Just About Everything

North Kolkata's Nalin Sarkar Street and Nabin Pally near Hathibagan, are well-known for the artistic and ethnic durga puja pandals. Here are some pictures from Nalin Sarkar Street and Nabin pally Durga puja 2016.These pandals are based on Tribal and Rajasthani themes. Nalin Sarkar Street Durga Puja 2016 Nabin Pally Durga Puja 2016 More Durga puja pictures from North Kolkata: Durga puja 2016, creative pandals and idols from North Kolkata Kolkata Durga Puja 2016, Telengabagan and Karbagan, Ultadanga, Kolkata

Happy Holi! This ancient Indian festival that celebrates the beginning of spring, harmony, love, and forgiveness, has made inroads into hearts of people all over the world. This festival of colour is celebrated by people from all walks of life and that in my mind is the best thing about any festival, a festival that brings joy to everyone! Holi is all about colours because it marks the beginning of spring. Holi means bringing colour (joy) in our lives and letting go of darkness (sadness). Derived from the word " Holika ", Holi is all about celebrating the goodness in everything. The celebrations begin from the night before Holi, a bonfire is lit,   signifying the burning of evil (Holika) and the victory of good. People gather around the bonfire, snack on roasted peanuts and sesame laddus (sweet)  and have great fun bonding with family and friends during this time. I wish this Holi brings abundance of joy, well-being, success, good health, and most of all, love,...

Goddess Durga Today is the Maha Ashtami day of Durga puja, among other pujas on Ashtami, Sandhi puja happens to be quite a significant puja in Ashtami. Devi Durga is worshiped with 108 diyas, 108 lotus flowers and garlands made of hibiscus and leaves. I managed to capture a part of the Sandhi puja today. Sandhi puja is supposed to be very significant because it is believed that Durga killed Chando and Mundo the two asuras at this time, and Durga is worshiped in her Chamunda form during Sandhi puja. Most of the times, Sandhi puja happens around midnight or even later at night. It quite an experience to listen to mantras and the dhaks (drums) during that time of  the night when there is silence all around. Quite a spiritual experience actually! This time though it was at 3.45pm in the afternoon. Leaving you with this video, though this video is not very good, the sound of the drums and ambiance really makes it quite an experience. Happy pujas.

Happy "Holi"day everyone. I wish each of you everlasting happiness now and every day of your life. Although, these days I am not so much into playing Holi but I enjoy the day nevertheless. The high positive energy that this day brings is absolutely infectious! Everybody is in such high spirits! You can't but get affected by it. As a child I used to love playing Holi, it was great fun to run wild! Our Holi get-together would usually happen in an Army club, my parents would have their own group of friends, and we children were allowed to just be… What fun! And every year, there was this standard lunch for Holi…Chole bhature, and I loved it! Never got tired of it. I still remember the taste. The colour from our hands would kind of mix with the gravy, and we happily gobbled that...nothing happened! I can't dream of being that bindas these days! I guess now I know why I can survive without any stomach problems, even after having a lot of pani-puris from the road s...

Beautifully sculpted  Durga idol These are some beautiful Durga idols from South Kolkata, Durga Puja 2011. I will continue to post more Durga puja pictures. Today is Navami. I am feeling sad that tomorrow will bring an end to this five day long festival. Time to say bye to Ma Durga and the amazingly beautiful puja pandals. Durga idol handcrafted by artists from Krishnanager, West Bengal Durga image 2011  Beuatiful and exquisite Duga idol Kolkata Durga puja 2011 Creative modern Durga idol South Kolkata Durga pandal Goddess Durga image Pandal made with glass Hindusthan Park, Kolkata Durga Idol Hindusthan Park, Kolkata Jute Duga Pandal Kolkata Durga Idol

In Bhowanipur we met up with our friend and after a refreshing cup of tea, off we went visiting a few more banedi baris Our first stop was Girish Mukherjee bari . It was aroung 7.30pm when we reached Girish bari. My friend who is a resident of Bhowanipur knows the family. Thanks to him, I got to see another Durga idol in a beautiful old house. When we reached there, there was a family gathering in the coutyard and a game was in progress, the whole family had got together and they were playing group games, mainly quizzing etc. The whole ambience exuded warmth and a happy feeling. Girish Mukherjee bari Mallik Bari Next stop and the last banedi bari that I visited this durga puja was Mallik bari. Last Durga pujas I barely could find my way in, it was so crowned. Mainly because Tollywood actor Koel Mallik is a daughter of this family and she was visiting. This time when we reached, she was not there, so there wasn't much crowd. I could take a lots of photographs of the house and Goddes...