A short Tour to Kolkata- Part-1

Statue of Rabindranath Tagore

Last month of this year my friends were came to me from Deheradun. They were came Kolkata with their families and two wishes, one is to see Durga Puja which is world famous and second one is Kolkata Tour. Their first wish was fulfilled.

Their second wish was to ‘Kolkata Darshan’( visit to Kolkata). Kolkata, this name is not very old, during the time of leftist Government ruling in West Bengal, especially at the time of Mr. Budhyadeb Bhattacharya as the Chief Minister of Bengal, he renamed this “City of Joy’ ‘Kolkata’. Earlier about 300 years it was known as ‘Calcutta’ for the world.  This is an old city which was established by the British Ruler as this city was their capital of their colonial country. In the year 1857, a history famous battle was fought between Shiraj-Ud-Doulla, Nawab of Bengal and British Army Chief, Lord Carzon at Palasi battle field of Murshidabad. That battle had changed the fate of India and the administrative baton was transferred from Desi Nawab to British Rulers. Thereafter, the British Rulers were won entire India gradually.

One of my friends of Kolkata has a car rental agency. I told him to arrange one big vehicle where 12/13 persons can be accommodated easily and also a driver who knows Kolkata properly. That friend of mine kept his word and arranged as per my requirement. 

We were started our Kolkata tour from Excide More. This is the junction, from where anybody can get transport for any part of the city.

Calcutta Club- Kolkata

Calcutta Club: This is the first Bengali club which was established in the year 1907 and the first president was Mr. Nriependra Narayan, the Maharaja of Cooch Bihar of North Bengal. Lord Minto, the Viceroy of British Government was the first white member of this club. The most noticeable matter is that, before 2007, only men were permitted for membership as per the constitution of the club; after 2007, which point was changed and women are allowed for membership. This is situated on A.J.C.B. Road, Kolkata-20.

Gagendra Nath Shilpa Pradarshanshala

Gagendra Nath Shilpa Pradarshanshala: This is an Art Gallery for Art Exhibitions. It is situated on A.J.C.B. Road, Kolkata-20 and opposite to Calcutta Club.

Sisir Mancha- Kolkata

Sisir Mancha: It is situated on A.J. Bose Road, Kolkata-20 and adjacent to Gagendra Nath Shilp Pradarshanshala. This is an auditorium which was dedicated to the famous Bengali Stage Actor Sirsir Kumar Bhaduri. This auditorium was inaugurated in the year 1978.

Nandan-Kolkata

Nandan: This is also an auditorium for Film and Cultural Programmes. It is situated beside of Sisir Mancha. This auditorium is sponsored by the West Bengal State Government. It was inaugurated on October 1985.

Rabindra Sadan- Kolkata

Rabindra Sadan: This is a famous auditorium for cultural and theatre center. This is situated beside of Nandan. It was inaugurate by the former Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in the month of October 1967. This auditorium was dedicated in the name of the world famous Bengali poet, Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore.

Purulia-06- Dances and Songs and Crafts

Natua Dance: This is an ancient dance form of this district. Natua means Nataraj which was performed by Lord Shiva. There is a mythological believe that the Nandi & Vringi the two wel known devotees of Lord Shiva were performed this kind of dance at the time of marriage of their lord with Goddess Durga. This dance is not so easy to perform; it is very acrobatic dance form with many tricks with fire are involved in this dance form.
Bhuang: this is another dance form which performed by the tribes at the time autumn. This is a emotional piece of dance which dancers are use one kind of instrument called bhuyung which has very distinct sound.
Jhumur:  Another most famous folk music of this district. The most remarkable and originality of this song is that this form does not follow any definite form. This is also very popular and significant for its lyric and literary of ancient language among the Santali, Munda, Oraon, Kharia, Jhumur songs are different for different festivals. Mdal, Flutie, drum, etc all typical instruments are played during Jhumur songs. The specialty of Jhumur is that its expresses sorrow and joy of the common people with their lifestyle, their dreams, their dissatisfactions, etc. the characteristic of such Jhumur is love and kindness for life.
Birta Dance: This is also a traditional dance of Purulia district. Generally women who are unable to give birth of child perform this kind of dance to admire their God after fulfilling their wishes. This kind of dance is only can be performed by the women. It is belief that their children are born due to the blessing of God. So they are very thankful to their God and such dance is performed to worship to God.

Picture of Fishes- Patua Art

Picture of Goddess Manasa- Patua Art

Patua Art: Patua Art means, an art which is performed on the pot.Generally the patua artists are belonging to the villages. They learn this art generation after generation, from father to son or daughter. The Patua artists are generally picked the vital portion of epic like Ramayana and Mahabharata; not only that they also consider the local theme for their Patua art. They also consider the tribal lifestyle and Birgatha (heroic life of their surroundings. They are generally try to describe the story of their theme of art. The patua artists are generally show their art at any Mela or fair to the local and gathered public and earn some money.    Sometime this art is also performed on long cloths. At the time of showing the arts they narrate the basic story of the picture on sing format. This kind of traditional art is almost disappeared as the same has not publicity and development policy adopt by the Government. Patua artists are not getting enough income showing such art publicly; so that, the next generation is not being interested very much to carry this traditional art form. Recently,  the state and as well as Central Government of India have taken some effective step to survive such traditional and ancient art form.

Purulia- Part-05=Festival & Culture

Manasa Pua: Manasa is the Goddess of Snake. It comes at the last day of Sraban month of Bengali Calendar. This time is rainy season in Bengal Calendar. Generally on 15th or 16th of the August month people worship such Goddess of Snake. It is the faith of common people mainly of villagers that admire to the Goddess Manasa will protect them from snake bite; because most of the farmers are passed their time at the cultivation field, so naturally snake bite fears are very common of them.
Chata Parab: This is a famous Santali Parab or festival. According to the custom and tradition, the representative of the Phnchakot  Royal Family strat this festival by rising one white umbrella. This festival comes every year at mid of the September and as per Bengali calendar Bhadra month. A big fair is arranged during this time and huge Santhali people are gathered here from various parts of the adjacent districts. Special type of songs and dance are being performed during this festival like Naachin, Pata, etc and such dance and songs are normally continue throughout the night.

Bhadu Festival: This is very popular festival of this district and it generally held at the mid of August and continue upto the mid of September.  This is the faith of the common people of Purulia that worshiping Bhadu Devi means childless woman will bear children. Generally folk women arrange this worship and they sing various related songs to admire Devi Bhadu.
Karam Festival: This is also very famous folk festival in Bengal especially at Purulia. This festival is generally arranged within the middle of August to September of every year. During this festival different crops with full of big dhamas are offered to the God. These dhamas’ full crops are kept for seeds for further cultivation.





Bandhana Parab: this is another remarkable festival of Purulia. Bandana Parab means worshiping festival. It celebrates during the time of autumn or specifically say in the month of October of every year. Bandana Parab is actually welcomes or worshiping of Goddess of Grains.
Tushu Festival: This is also very famous festival of Bengal. This festival is generally show the colorful lifestyle and musical ceremony of tribes. Normally this festival is held in the month of December of every year and such fair is arranges on the bank of the river. During this festival, women are generally exchange their wealth and cook eight verities of foods and lastly offer to the Tusu Goddess.
Palash Parban: This festival is comes on March of every year during the color festival Holi. The whole world knows that Holi is a famous festival of India.  Each and every corner of the country this festival of color is being celebrate every year with very pride and joy. In Purulia, it celebrates for three days and entire arrangement is made by the villagers. On the occasion of this festival various traditional dance and songs are performed by the artists of villages. Last year i.e. on 2013, this program was organized by the Edge of India Purulia Co-Operative.
Other than these eminent festivals, there are so many festivals are organized by the villagers like DurgaPuja, Kali Puja, Saraswati Puja, Rass Mela, etc.