Just About Everything

An artist at Kumartuli One of the most popular festivals of Bengal, Durga puja begins. Durga puja celebrates the victory of Goddess Durga over the evil demon Mahishasura. This five day festival begins with Shashti, which was yesterday, and ends on Dusshera (Vijaya Dashami). Kolkata is so very festive during this time, and like every year, the city has turned into an artistic hub with amazing display of creative Durga puja pandals and idols…This festival combines art, music, food, and to me it is not a religious festival but a festival that celebrates the power of good over all things evil. I went out on a tour early morning on Pachami, and saw quite a few beautiful and creative pandals. Some of the pandals were ready, while some were on the last stages of completion.  In Kumartuli where almost all the idols are made, idol makers were busy completing the idols.  To begin with, I am posting  quite a different looking pandal. They have created a train station and a ...

Baul mela 2015 Last weekend was Baul weekend at Jadvapur, Kolkata. Like every year Baul mela was organized at Shaktigarh, Jadavpur. And like every year it was indeed a treat listening to bauls sing till the wee hours of morning. Not only was it a musical treat, the mela had a lot of interesting stalls; musical instruments, paintings, fabrics, and delicious food as well! Among other things, my favourite sweets, pattishapta and hot jalebis were indeed the hot favourites. Definitely the best way to begin the year. Absolutely out of the world! I am including a Baul song video at the end of this post. Baul singing at Baul mela Jadavpur Bauls at the Jadavpur mela musical instruments Pattishapta- A bengali sweet Jalebis- fried and crispy sweets

Sharing a very brief video of idol immersion. You will get a glimpse of idol immersion in the Ganges. The water and the lights make the whole scene dreamy and peaceful. Not a very clear video but you can make out the boats at a distance.

Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of the most popular festivals in India. On this day in Bengal, Goddess Kali is worshiped. Fireworks are an essential part of this festival and are very popular. So much so that fireworks competitions are organized in quite a few areas in Kolkata. In Jadavpur, every year, a fireworks competition is organized on Diwali. Usually, there are Fountain fireworks (Anars) on display. If any of the fireworks were to burst then the participants would get disqualified. The participants give interesting names to their fireworks. This brief clipping will give you an idea.

On Diwali day there is quite a popular fireworks competition in Jadavpur, Kolkata. Innovative names are given to each of them, and the participant comes forward and lights the anar (fountain firework) . If it bursts, you get disqualified.  Quite an interesting competition! I captured a part of it.

Ma Durga Happy Diwali to everyone.May this diwali bring you happiness, success, well being, and much much more. Wish you a wonderful year ahead. I am sharing some more beautiful creations with you. simple and pretty pandal  Durga idol Durga puja 2012, pandal Puja pandal in Salt Lake Kolkata, 2012 Durga idol in Salt lake Beautiful pandal at Salt lake Another creative pandal Durga Salt Lake FD block Durga idol in FD block, Salt Lake, Kolkata  Pandal decorations in FD block Salt Lake A pandal in Salt Lake Kolkata  Interiors of a pandal in Salt Lake, Kolkata Beautiful idol of Goddess Durga

Streak throated Woodpecker at CKBS Kolkata Chintamani Kar bird sanctuary (CKBS), is located quite close to South Kolkata. Birders in Kolkata frequent CKBS quite often because of the wide variety of birds that can be sighted. Chintamani Kar bird sanctuary (CKBS) is around 12 kms from Eastern Metropolitan Bypass and takes around 15 mins by car. My cousin, Soma, who is an active birder, captured some interesting birding activity last month. With the mercury hitting the highest high last month, Kolkata was burning! I am sharing some pictures that she took. The birds in the pictures are bathing and quenching their thirst.  Some of the birds that she sighted are Streak throated Woodpecker , Common Mynah,Red vented Bulbul, Jungle Babblers, Asian Pied Starling, Orange headed Thrush, Oriental Magpie Robin, Slaty legged Crake, White breasted Waterhen, and White throated Fantail. I think it might be a good idea to keep a container filled with water in our gardens and...

I love Kolkata, there is no doubt about it. The city has always been nice to me, there is still a sense of security and comfort about the city. I remember when I was out of Kolkata for about 10 months or so, I really missed it. I missed it even more when I had trouble commuting. I don't think there is any other city that provides such a lot of options in terms of public transport, Bus, trams, autos, metro, local trains, taxis, cycle rickshaws... I would wait for autos and they would refuse to go or charge an exorbitant amount and even then you may not get dropped till your doorstep. I used to want to come back to Kolkata because no matter I would always get taxis to anywhere. There has never ever been a problem as far as commuting in Kolkata goes. It has been quite a few years since then, and I may be changing my opinion on that. Last Friday I went through an experience that I think many Kolkattans face these days. I did not have the car with me. When I came out of my office...

I am sharing a few snaps taken by my cousin, Soma, who is an avid bird watcher. All three birds from Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary, Narendrapur, Kolkata, India. This little garden is an amazing place for all kinds of birds all through the year.It often keeps throwing up surprises like the rare Grey-bellied Cuckoo that was spotted there recently, first time corroborated by photographs. Grey bellied Cuckoo Emerald Dove Large tailed Nightjar

We have been blessed by rains... Have got some respite from the hot-hot weather. Sharing a song from "Wake up Sid". I love this song.

It is so hot that it feels unimaginable how bad it will be in May! It seems such an ideal time to go north and enjoy the pleasant weather... Coupled with the bad weather, the frequent power cuts are trying my patience:( I am hoping we get some rains soon. In the meantime, I am going to live on gallons and gallons of fruit juice:) Have a cool weekend.

Happy Diwali. Wish you happiness, prosperity, good health, peace and all things you desire. May all your dreams come true. May the festival of light always keep your spirits high.