Just About Everything

I had the most wonderful weekend! Saw some great baul performances at the annual baul mela. It is organized at the Shaktigarh math in Jadavpur, Kolkata (WB), every year in January. This time thankfully it happened to be a weekend (January 5th-6th 2013)! Shaktigarh math looked like mini Shantiniketan. The highlight of course was baul performers mesmerizing the audience with wonderfully soulful compositions, and the mela with lots of food to gorge on, and handicrafts on sale from Shantiniketan. I am sharing a video of one of the baul performances.Hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I did.

Posting some more bird pictures. Some of these birds are endanged. These have been captured by Soma Jha. Intermediate Egret Asian Openbill, Black-heahed Ibis and Intermediate Egrets that breed in some villages near Shantiniketan, West Bengal, India during the monsoon months. The Ibis is endangered. Black Headed Ibis Asian Openbill

Some time back we went for a short trip to Shantiniketan (it is approx 180 kms from Kolkata) Rabindranath Tagore 's many classics have been written there. Shantiniketan is home to Viswa- Bharati University. Thanks to our in-house travel agent, my cousin, who has so much knowledge about any place, especially in India, that it never ceases to amaze me! You just have to tell her...hey i want to visit Shantiniketan, could you let me know the stuff that I should definitely not miss ! And well, not only do I get a list, i get details on the history, how to get there, what to expect and where to stay...she is so enthusiastic about travel and seeing new places that doing something like this is a passion for her. Lucky me! This time she also accompanied us. Here are some pictures of Shantiniketan and areas in and around Shantiniketan. We saw some lovely teracotta temples near Shantinekatan and Bakura. Shantinketan was a wonderful experience. We went there in the later part of monsoons. T...