mishtanna Bhandar, Raniganj Bazar, Bardhaman
2. Ganesh Sweets, Municipality Market, Bardhaman

Lyangcha

The sweet, ‘Lyangcha’ has an interesting background. There runs a popular story that ‘Lyangcha’ which is basically a cylindrical shaped khoya dough deep fried and dipped in sugar syrup, is named after its creator who walked with a limp.

The ‘Pantuas’ (round deep fried khoya doughs dipped in sugar syrup’ got gradually changed into cylindrical avatars of ‘Lyangcha’.

The sweet shops of Shaktigarh in Burdwan, specially on the stretch of NH 19, are famous for the qualities of ‘Lyangchas’ sold.

Where to taste: Koushik Ghosh’s Famous Lyangcha Shop at Amrah, Shaktigarh

Kodma

‘Kodma’ was invented in Mankar, Burdwan. It serves as an offering to the pujas, specially to Goddess Kali. The ‘Kodmas’ are made entirely of sugar but the inner portions have hollows in them. So, even if a Kodma looks like a small, solid, weighty, white, candy pumpkin, it’s pretty lightweight. Kodmas, though mainly offered to Goddess Kali, are also offered to Goddess Durga and Goddess Laxmi during the respective puja rituals. Thus, the demand of Kodmas rises during the Bengali autumnal festival or ‘Sharodotsav’. Unfortunately, due to its excessive sugar content, it has lost its popularity. Also, in the present times, there are very less skilled sweet makers who can make perfect ‘Kodmas’.

While the Bardhaman’s Sitabhog and Mihidana have already received their GI Tags, Lyangcha and Kodma are yet to get. According the latest news, West Bengal Government have planned to apply for the GI status of Lyangcha and Kodma. Aren’t you longing for some sweets already? We will explore yet another district in our next part of this series. Keep following for more interesting stories on the famous sweets of Bengal.

Till the next sweetmeat post comes, read about the Poush Sankranti Pithes here.

The post The Sweetmeats of Bengal -1: Sweets from the Bardhaman district. appeared first on KolkataFusion.

Away from the shining lights and blaring music from the loudspeakers in the Park Street Christmas Carnival, there’s a humble neighbourhood in Kolkata, Bow Barracks, where forever Christmas means homemade plum cakes and wine, sharing food with the neighbours, guests and lesser privileged children and cultural competitions bringing out the true flavour of Christmas.

Bow Barracks was built by the British to provide residential arrangements to the British soldiers who fought in the Second World War. The soldiers did not stay in the Barrack quarters so they were allotted to the Anglo-Indian Community staying in Kolkata. The Anglo-Indian families brought a distinct charm to the place with their unique lifestyles showcasing a wonderful blend of European and Indian (read Bengali) cultures.

During the Christmas time, the red-brick walled buildings consisting of 7 blocks, adorn themselves with fairy lights. It appears as if the holy stars have come down to the Earth. The air around the buildings gets overpowered with sweet smells of plum cakes, rum balls, bread puddings, and cookies being baked in all the households here. The grotto in between the blocks decks up too, in keeping with the Christmas ambience all over here. The residents come down to the grotto to pray and celebrate Christmas, together.

The Santa Claus shuns his one-horse-open sleigh and dash in here in a hand-pulled rickshaw. He spreads warmth and happiness all over here. Food packets are distributed among the lesser privileged people, sports and cultural competitions are organized to observe Christmas.

If you happen to visit here on the Christmas Day, you can be welcomed with the home made Christmas goodies sans the homemade wine because that’s exclusively prepared for the family members. You can meet the people here, share conversations, love, laughter and even join in the impromptu Christmas Carols if you know a line or two.

The population of the Anglo-Indians are fast receding in Kolkata. A few of the residences in the Bow Barracks have been taken by Gujaratis, Bengalis, Tamils and Malayalalis. The buildings show a lack of maintenance too. Yet, a visit in this heritage neighbourhood during Christmas can change the way you celebrate or perceive Christmas. In true sense, the Christmas time is a time of joy and merriment in this doomed place.

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The main gate of Hatibagan Market says that Nawab Siraz-ud-Daula along with his generals Mir Madan and Mohanlal attacked the British constructed Fort William in Kolkata in the year 1757. His elephant troops were stationed in the area presently known as Hatibagan. The name Hatibagan was infact drawn from the reference of elephants’ garden or the place where elephants were kept.

Some other sources however say that the area belonged to an influential person of surname ‘Hati’ and so his property area got the name ‘Hatibagan’. The property was later bought by Mehtab Chand Mullick who established the famous market.

Another interesting source claims that another meaning of the word ‘Hati’ is ‘a help in work’. In ancient Kolkata, the ‘babus’ came in this area in search of ‘helps’ in construction work or for any other household work. Whatever the purpose may be the ‘Hatibagan’ area provided ‘helping hands’ for all seasons. These ‘helping hands’ stayed in the ‘jhupris’ near this area, thus the name.

The erstwhile Hatibagan was nothing short of a tinsel town with single screen cinema halls lying close to each other. Radha, Rupabani, Sree, Uttara, Minar, Darpana, Mitra and Talkie Show House represented a world of fantasy. Alas! Among them only Minar and Talkie Show House have managed to stand against the rapid gulping down of single screen halls by the multiplexes. The Star Theatre, presently transformed into sort of a multiplex, was a mecca of theatre where noted thespians like Noti Binodini, Girish Chandra Ghosh, Shishir Bhaduri, Shambhu Mitra and the likes produced and acted in legendary Bengali plays.

The cultural environment of Hatibagan also thrived due to the presence of exquisite Bengali ‘Taant er Saari’ and ‘Silk Sarees’. The ready to wear clothes as well as dress materials of finest quality in cheap possible prices was and are still available in the age-old shops. Although, most of these shops had got transformed into shopping malls which are again eating into the profits the shopkeepers made previously. The famous readymade shops of ‘KL Dutta’ and the saree shop of ‘Surya Bastralay’ yielded place to the present V-Mall and similar other cousins.

Most probably the only part which have remained undeterred by the invasions by the bigger commercial brands is the flea market present on the footpaths of the entire stretch of the Hatibagan Market. The modern fashionistas can still be seen buying matching accessories with the dresses they had bought from the so-called big malls. Why do they return here? Most of them say ‘Ekhaner moto kothao pabo na’ (We won’t get similar qualities in cheap prices from anywhere else).

Not only for dresses, accessories and cinema halls, the Hatibagan area is also famous for the variety of street food it offers. On any day and every day, the hungry crowd in front of ‘Adi Malancha’ and the ‘Chhola-Bhatura’ seller can defeat the cumulative crowd of ‘Wow Momo’, ‘Pizza Hut’ and ‘KFC’ just lying on the other side of the ‘Bidhan Sarani’. Almost all the fuchkawalas of Hatibagan delivers tasty Fuchkas. They probably compete with each other on the taste factor, they should be, because the ‘Fuchka connoiseurs’ flocking this part of Kolkata knows their ‘Fuchkas’ really, really well.

The Hatibagan area has a ‘World War II’ connection as well. During the bombings by the Japanese troops over Kolkata, one of the shells got dropped in the Hatibagan area. The shell did not explode and its remnant can be still seen buried into the ground just near the present SBI branch building near Hatibagan crossing. The SBI Branch building is also famous or infamous in another way. Revolutionary Sri Aurobindo Ghose was arrested from that very house as a convict in the ‘Alipore Bomb Case’ by the British Police.

Though much have lost in the ravages of time, historically and culturally, the heritage of Hatibagan is there for us to mesmerise ourselves in and continue to retell them to our new generations to come.

Information Source:

1. Purono Kolkatar Golpo, Facebook group
2. www.getbengal.com
3. Senior residents living in the area

Content Curated by: Kolkata Fusion

The post Hatibagan – The Heritage Market Area which had a Cinema Para now lost in the sands of time. appeared first on KolkataFusion.

Burdwan’s Dariyapur near Guskara is one such village where everyone is a Dokra craftsman. The village has around 133 craftsmen. Their finesse and precision with the Dokra designs have earned them the prestigious AIACA Craftmark.

How the Dokra Art work is done?

At first, a clay core roughly resembling the final cast image is made. The clay core is then layered with beeswax, nut oil and resin from Damara orientalis tree. The wax layer is then carved with intricate designs and finer details. Next, a layer of clay is smeared over the wax layer covering the gaps in between the intricate carvings. Thus, forming the final mould for the metal alloy which would be poured inside the artefact which is being made.

The object is then heated slowly over a hearth. The heat melts the wax. The finer gaps left by the melting of wax is then filled up by molten metal alloys. The molten metal gradually hardens between the core and the inner surface of the mould. The clay is then scraped off revealing the final shape of the artefact. Lastly, polishing of the created object is done before getting it displayed.

The entire process of Dokra Art is time consuming and might take a couple of months for a finished product to get ready.

The Artisans of Dariyapur

The Dokra process is not only time consuming but also pretty expensive because of the raw materials used while making them. The artisans of Dariyapur had been continuing this livelihood for generations inspite of the cost factor and the overall decline in the Dokra Art culture and consumer demands. They say that their ancestors had arrived from Odisha and gradually settled in this village over time. Their humble pursuit, tenacity and determination to continue with this age old craft have made them the upholders of a dying legacy and cultural heritage of Bengal as well as India. They display their craftworks during the annual fair organised by Dariyapur Dokra Artisans’ Cooperative Industrial Society Limited.

The Initiatives to save the heritage

The Government of West Bengal along with UNESCO have developed a Rural Craft Hub in Dariyapur and community museum where the artefacts are displayed. Educational tours to this village are also encouraged where the artisans held workshops teaching the nuances of this art form to the younger generations. An annual fair is also held to exhibit the breathtaking sculptures to the common people. Probably, this year it will be held in the month of November. One can contact in the address and phone number given below if he or she is interested of being a witness to the unique part of the heritage of Bengal.

Dariyapur Dokra Artisans’ Cooperative Industrial Society Limited

Village: Dariyapur, Burdwan

Pin: 713128

Phone No: 9735228086

Information Courtesy:

1. http://banglanatak.com/
2. https://ruralcrafthub.com/hubs/bardhaman-dariyapur/
3. http://toureast.in/destination/dariyapur/
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhokra
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz_0VK2jpQM

Also Read: The heritage art forms of Bengal, – Dashavatar Cards and Patachitra.

The post Dariyapur – Uphelding the heritage of Dokra Art in Bengal and India appeared first on KolkataFusion.

As most of you know, Durgapur was established by Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, the noted ex-chief minister of West Bengal. A lot of industries were established here because of the proximity of the sources of the needed raw materials. Residential quarters for the employees were made not far away from the respective factory sites, which, gave rise to planned townships like DSP township, MAMC township, ABL township, BOGL residential area, etc. inside the city. Alas! A few of the townships exist in a state of zombie bearing the brunt of the government policies with slim or no chances of revival.

The winters, springs and summers announced their arrivals in the most pronounced ways in Durgapur. The chilly mornings and the silent dewfalls marked the advent of winters in Durgapur as early as late October. The tall saal trees started shedding their brown leaves during this time and the winter sun glowed brightly during the day. And there were coloured wools, knitting needles, work-in-progress warm sweaters which were in the way of getting finished before the mercury fell further over the following months. The charpais and cane moras basked in the sun with the warm blankets, pillows and quilts. The non-knitters, mainly the men and the children, ate oranges meanwhile. The sweet scent of the ripe oranges used to fill the air around.

The winter nights were dark and cold wanting comforts under the warm blankets. The scent of the oranges faded away to yield place to the aroma of strong coffees and freshly steeped Darjeeling teas. The air carried the aroma of bakings, too, but the aroma was not very commonplace. People were more engrossed in making rice flour dumplings or Pithe which wereto be devoured with nolen gur (jaggery).

The springs saw fresh green leaves on the Saal trees. The bottom skyline gathered reddish hues thanks to the Krishnachura or Gulmohar trees, the Palash and Shimul flowers. The Red Oleanders or Raktakarabis appeared later, in summer. The wide roads wore flowery adornments through the summer brightening up the city as well as its residents. However, in Kumarmangalam Park, the springs and summers stayed throughout the year.

The vacations as well as the evenings saw children playing on the large playgrounds, – the mud smeared on the forgotten bicycles, the faded hopscotch courts, the hopscotch markers treasured in cardboard boxes and the air filled with distant voices whispering “chu….kitkit” “kabadi kabaddi…….” still bears the testimony of those fun filled evenings.

As the children played to their hearts’ content, at times they quarrelled too, pinching or pulling the hairs of each other. Parents needed no intervention on these trivial matters as they knew that some onlooker neighbour might already have pacified them while teaching them values of friendship. The neighbours were no less than relatives. The Durga Pujas of the neighbourhoods would find all the neighbours of that area participating in the puja responsibilities on one hand and join in Adda as they worked shoulder to shoulder. The Daal Chocchori or Shuntki Maach or Aamer Aachar would promptly reach the households the neighbours who had never tasted them and the neighbour would reciprocate by sending Dhaal Powder, Sambhar Masala, or Idlis. The youth brigade would not fret to volunteer hospital visits and hospital stays for any ailing elder of their neighbourhood, long before the relatives managed to visit the sick and take charge.

Did any of these images changed in present times? Maybe…Maybe not.

They say that industrialization had taken away the humanity, making machines out of men. But, in Durgapur, the industrialization had given new meanings to the word ‘humanity’, so much so that even when the factories are closing down one by one, the neighbours in the residential quarters are bonding strongly together to face the impending doom. A day might come when no factories will run in Durgapur, most of the students will head out to the cosmopolitan cities around the world, most of the young adults will look for glamourous jobs outside and move out to greener pastures as most of their predecessors did in the past. They might flourish in their endeavours but what would remain inside their souls is a small part of Durgapur – the true essence of Durgapur.

Photography Courtesy: World Wide Web

Recommended Read: School Picnics in Durgapur

The post Durgapur – Not just an industrial city appeared first on KolkataFusion.

Asansol, the City of Brotherhood is approximately 188 – 200 km from Kolkata. It is the second-largest city in West Bengal and one of the most densely populated ones in the state.  Surprisingly, it is listed among one of the 100-fastest growing cities in the world and is ranked 11th amongst the Indian cities.

Asansol comes from two words: “Asan” – a species of tree which generally grows thirty meters tall and “sol” referring to land. Being located on the banks of river Damodar, Asan tree is found in abundance in the city and the land undoubtedly has enriching minerals nourishing it.

Though there are many tourist spots around the city, there’s nothing specific in this city to attract tourists. However, on any given day, as a passer-by, if you get a chance to cross by the main road of Asansol, do take a break near the Station Road More.

On the right corner of Station Road More, you will find a litti shop, which has been famous for its litti since ages. Being from Jharkhand and knowing the true flavour of litti-chokha, I can vouch on the fact that you will not find anyone else as proficient as these two brothers in the art of making litti.

To Know Litti’s recipe – Vegrecipies

The shop remains closed in the morning. And as dusk sets in, you will see these two brothers setting up their shop in the same old fashioned manner; first, they clean the place, light the chulha, and offer a prayer to it before taking out the rest of the materials from their van. They are mostly open all throughout the night to ensure that no labourer or night worker stays hungry. 2 pieces of litti, soaked in ghee and with chokha, aanchar and bharta as accompaniments cost around 10 bucks.

The stall is located under a tall Asan tree with one bench for the customers. They sit on the slightly elevated ground and be it winter or summer, you will see them busy with the chulha preparing litti which is best when served hot.

Related: Durgapur – Not just an industrial city

As the evening progresses into night, the commotion of the busy road starts dying out. Sitting on the bench you can see the city changing its mood and taking the shape of the mafia-land from the land of brotherhood. Until and unless you are acquainted with the localities, it is better to move out of the place by 11 pm and to spare yourself from the crudeness of Asansol.

Earlier this shop was located near Asansol Railway Station with 2 -3 cots spread in front of the shop. So, after a boring train journey, you could conveniently go there and immerse yourself in the aroma of burning coal, ghee, and the different spices. You could just lie down on a cot and count the stars, while they prepared the hot litties, carefully soaked them in ghee and served them on a salpatar bati with chokha, bharta and chilli fry.

In the silence of the night, when your only companions are the occasional sound of trains whishing fast, or of a few trucks speeding ahead, the smiling face of the brothers enquiring everyone, “Aur do dey kya?”, with that litti chokha in your hand, you could find the other facet of West Bengal. In this so-called unsafe land, where coal mafia is a common term, if for a while, you could forget everything and listen to the banters of the truck drivers, you would have wondered like me, “What a life they have! Travelling every day from one place to another, risking their lives – is it worth it? Or is it the true adventure?”

If you ever happen to be in Asansol in the winters, instead of visiting the Galaxy malls and other upcoming malls, take a walk through the city. Visit the schools which the Brothers have moulded with their patience and care. Visit the coal mines, which forms the backbone of not just this city but our West Bengal. And, during one of those wintry chilly nights of January, when the stars smile at you from the clear sky, go to this lonely litti chokha shop and savour the true taste of North India in West Bengal.

Image Courtesy: World Wide Web, Subhankar Biswas and Our Friend Asish Toppo

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