Bengali Culture And Lifestyle is all about the culturescape of Bengal as well as Kolkata – the city with many heritage architectures, sites and lifestyle practices that have become icons over the years. Along with the colonial buildings, there are different heritage sites like century-old sweet shops and eateries, parks, theatres, serpentine lanes as well as unique lifestyle and cultural practices like Adda and music which have become synonymous with the characteristics of the Kolkatan Bengalis around the world.
In this section, we will write and introspect about this rich heritage which is instrumental in shaping our opinions and thought processes. Bengali Culture & Lifestyle section will share with you the history of the heritage places in Bengal, the personalities whose ideologies inspire us until today, our art and music, the books and films that touch our souls. And also some parenting tips and experiences.
Motherhood…A journey which has no fixed directions, no fixed schedules, and no fixed approaches. Most of the times, a new mother becomes clueless about how to go about and efficiently manage everything, – feeding her baby, cleaning, bathing, preparing baby to sleep, playing with her baby alongside household chores, taking care of elderly members of the household, and/or doing a home based job or freelancing. … Continue reading Nanny – To Hire Or Not To Hire
Has the time arrived when you would be saying farewell to your baby for a few hours of the day? Are you stressed out because your baby will be spending time with someone whom you hardly know? But, what options do we have – Should we leave our job? Or, should we unplug our parents from their hometown to take care of OUR babies? Or… … Continue reading The Benefits of Daycare
“Saanjher belay jomunar jol ante bole ke? Naa jani kon kaalar sathey mon mojeche…. Saanjher belay jomunar jol……..” (An excerpt from the Radha Krishnar Poter Gaan) The age-old myths and their manifestations do exist in this era of rationality and technical gluttony. Some months ago, I got a chance to walk on the soil where the painters of a forgotten genre are still fighting for … Continue reading The scroll painters of Naya – the village of myths and lores
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. Continue reading Asansol- From A Different Angle
College Street, Kolkata, situated in the heart of the city is a 1.5 km long street where bookfairs take place every day. Back in 1817 David Hare had established the Hindu College (now known as Presidency University) with support of a few eminent figures of Bengali and European Communities respectively. In honor to the college,the then governor general Lord Wellesley, who introduced the construction of … Continue reading College Street Boipara – Hosting Book Fairs Everyday
Among the other challenges of parenthood, one major one is Parenting style. The tussle between the new parenting style and the orthodox parenting style is an inevitable concern of the new generation parents – each one wants the best for the new member of the family – but the approach differs! Continue reading Parenting style – The New Parents And The Grands
Incident 1: Smita (name changed) is a mother of an eight-month-old boy. Last month she was considering suicide as she felt that she had failed in her career by choosing to stay at home post pregnancy as well as failed as a mother because she was unable to cope with the impromptu demands of her baby. Incident 2: Meenal (name changed) is a mother of … Continue reading Postpartum Depression – An Unacknowledged Destructor
“Shushkotar, rukkhotar oboshaan jodi chaan Baaro maash onge mekhe nin Surobhito antiseptic cream Boroline”…. (An excerpt from the famous Boroline jingle sung by Srabanti Majumdar of Boroline er Songsar fame) With the embark of the winter months every year, whiffs of a sweet, familiar fragrance can also be caught in the Bengali homes. There is no prize for guessing that the fragrance belongs to a … Continue reading The World Of Boroline
The charm of Durga Puja Kolkata is known to by far all and many. But, this article shares about the traditional Durga Puja that’s still performed in villages. It elaborates the aroma of sandhya arati, and mysticism surrounding dhunuchinaach. A reflection About two years ago, we self-invited ourselves to be a part of the Durga Puja celebrations of the Datta Household of Mathmalaypur, located in … Continue reading The Durga Puja away from Kolkata at the Datta Household
Hello! When there’s a toddler in the house, he/she runs the show and you know it WELL when: Books are written not for ‘reading’ but for ‘reading out’ to an eager pair of ears. Relaxation ‘might’ be expected only after the toddler retires for the night. Songs can be played only on demand and in one single loop till the time you put your foot … Continue reading The Topsy-Turvy House
