Ramblings of a 70-year old: #kolkata

Showing posts with label #kolkata. Show all posts

Saturday, November 12, 2022

Ganga Vilas cruise, the longest river journey of 50 days, will sail from Varanasi to Dibrugarh

The government of India will launch the world's longest luxury cruise. It will be a 50-day cruise and will sail from Varanasi to Dibrugarh through Bangladesh next year. This is an attempt of the government to push inland water development in the country. In an interview, the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said that the Ganga Vilas cruise will sail will cover 27 river systems and visit over 50 tourist sites including World Heritage Sites. The tentative date of starting is January 10 from Varanasi. The route will pass-through Kolkata and Dhaka and cover a distance of 4,000 km before reaching Bogibeel in Assam on March 1. This Ganga Vilas cruise will be the single largest river journey by a river ship in the world and will see both India and Bangladesh on the cruise map of the world. Govt to launch world's longest river cruise of 4,000 km from Varanasi next year.

The minister said development of coastal and river shipping, including cruise services, is one of the priorities of the government. He said – “besides promoting passenger traffic on rivers, the development of inland waterway systems would also facilitate trade and cargo services and give a boost to tourism around the areas along its route." The cruise will operate on a PPP model and the operators will decide ticket pricing. The route will cover almost 1,100 km in Bangladesh before re-entering India while sailing via the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route. This route has opened trade and transit channels between India and Bangladesh as it connects the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers.

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and police to conduct a joint survey on hawkers in Gariahat, south Kolkata

During the pandemic, police stations collected data on hawkers in their respective areas. The present exercise by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and police is to find out whether there are more hawkers than the numbers registered during a survey in 2015. Such an exercise will help them to identify hawkers who have encroached on roads or are occupying more space than allotted. It will begin with Gariahat in south Kolkata and move out to Hatibagan and New Market. Officials of KMC and police representatives met with hawker leaders at the civic headquarters to fix the dates for the survey. Incidentally, hawkers have already taken over most of the footpaths. As a police officer said - “The number of current hawkers will be compared to the 2015 data. It is apparent that there has been a rise. With this survey, we will be able to quantify the gap.” Survey to identify hawkers encroaching on Kolkata roads starts on Wednesday.

Hawkers encroach on footpaths and force pedestrians to walk on roads, even at the cost of their lives or limbs. It was necessary to ensure “at least walking space” for pedestrians to protect them from road accidents. A senior official of KMC said - “The hawkers who are found to be sitting with the wares on a road will be asked to pack off immediately. Those who occupy more than onethird of a pavement’s width will be asked to remain within the space specified for them.” It seems the Town Vending Committee took the decision to keep two-thirds of the width of footpaths free. Hawkers have almost completely taken over the footpaths in Gariahat, Hatibagan and New Market.

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Trekking in Sikkim near the Kanchenjunga Mountain

Sikkim provides amazing views of the Khangchendzonga Mountain. This is the third highest peak in the world and it towers over hills in most part of the state. Experts take the route up the Dzongri-Goechala to go near to Kanchenjunga and its sister peaks. This used to be the only popular trek route in Sikkim. However, Green Lake Trek is another option in north Sikkim. It takes one to the northeast base of Kanchenjunga. Sikkim always had a limited trekking option but the tourism department of the state is exploring possibilities of developing new trek routes. It gave the responsibility of this to a noted mountaineer and explorer from Kolkata. He has been exploring the great east ridge of Kanchenjunga since 2011 and in 2022, the Government of Sikkim appointed him. His task was to survey and evaluate possibilities of developing several new, eco-friendly and sustainable trails that would lead to the interiors of the great east ridge of Kanchenjunga. Accordingly, he explored the southern part of the great east ridge with Siniolchu in the north. He discovered a new route that led to the Zumthul Phuk Glacier, with a beautiful glacial lake. Zumthul Phuk Glacier in Sikkim: A new route beckons trekkers.

The initial part of the exploratory route followed the pilgrim route to the Tholung Monastery. This is located in the Dzongu region of north Sikkim which is just a day’s trek from the nearest road-head Bey. Mukherjee and his team of local sherpas from Dzongu region made their way through the Zumthul Phuk River gorge towards the Zumthul Phuk Glacier. He felt a proper trail along the route would help trekkers reach the glacier snout in two days from Temrong. He is hopeful that his discovery could open up a new trek route in Sikkim. That would help trekkers to try their hands on a relatively easy route to reach the base of one of the most beautiful peaks of the Himalayas. He warns that over-tourism can be disastrous to the already fragile ecosystem. If not cautious, it could destroy one of the least physically explored areas of the world.

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

A cyclonic circulation developing over the Andaman Sea threatens Kolkata with rains during Diwali

Kolkata might have to face rains during Diwali to be celebrated on October 24. This could be because of a fresh weather system developing over the Andaman Sea. The Met forecast says the cyclonic circulation could get stronger. The director-general of India Meteorological Department provided details. He explained - “A cyclonic circulation has formed over the central and adjoining north Andaman Sea and its neighbourhood. It is expected to move west-northwestwards. Around October 20-21, it is expected to be over the central Bay of Bengal as a low-pressure area. By October 22, it will become a depression.” He cautioned the people against jumping into a premature conclusion that the system would turn into a cyclone. He admitted that - “What happens after the system turns into a depression is still not clear. The IMD is constantly monitoring the system.” Bay of Bengal system threatens rain in Kolkata on Diwali. He concluded that it might be a rainy Diwali in Kolkata.

The deputy director-general of IMD, Kolkata informed that the Met office would soon issue a detailed forecast for Diwali. It would cover the expected spread and intensity of the rain. According to a Met official, the months of May and October-November are the pre-and post-monsoon months. These are favorable for cyclonic storms because the sea surface temperature is on the higher side. Incidentally, a weather system draws on the heat and moisture to gain strength on the sea. The IMD radar system atop the New Secretariat building on Strand Road is under repairs. IMD and ISRO are involved in the work and it would be complete by year-end, or the beginning of next year. It was imported from Germany in 2002 and two more radar will arrive in Kolkata in a couple of years.

Friday, October 14, 2022

Unique flower market of Kolkata at Mullick Ghat on the banks of the Hooghly

Flowers are required for any ritual from different pujas and birthdays to wedding and death. When the requirement is for bulk supply, all eyes focus on the wholesale market at Mullick Ghat in Kolkata. It is located on the banks of the Hoogly River opposite the Howrah Railway Station and comes to life with the first rays of the sun. The flower sellers arrive at dawn by train with the fresh flowers from their far-off villages. It is not just about flowers, but innumerable decorations with flowers that has survived for well over a century. Rammohan Mullick built the ghat in 1855. It was in memory of his father Nimai Charan Mullick. Another ghat known as the Jagannath Ghat, built by Shobharam Basak in 1760, stands right next to the Mullick Ghat. The history of how the flower trade originated at Mullick Ghat is not known. However, it might have links to the religious factor related to pilgrims heading to Puri. Today, this ghat is one of the most vibrant, active and crowded sections of the Hooghly along Kolkata. Mullick Ghat market: Saying it with flowers for well over a century. In the words of a member of the seller’s association of the market, this part of Kolkata attracts innumerable people every day.

They come from different parts of Bengal regularly and the market caters to all kinds of budgets. This is [one of] Asia’s largest flower markets. It is a fact that like other businesses elsewhere, this has also dwindled. The sellers have to be content with negligible profits. However, the endless varieties of requirements for different rituals and festivals that happen throughout the year brings home something extra. As a veteran explains - “Ever since the pandemic, the sales at the market are not encouraging or healthy at all, and we are just able to make ends meet.” When one comes across a flower or a flower decoration when in Kolkata, one must remember that such a creation is a result of the hard toil and daily struggle of countless people. They include those who grow them and transport them from far-off villages to the market in Kolkata.

Monday, October 10, 2022

Fort William restarts heritage walk for civilians

This is an 18th-century building and houses HQ, Eastern Command, Kolkata. There used to be a heritage walk around Fort William but COVID-19 led to its suspension for two years. This suspension is withdrawn. The building has a rich collection of army history starting from the Battle of Plassey. Visitors enjoy seeing parts of the 18th-century history and storing bits and pieces of information. There are various heritage buildings on the campus. These include a chapel-cum-library. It bears a strong resemblance to the chapel of the Trinity Hall in Cambridge, the Kitchener House and its grand dining table. There are also the Dalhousie barracks where Netaji was kept before being shifted to his Elgin House residence. While inaugurating the walk, Chief of Staff Lt Gen. K.K. Repswal, HQ, Eastern Command, said - “We used to have heritage walks in 2019 but because of the pandemic, it was stopped for two years. Today, we are resuming the walk. You will get to see a lot of war history, about life in Fort William and see the heritage structures here.” Heritage walk resumes at Fort William after pandemic break. Calcutta Heritage Collective arranged the inaugural walk. This is a group created to restore, revive and reuse built heritage in the city and the state.

The shape of Fort William is octagonal. Five of its sides face the land while the remaining three face the Hooghly. Moreover, there is a 9m deep and 15m wide moat. Incidentally, there used to be a fort built near where the GPO stands today. The British East India Company built it between 1698 and 1706. They named it after King William III. The current fort, too, gets its name. Anyway, in 1756, the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-daulah, attacked the old fort and took over the city. He renamed it Alinagar. Subsequently, the British constructed the new fort in the Maidan area in 1758. It was after the Battle of Plassey and completed in 1781. There are three layers of defense for the fort. These are the rampart walls, the moat (now dry) and a garden called Vatika. Incidentally, the fort has six gates, large enough for elephants to enter. Apart from these, there are nearly 500 cannons made dysfunctional after the British left. The Command Museum, built in 1956 and redesigned in 2010, narrates the story of the Eastern Command, World War II, the Burma Campaign, the Sino-Indian conflict and the Bangladesh Liberation War.

Thursday, September 29, 2022

It is festival time in Kolkata with Navratri and Durga Puja

West Bengal and its capital Kolkata are famous for the large-scale, opulent pujas. The organizers work night and day to present artistic creations that attract people from not just different parts of Bengal and from all over the country, but even globally. This has been made possible because of the recognition accorded by UNESCO in 2021. It has granted recognition in the form of Heritage Status to 'Durga Puja in Kolkata.' This is inscribed in its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Those who plan a trip to Kolkata during the festival can expect memorable experiences of gorging on yummy food, praying to Goddess Durga, pandal hopping, and loving every bit of the festivities. These are what Durga puja is all about. Eat, pray, love! 5 things to do while visiting Kolkata during Durga Puja 2022; visit THESE top 20 pandals. It has to be remembered that pandal hopping translates into crowds and hot and humid surroundings. It is better to wear comfortable footwear because you might have to walk long distances and remain in queue for a long time to get a darshan of the idols and the magnificent pandals.

There is a craze among some people to visit 'Bonedi bari' puja. These are family pujas dating back to centuries and involve aristocratic households. There is no commercialization and they do not go in for glamor and glitz of the baroyari pujas. The number of such families is few and the uniqueness is that on this annual festival, members of the family come together from far corners of the world. These turn out to be unforgettable homecomings. Of course, food lovers enjoy street foods, sweets and eating out at the city's famous restaurants. From fuchka (or the gol gappa or pani puri) to jhal muri (puffed rice with special spices) and the famous Kolkata roll – the list is a long one. In many restaurants, food lovers may have to wait in queues for their turn.

Durga Puja from outside India and within –

13 Best Durga Puja in London UK 2022

14 Best Durga Puja in New York USA 2022

2022 Durga Puja Calendar for Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Tourist hotels in Puri, Darjeeling and Digha –

GosaniYatra or The Durga Puja of Puri

Darjeeling hotels brim with tourists

How Can You Enjoy Durga Puja At Affordably Priced Hotel In Digha?

Some popular stories of this blogger –

US Vice President Kamala Harris on a visit to South Korea and will visit the Demilitarized Zone DMZ also

Life of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after the era of Queen Elizabeth II

Shoppers enjoy last minute Puja shopping in Gariahat, New Market and Hatibagan

Typhoon Noru strikes Vietnam, hundreds evacuated from popular beach resort city of Da Nang

Hurricane Ian struck the western tip of the island, left millions of Cubans without power and is headed towards Florida

Shooting incident in school in Russia kills at least 17, injures another 24 - gunman takes his own life

Curd based delicious foods like mishit doi, boondi raita and lassi

Freight train services resume between North Korea and China after a brief suspension due to pandemic

Durga Puja and senior citizens of Kolkata

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Shoppers enjoy last minute Puja shopping in Gariahat, New Market and Hatibagan

With a few days left for the Durga Puja, the markets and malls across the city of Kolkata wore a festive look. There were crowds of enthusiastic puja shoppers, many of them without masks. The focal points were in Gariahat, New Market and Hatibagan. People arrived early in the day and kept increasing as time passed. Many of the shopkeepers at these markets kept their shops open for a longer time to take advantage of the rush. Shops that sold clothes, jewelry, bags and crockery were a huge hit amongst the shoppers. Even the food stalls were kept busy making rolls and spiced cold drinks. The customers included both shoppers and passersby. Similar scenes were witnessed outside the Esplanade metro station with people making a beeline for New Market. As evening descended, the crowd grew in size. A senior official of South City Group said - “The Saturday footfall was around 1.2 lakh. Going by the trend till evening, today’s count should be more.” another official of Acropolis Mall, said the entire weekend saw an impressive turnout. “This week we have seen 3 per cent more footfall and sales than 2019.” Kolkata sees rush on last Sunday before Puja, malls crowded, restaurants chock-a-block.

There was heavy police bandobast to ensure that the traffic was on the move, especially at the Gariahat intersection. The civic volunteers lifted the nylon ropes to allow people to cross the roads. Once in a while, an officer would reprimand a jaywalking pedestrian. In places like Gariahat and New Market, the pavements were jam packed with not an inch of space on the pavements. Restaurants near the shopping hubs did roaring business and witnessed a never-ending queue of people. Similar was the experience on Park Street. Obviously, there was happiness all around. A restaurant in Deshapriya Park had several people waiting outside, in queue. As the director of a restaurant admitted - “Our outlets in New Market and Hatibagan have been witnessing a rush even during the lean hours. Basically, there is no lean hour.”

Durga Puja from outside India and within –

13 Best Durga Puja in London UK 2022

14 Best Durga Puja in New York USA 2022

2022 Durga Puja Calendar for Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Tourist hotels in Puri, Darjeeling and Digha –

GosaniYatra or The Durga Puja of Puri

Darjeeling hotels brim with tourists

How Can You Enjoy Durga Puja At Affordably Priced Hotel In Digha?

Some popular stories of this blogger –

Typhoon Noru strikes Vietnam, hundreds evacuated from popular beach resort city of Da Nang

Hurricane Ian struck the western tip of the island, left millions of Cubans without power and is headed towards Florida

Shooting incident in school in Russia kills at least 17, injures another 24 - gunman takes his own life

Curd based delicious foods like mishit doi, boondi raita and lassi

Freight train services resume between North Korea and China after a brief suspension due to pandemic

Durga Puja and senior citizens of Kolkata

China hurls accusations at the United States on the Taiwan issue

Mahalaya brings a festive flavor in Bengal due to Durga Puja

Charm of the snake boat race in Kerala, known as ‘God’s own Country’

Sunday, September 25, 2022

Durga Puja and senior citizens of Kolkata

In the fast-paced world of today, most of the senior citizens belong to a neglected lot. Their families do not want to recognize their presence and they might even discover themselves in old age homes. It could have been forced upon them due to circumstances beyond their control. Or - they might have opted for such an existence in order to survive. During a major festival like the Durga Puja, old timers in this category deserve a better deal. It is not possible for them to negotiate crowded streets, serpentine queues at pandals and bumper-to-bumper traffic. Ultimately, many of them have no other alternative but to stay at home. This has led to the creation of groups who arrange to take them around and bring some cheer into their lives. Hand in hand with senior citizens for pandal-hopping. Many of these organizations arrange special packages for the elderly on special days. They offer visit to prestigious venues of the Pujas and these are not cheap.

Those who plan such outings have to keep in mind the safety and comfort of the senior citizens. Usually, they travel in air-conditioned buses with packed breakfast along with bottled water and beverages. The organizers keep ready nursing assistants, wheelchairs, medical kits etcetera and adhere to all COVID precautions. The itinerary avoids crowded and congested roads. There are also charity organizations that take around senior citizens and especially abled persons. Enthusiastic professionals from various occupations usually conduct activities of this nature. They arrange to distribute new clothes to the needy and try to bring some cheer in their dull lives.

Durga Puja from outside India and within –

13 Best Durga Puja in London UK 2022

14 Best Durga Puja in New York USA 2022

2022 Durga Puja Calendar for Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Tourist hotels in Puri, Darjeeling and Digha –

GosaniYatra or The Durga Puja of Puri

Darjeeling hotels brim with tourists

How Can You Enjoy Durga Puja At Affordably Priced Hotel In Digha?

Some popular stories of this blogger –

China hurls accusations at the United States on the Taiwan issue

Mahalaya brings a festive flavor in Bengal due to Durga Puja

Charm of the snake boat race in Kerala, known as ‘God’s own Country’

A Durga Puja in the Netherlands will distribute khichudi bhog on paper plates made by women of the Sunderbans

Chinese drones in the skies of Taiwan increase tension in the region

Rain cannot dampen the spirit of Puja shoppers 2022

Huge sea waves damage a portion of the Marine Drive between Digha and Mandarmani

At least five dead in a 7.6 magnitude earthquake in Papua New Guinea

The India Meteorological Department IMD cautions about intense rainfall activity in Odisha and West Bengal

Saturday, September 24, 2022

Mahalaya brings a festive flavor in Bengal due to Durga Puja

Durga Puja is the most important festival of Bengalis. This year it is special for Bengal because of the recognition accorded to the festival by the UNESCO heritage committee. Hence, the Puja committees have removed all stops to welcome foreign tourists to highlight the hidden talents of those of those who join hands to construct pandals and decorate them. Many of these have out-of-the-world appearances that defy expectations. It is usual for celebrities to grace the occasion of the inauguration. However, this year there appears to be an exception due to whatever reasons. Durga Puja 2022: Why did Bollywood disappear from the glittering Puja event? Fear of ED here? . As it is, there are the old traditional pujas and there are the new wave theme pujas. People flock and move from one pandal to another to enjoy the sights and sounds all around.

Incidentally, it is usual to conduct the inauguration program after Mahalaya, preferably the Panchami. This year, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated several pujas much before Panchami. Probably she had to keep in mind the changed equation in view of commodification and commercialization. Durga Puja is the quintessential Bengali festival where the city of Kolkata gives its all. The outbreak of corona forced the devotees to spend the last two years practically sitting at home. Obviously, the excitement for this year’s puja is different.

Durga Puja from outside India and within –

13 Best Durga Puja in London UK 2022

14 Best Durga Puja in New York USA 2022

2022 Durga Puja Calendar for Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Tourist hotels in Puri, Darjeeling and Digha –

GosaniYatra or The Durga Puja of Puri

Darjeeling hotels brim with tourists

How Can You Enjoy Durga Puja At Affordably Priced Hotel In Digha?

Some popular stories of this blogger –

Charm of the snake boat race in Kerala, known as ‘God’s own Country’

A Durga Puja in the Netherlands will distribute khichudi bhog on paper plates made by women of the Sunderbans

Chinese drones in the skies of Taiwan increase tension in the region

Rain cannot dampen the spirit of Puja shoppers 2022

Huge sea waves damage a portion of the Marine Drive between Digha and Mandarmani

At least five dead in a 7.6 magnitude earthquake in Papua New Guinea

The India Meteorological Department IMD cautions about intense rainfall activity in Odisha and West Bengal

NASA shelves Artemis I unmanned mission to the moon and back while China tries to keep abreast of America

I removed my heart blockage without surgery 20 years back and am still active

Monday, September 12, 2022

Rain cannot dampen the spirit of Puja shoppers 2022

Thousands of Puja shoppers braved the rains and swarmed malls and markets. Even people from nearby districts travelled to Kolkata to pick up the best on offer and make bargains. The shops in the Esplanade area were overflowing with shoppers. People traveled for hours by bus to arrive at their destination in the Lindsay Street and New Market area. Carts that sold ice creams and cold beverages did brisk business. Shoppers had to avoid the sea of umbrellas. In Gariahat area there were stalls that sold trinkets were busy as were the sari stores. The parking lot of South City Mall was packed and many cars had to park in other locations. Brisk business in malls and markets ahead of Durga Puja. Business was brisk and sellers were happy at the jump in sales.

Many of the shoppers made a beeline for the food courts, where available, to taste the exotic dishes. There was a wide variety of Indian and foreign dishes on offer. The general manager of one of the malls revealed that ethnic wear, denim and jewelry were the top picks. Many shoppers look for bargains in the end of season sale. Incidentally, food was part of the agenda of many shoppers. Eateries were busy throughout the day.

Durga Puja from outside India and within –

13 Best Durga Puja in London UK 2022

14 Best Durga Puja in New York USA 2022

2022 Durga Puja Calendar for Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Tourist hotels in Puri, Darjeeling and Digha –

GosaniYatra or The Durga Puja of Puri

Darjeeling hotels brim with tourists

How Can You Enjoy Durga Puja At Affordably Priced Hotel In Digha?

Some popular stories of this blogger –

Huge sea waves damage a portion of the Marine Drive between Digha and Mandarmani

At least five dead in a 7.6 magnitude earthquake in Papua New Guinea

The India Meteorological Department IMD cautions about intense rainfall activity in Odisha and West Bengal

NASA shelves Artemis I unmanned mission to the moon and back while China tries to keep abreast of America

I removed my heart blockage without surgery 20 years back and am still active

Money is flying in the wind - Kolkata could rename itself as the City of Crorepatis

Cheetahs went extinct in India in 1953 and the first batch of 12 new animals will arrive from South Africa soon

Tropical storm Kay strikes parts of Southern California with winds of over 100 mph

North Korea declares itself as a nuclear weapons state

Sunday, September 11, 2022

The India Meteorological Department IMD cautions about intense rainfall activity in Odisha and West Bengal

Odisha and West Bengal would experience heavy rainfall activity over the next few days. The India Meteorological Department IMD mentioned about a fresh low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, off the coasts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. It might intensify. Under its influence, there would be widespread rainfall with isolated heavy falls along with thunderstorms and lightning. The affected regions would be over Gangetic West Bengal from Sept 10-13 and over Odisha from Sept 10-14. Both these states are under orange alert. This means they could face rough weather for the periods mentioned. There are orange alerts in some districts of Odisha but not for Bengal yet. However, southern districts of Bengal, including Kolkata, will be on a yellow watch. This means ‘be aware’ of the weather situation. Odisha and West Bengal In for Very Heavy Rains from September 10-14 Thanks to Bay of Bengal-Born Low Pressure.

Areas with forecast of very heavy showers might have to tackle localized flooding, waterlogging on roads and in low-lying areas, disruption of traffic, damage to weak roads and structures, localized landslides/mudslides, reduction in visibility and damage to crops. This means the residents need to abide by weather and traffic advisories and avoid remaining in vulnerable structures and visiting flood-prone areas. The impacts caused by the Bay of Bengal low-pressure could extend to other areas like western, central, southern and northeastern parts of the country. So far, both Odisha and Bengal are in the below-average rainfall category. This deficit could have long tern effects.

Durga Puja from outside India and within –

13 Best Durga Puja in London UK 2022

14 Best Durga Puja in New York USA 2022

2022 Durga Puja Calendar for Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Tourist hotels in Puri, Darjeeling and Digha –

GosaniYatra or The Durga Puja of Puri

Darjeeling hotels brim with tourists

How Can You Enjoy Durga Puja At Affordably Priced Hotel In Digha?

Some popular stories of this blogger –

NASA shelves Artemis I unmanned mission to the moon and back while China tries to keep abreast of America

I removed my heart blockage without surgery 20 years back and am still active

Money is flying in the wind - Kolkata could rename itself as the City of Crorepatis

Cheetahs went extinct in India in 1953 and the first batch of 12 new animals will arrive from South Africa soon

Tropical storm Kay strikes parts of Southern California with winds of over 100 mph

North Korea declares itself as a nuclear weapons state

The Royal family and the world paid tributes to Queen Elizabeth II who passed away peacefully at the age of 96

Virat Kohli scores a century against Afghanistan in Asia Cup 2022, India registers a convincing win

Bengalis of Kolkata love mouthwatering dishes and Khaibaar Pass helps them choose the best

Saturday, September 10, 2022

Money is flying in the wind - Kolkata could rename itself as the City of Crorepatis

The Enforcement Directorate ED unearthed another crorepati in Kolkata – nicknamed the City of Joy. This time the crorepati happens to be a man from the Garden Reach area. Over the past month, the ED has arrested a few persons with political links and recovered crores of rupees. They are Partha Chatterjee who was a minister in the Trinamool Congress TMC government, and a woman Arpita Banerjee who was a friend of Partha. Later the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI arrested two more – they are Anubroto Mondal and Raju Sahani, both are leaders of the TMC. CBI is also a central government agency. Right now, the ED is conducting raids at multiple locations in Kolkata. It is probing an alleged case of fraud through a mobile gaming app and have zeroed in on the house of a businessman in the Garden Reach area of Kolkata. The ED has already seized Rs 17.32 crore and the figure could increase because counting is still underway. The cash, in denomination of mostly Rs 500 and Rs 2000, was concealed in several trunks in the residence. Rs 17.32 crore seized by ED in massive cash haul from Kolkata businessman in gaming app scam.

The ED has registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). This was based on a complaint filed by a bank against the accused and others for defrauding the users of a mobile gaming app called E-Nuggets. It seems they managed to gain the confidence of the users of the App by rewarding them with commission and other means. Once they gained the initial confidence, the users invested bigger amounts. Subsequently, the accused scrapped the App quoting reasons like system upgradation, investigation by LEAs etc. and erased all the data pertaining to the investors.

Durga Puja from outside India and within –

13 Best Durga Puja in London UK 2022

14 Best Durga Puja in New York USA 2022

2022 Durga Puja Calendar for Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Tourist hotels in Puri, Darjeeling and Digha –

GosaniYatra or The Durga Puja of Puri

Darjeeling hotels brim with tourists

How Can You Enjoy Durga Puja At Affordably Priced Hotel In Digha?

Some popular stories of this blogger –

Cheetahs went extinct in India in 1953 and the first batch of 12 new animals will arrive from South Africa soon

Tropical storm Kay strikes parts of Southern California with winds of over 100 mph

North Korea declares itself as a nuclear weapons state

The Royal family and the world paid tributes to Queen Elizabeth II who passed away peacefully at the age of 96

Virat Kohli scores a century against Afghanistan in Asia Cup 2022, India registers a convincing win

Bengalis of Kolkata love mouthwatering dishes and Khaibaar Pass helps them choose the best

Kolkata loves variety in foods and the Kokattans have their favorite food joints

Prince William and Kate head to school with their kids George, Charlotte and Louis

Kolkata gears up for Durga Puja rush with special buses for shoppers

Thursday, September 8, 2022

Bengalis of Kolkata love mouthwatering dishes and Khaibaar Pass helps them choose the best

TV reality shows, social media and food festivals like Khaibaar Pass have helped give an impetus to the culinary scene in Kolkata. Hotels and restaurants go all out to woo the food lovers with exotic dishes and food festivals keep creating new varieties of well-known products. Fuchka is a household name in Bengal and is known as golguppa in other places. These fall in the category of cheap fast foods. However, in Khaibaar Pass this has multiple varieties like chicken fuchka, ice cream fuchka, chocolate fuchka – the price range is several times more than that in the roadside stalls. ABP Ananda is a major media house in Bengal. It arranges an annual three-day food festival ‘Khaibaar Paas.’ This is where foodies arrive to taste unique culinary dishes from restaurants and food outlets in Bengal. The 8th edition of this food festival took in the city in March, 2022. ABP Ananda launches Khaibaar Paas food festival.

At this festival, those who love food can sample delicacies from innumerable food stalls and sees thousands of footfalls every day. The festival offers business opportunity to all those involved in the world of food and includes restaurants and food joints. There are major well-known brands who sponsor the event. Products include Biryanis, Kebabs, traditional Bengali dishes, sea food, sweets and snackable items to Mughlai, to Chinese and Lebanese dishes. In addition, there are fun games to maintain the festive mood. As an official of the network said - “Khaibaar Paas has been able to carve out a niche for itself in the Bengali food space.”

Durga Puja from outside India and within –

13 Best Durga Puja in London UK 2022

14 Best Durga Puja in New York USA 2022

2022 Durga Puja Calendar for Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Tourist hotels in Puri, Darjeeling and Digha –

GosaniYatra or The Durga Puja of Puri

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Kolkata loves variety in foods and the Kokattans have their favorite food joints

I did my school and college education in Kolkata and left the city in 1967 after getting a job in Nashik. Since then, I have lived in Nashik – the land of grapes, onions, the Godavari River and the Kumbh Mela held every 12 years. I have realized that the food joints of the 1960s still survive in Kolkata and have their share of patrons. I suddenly came across this story on 8 heritage restaurants from Kolkata and their iconic dishes. It brought back memories. The list includes two of my favorites. One of these is Aminia restaurant in the New Market area. In my college days (in 1960-61), I used to go there for a cup of its special tea. The cost was 12 paise and its taste really special!! Aminia came into existence on the Independence Day of India. Another of my favorite joints was the Indian Coffee House on College Street opposite Presidency College. This was the meeting place for the intellectuals of Bengal. Manna Dey sang a beautiful song “Coffee Houser sei addata nei aar nei.” It gives a vivid description of the life of youth in the 1960s – their ideals, visions and disappointments.

Other popular food joints are Peter Cat on Park Street described as one of the oldest restaurants in Kolkata and as famous as the Howrah Bridge. Another is Flury’s. This is a Swiss bakery also in Park Street. It has been there since 1927, the time of the British Empire. The third is 6, Ballygunge Place, a restaurant located in one of the historical places of Kolkata. Its popularity stems from its rustic ambience and Bengali meals. Incidentally, rasogolla and sandesh continue to attract everyone and Chinese foods are also getting noticed.

Durga Puja from outside India and within –

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Tourist hotels in Puri, Darjeeling and Digha –

GosaniYatra or The Durga Puja of Puri

Darjeeling hotels brim with tourists

How Can You Enjoy Durga Puja At Affordably Priced Hotel In Digha?

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Kolkata gears up for Durga Puja rush with special buses for shoppers

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Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Kolkata gears up for Durga Puja rush with special buses for shoppers

The government of West Bengal wants people to forget the woes of Covid and its restrictions that had strangled businesses for 2 years. This year the focus is on enjoying the goodies that any festival can offer. In order to satisf ay the transportation needs of the common man the West Bengal government has introduced a special bus. The intention is to satisfy the desire for shopping spree that the festivities demand. This will help the shoppers to move about and give a push to the shopping. The special bus will operate in the commercial district of the city as announced by West Bengal's minister of transport. He said the buses would be available from September 4 through September 25. This will include weekends and public holidays. These would cover the commercial districts of Gariahat, Shyambazar, and Esplanade. Moreover, between 12 PM and 9 PM, there will be special air conditioned buses throughout the commercial areas of Kolkata. Other routes to be covered would be from places like Esplanade and Howrah to other destinations in all directions. Durga Puja 2022: Kolkata launches special shopping buses for Durga Puja season till September 25.

An official of the West Bengal Transport Department explained that the action of introducing special buses for Durga Puja shoppers was taken after the outbreak of pandemic had put a brake on the festivities in the city. The Covid since 2020 prohibited people from enthusiastically celebrating Durga Pujo. However, this year there are indications that things are much better. In view of the changed scenario, the transport department is taking action to support this. These special shopping buses will be parked in areas where people can utilize the service as a hop-on-hop-off in retail areas. There will not be any additional fees for individuals who use the service.

Durga Puja from outside India and within –

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Tourist hotels in Puri, Darjeeling and Digha –

GosaniYatra or The Durga Puja of Puri

Darjeeling hotels brim with tourists

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Friday, September 2, 2022

Tala Bridge, the lifeline of North Kolkata, to reopen before the Pujas

The Tala Bridge, built in 1983, was designed to carry a load of 150 tons. In view of the need to carry more load, a new cable-stayed bridge is ready to be reopened before the forthcoming Durga Pujas. The carrying capacity of the new 650 meter long bridge will increase to nearly 365 tons. A stretch of 240 meters of the new bridge will hang in the air above the cable. The design of this railway bridge will be in the Majherhat style. Moreover, the new bridge will be a four-lane one with sidewalk on both sides. Earlier it was a three-lane bridge. Once thrown open to the public the speed of traffic will increase and improve the link between North Kolkata and portions of South Bengal. The demolition of the old bridge began from the night of January 31, 2020. New Tala bridge will be ready before Puja. The Railway Board approved the new design on 22 December of that year, and construction began in January 2021.

After the construction of the bridge, the safety commissioner of the railways will have to carry out inspection. In view of the length of the bridge which is nearly 650 meters, there will be steps to get own at Shyambazar, Chitpur and Sinthi. Incidentally, there are no pillars and the bridge hangs on cables. The Public Works Department is working to complete the drainage infrastructure in the area below the bridge. The authorities have plans to present the new Tala Bridge to the people of South Bengal before the Pujas.

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Tourist hotels in Puri, Darjeeling and Digha –

GosaniYatra or The Durga Puja of Puri

Darjeeling hotels brim with tourists

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Mamata Banerjee expresses gratitude to UNESCO for awarding Cultural Heritage tag to Kolkata’s Durga Puja

Kolkata witnessed an unusual rally. The people of the city usually have to endure rallies of political parties but this was an exception. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee headed it. The purpose was to express gratitude to UNESCO for including Kolkata’s Durga Puja on the intangible cultural heritage representative list. The chief minister had renowned cricketer Sourav Ganguly alongside her on the stage and they greeted the UNESCO representatives who were present on the occasion. The rally included not only Kolkata but also each district of West Bengal. Among the participants were women drummers of South 24 Parganas to religious and cultural groups (Bauls) of Birbhum. The rally originated from Jorasanko Thakur Bari (House of Rabindranath Tagore) in Kolkata and culminated at Red Road ‘Durga Puja is Celebrated by All’: Mamata Thanks UNESCO for Recognising Festival at Kolkata Rally. The chief minister thanked the UNESCO representatives who had come. She said, “….. About Rs 40 crore business takes place during the Durga Puja, and this support from UNESCO will give a big boost to us…..”

Sourav Ganguly also expressed happiness and said Durga Puja is “beyond imagination”. He admitted about traveling to different parts of the world and said he had never seen such festivity anywhere. He thanked UNESCO about giving the festival due recognition. The TMC government also felicitated Professor Tapati Guha Thakurtha for her efforts to put Bengal’s Durga Puja in the UNESCO list.

Durga Puja from outside India and within –

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Tourist hotels in Puri, Darjeeling and Digha –

GosaniYatra or The Durga Puja of Puri

Darjeeling hotels brim with tourists

How Can You Enjoy Durga Puja At Affordably Priced Hotel In Digha?

Some popular stories of this blogger –

Jilebi and Vada-pau make it to a list of 50 of the best street foods in Asia

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