BengalMedia

Kalbelia and Kuchipudi

2012-06-27T01:49:00.001-07:00

KALBELIA: The folk dance of Rajasthan is performed by the snake charming tribe, Kalbelia. The dance style involves rhythmic movements of the body like a serpent to the music.

KUCHIPUDI: Performed to Carnatic music, the Kuchipudi dance of Andhra Pradesh, is dramatic and shares many common elements of dance form Bharata natyam.

Soham : On Demand

2012-06-18T10:08:00.000-07:00

Presently, Tollywood's actor Soham is the most demanding hero among the Tollywood's actresses. He has already casted with all the top ranking heroines like Shrabanti, Payel, Subhasree, Koyel etc. In the last April, Soham's movie 'Le Halua Le' released. Payel leads the main heroine role in this film and recently Soham-Koyel's Jaaneman also released. Soham feels very happy as he is working with the most talented actresses in the tollywood and also he hopes that his work would be continue like this in the future too.

Shakira

2012-06-11T09:43:00.000-07:00

Shakira, the world famous pop singer started her career in the early 1990s. But at the first stage of her career, no one knew her except the people of her own country , Colombia. She became very depressed when she dint achieve that popularity which actually she deserved after releasing her first two music albums in spanish language. Then she decided to produce her own brand od music. In 1995, she released Pies Descalzos, which brought her great fame in Latin America and Spain only, though this album dint bring the response from the whole world. In 1998, her album, Donde Estan los Ladrones was a critical success selling over 70 lacs copies worldwide. In 2002, her album Laundry Service achieved a world record of 130 lacs copies sold worldwide. Shakira's "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)", has become a worldwide hit and the biggest selling World Cup song of all time. It was the official song for 2010 FIFA World Cup. On YouTube, the English version of this music video is the 3rd most watched video of all time with over 455 million views.

Gangs of Wasseypur : Anurag Kashyap

2012-06-06T09:21:00.000-07:00

Anurag Kashyap is a famous Indian Film Director . He mostly does not make any movie with big budget. But this time he has made an exception. His next upcoming movie is Gangs of Wasseypur. This movie is considered as a crime movie . It is directed by Anurag Kashyap, produced by Anurag Kashyap and Sunil Bohra and written by Zeishan Quadri, Akhilesh, Sachin Ladia and Anurag Kashyap. Possibly, it is the heighest budget bollywood movie so far released. The director, Mr. Anurag Kashyap has spend approximate 15 crores rupees for casting in this movie. The story of this movie is based on the coal-mafia in Dhanbad. It is going to release on 22nd June, 2012 in India.

Tistaan (Anupam Roy)

2012-05-21T07:46:00.000-07:00

MADHYAMIK RESULT 2012 (WBBSE)

2012-05-17T21:35:00.001-07:00

WBBSE --- West Bengal Board Of Secondary Education .. Its also known as MADHYAMIK EXAMINATION. Its the 1st board examination of the West Bengal students. Its quite natural for all the students that they should be very excited for this exam. All the students get a vacation of almost 3 months after finishing the exam. Generally in the month of May West Bengal Madhyamik Examination Result are being declared from the last few years. Atlast, West Bengal Board of Secondary Education's president Chaitali Dutta announced officially that "We are trying our best to publish the results earliest on May 22 and latest by May 26, 2012" More than 10 lakh students appeared this year for this examination. So, the result is just at the door we can say. Wish you all very best of luck to all of you !!!!!

Paneer Bhape Or Steamed Paneer

2012-04-25T03:15:00.000-07:00

Ingredients ::

Paneer : 250 grams(cube sized pieces)
Turmeric Powder : 1 tbsp
Mustard Paste : 3 tbsp
Poppy seeds paste : 3 tbsp
Green Chili : 2 slits
Mustard oil
Salt
Sugar

Method ::
It is the most easy preparation but the taste is just awesome. Heat the oil and fry the paneer pieces lightly and keep aside. Take a tiffin box mix turmeric powder, mustard paste, poppy seeds paste, green chili slits, salt and sugar with the fried paneer and spread 2 tbsp of mustard oil over it. Heat the water in a pan (big in size) and keep the tiffin box inside the water. Cook the paneer in steam in this way and keep it for 10-12 minutes. Serve it with rice.

Bishnupur : the place of temples

2012-04-25T02:54:00.000-07:00

Bishnupur is a town in Bankura district in West Bengal. This place is famous for its terracota temples. Train and bus journeys are very easy and comfortable from Kolkata.The nearest airport is Kolkata. Famous temples situated here are Shyamrai Temple, Nandalal Temple, Radhamadhab Temple, Kalachand Temple, Radhagovinda Temple and Sarbamangala Temple.
Rasmancha is the Oldest brick structure situated in Bishnupur. Its Built in 1587 by Bir Hambir is a pyramidal structure in the middle of the town.

Dalmadal Caman is also a main attraction of this place.

Bishnupuri Silk and Baluchari Silk sarees are world famous.

Netaji Subhas - a great patriot

2012-04-25T02:26:00.000-07:00

The name of Netaji Subhaschandra Bose will always be remembered by the Indians with great love and respect. He is considered to be one of the greatest patriots of all times.
Subhaschandra was born in Cuttack in the state of Orissa on 23rd January in 1897. His father Janakinath Bose was a lawyer. Subhaschandra was a good student. He was a born leader. His love for his motherland was manifest even when he was a student.
After graduation, Subhaschandra went to England to sit for the I.A.S. examination . He passed the examination but refused to serve the British who were rulling India. He returned to India and joined the freedom movement under the leadership and guidance of Deshabandhu Chittaranjan Das. Very soon he became one of the most popular leaders of the country. The British rulers were afraid of him. they placed him behind bars several times, and tried in many ways to subdue him. The fiery spirit of Subhaschandra won him many followers in the Indian National Congress. Subhaschandra was elected President of the Congress despite opposition from such great leaders as Mahatma Gandhi.
When he left the INC to form his own party, the Forward Bloc, the world was on the brink of a great war. The Second world War broke out in 1939, ans Subhaschandra was interned in his own house in Kolkata. He left India i disguise soon after, and went from Germany to Japan. In Japan he took charge of the Indian National Army- the Azad Hind Fouj- and came to be known as Netaji.
Netaji led the Azad Hind Fouj in a battle with the British forces and succeeded in capturing Kohima, a town in the state of Manipur in India. Unfortunately for Netaji, the war was drawing to a clsoe, and the Japanese were retreating. One day, in 1945, Netaji took off in an aeroplane for an unknown destination. The aeroplane crashed and it was reported that Netaji had been killed in the crash.
Many people do not believe the story of Netaji's death. There is a mystery surrounding the story. Netaji will live forever in the memory of every Indian. The history of India's struggle for freedom will keep on record the great exploits of Netaji Subhaschandra Bose.

Kasha Dim Or Egg Curry

2012-04-25T01:46:00.000-07:00

Ingredients ::

Eggs : 4 pieces
Onion : 1(chopped)
Onion paste : 4 tbsp
Ginger paste : 1 tbsp
Garlic paste : 1 tbsp
Tomato puree : 1 tbsp
Cumin seeds : 1 tsp
Bay leaf : 2
Cumin seeds powder : 1 tsp
Coriander powder : 1 tsp
Turmeric powder : 1 tsp
Red chili powder : 1 tsp
Green chili : 2
Garam masala powder : 1 tsp
Mustard oil
Salt
Sugar

Method ::

Boil the eggs in a pressure cooker. Marinate all the spices(except chopped onion, cumin seeds, green chili and bay leaf) with the boiled eggs for atleast half an hour. Heat oil in a frying pan and temper it with cumin seeds, bay leaf, chopped onion and green chili and cook till the onion turns into golden, afterthat mix the eggs along with the spices. Cook it for 3 minutes, add water and again cook till the gravy becomes thick. Serve it with rice or roti.

Rabindranath Tagore

2012-04-25T00:56:00.000-07:00

Rabindranath Tagore, a great Indian poet, is my favourite poet. Rabindranath wrote his poems, songs, short stories and other articles in Bengali. I consider myself very fortunate because I can read and write Bengali and so I can read Rabindranath's works in the original.
Rabindranath Tagore was the first Indian to receive the Nobel Prize. He won it for his wonderful collection of devotional sons-"Geetanjali". It was in 1912 that he was awarded the coveted prize. Rabindranath was born in the illustrious Tagore family of Jorasanko in Kolkata in the year 1861. His date of birth, according to the Bengali calender, was 25th Vaisakha(9th May). Rabindranath's father was Maharishi Devendranath Tagore, a deeply religious man who was a leader of the Brahmo Samaj.
Rabindranath wrote many beautiful poems and songs. He was a gifted musician, and composed the music for most of his songs himself. The songs of Tagore, popularly called "Rabindra Sangeet", are very popular with music lovers. Rabindranath wrote short wherein he depicted the social condition of his time. His short stories are still popular.
Rabindranath established, the Santiniketan near Kolkata, a school wherein he experimented with his own ideas in education. It has now become a university- the Viswa Bharati-acknoledged by people all over the world to be a great seat of learning.
Rabindranath died in 1941, but he is still remembered, loved and respected by all for his poems, songs and short stories. he is the national poet of two nations India and Bangladesh. In India, "Jana Gana Mana", a song composed by him, is the national song. The works of Rabindranath have been translated into many languages. We Indians are very much proud of him.

Mukutmanipur

2012-04-25T00:30:00.000-07:00

Mukutmanipur is a small town in Bankura in West bengal. It is adjacent to the dam on Kangsabati River. It is a famous picnic spot in West Bengal. Many trains are available from Kolkata. Nearest railway station is Bankura. Regular buses and hired cars are available from Bankura to Mukutmanipur - distance 55 Km. Anyone should not miss the boating in the lake. Visiting places in Mukutmanipur are kansaabati Dam, The island in the middle of the lake and the Ambika Nagar - a Jain prilgrimage.

Lava And Loleygaon

2012-04-25T00:14:00.000-07:00

Lava is a small hamlet situated 34 kms east of the Kalimpong. Loleygaon is a village located at a distance of 12 km from Lava. It is in the Darjeeling District of West Bengal. Kafer, at a distance 1 km from Loleygaon, offers a heavenly view of the Kanchenjunga. An unforgettable sunrise can also be viewed from Jhandi Dara. The place is famous for the Neora Valley National Park and its beautiful view of the Jelep La and Rechi La passes. Lava is also famous for its leaches. Wild animals such as the Himalayan Black Bear and barking deer are found in profusion in these parts.

Amartya Sen

2012-04-24T23:54:00.001-07:00

When the figure of literacy is going down and down, when causes of indiscipline and lawlessness are on the increase day after day, when industrial units are closing their doors one after another, the news that Prof. Amartya Sen has won the Nobel Prize in Economics for the year 1998 comes as a shot in the arms of bengal. Every bengali anywhere in the world feels proud on account of his great achievement. Prof. Sen's honour is really a moral-booster for us all, Rabindranath Tagore was the first bengali and the first Indian and the first Asian to win the Nobel prize in Literature in 1913, and Amartya Sen again in 1998 is the first Nobel laureate in Economics.
Amartya Sen was born in November 3, 1933. His father was Ashutosh Sen, an expert in agriculture. His mother, Amita Debi, was a noble lady. He is the grandson of kshiti Mohan Sen, a Sanskrit teacher of Viswabharati. It was Rabindranath who gave him his name. He had his early education at Santiniketan. Then he moved to Presidency College, Kolkata. Finally he became a student of the Cambridge University. He is at present the Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, a rare honour for anyone. He taught in Jadavpur University (1956-58), Delhi University (1963-71), London School of Economics(1971-77), and Oxford University(1977-80). He has also taught at Harvard as a professor of Economics and Philosophy. He is a great teacher and is very popular with his students. He is really a polite and humble gentleman. Unlike other Indians abroad, he has not severed his connection with his motherland. Nor has he ever applied for any foreign citizenship. Every year he visits Santiniketan during the winter. At that time he does not feel ashamed to put on a dhoti or to ride an old bicycle or to gossip at an ordinary tea-shop.
He has already written eighteen books and earned international recognition as an author. Among his notable books we may mention, Choice of Techniques(1960), Growth Economics(1970), On Economic Inequality(1973), Poverty and famines(1981), Choice, Welfare and Measurement(1982), On Ethics and Economics(1987), The Political Economy of Hunger(1990-91), Economic Development and social Opportunity(1995).
He is joyous because the Nobel Committee has particularly recognised and mentioned his contributions in Welfare Economics which he loves so much. He is not ready to recognise the economic development of India which is the fourth state in the world to go nuclear because its performance in health, education, land-reforms and certain basic requirements is extremely unsatisfactory. Now it to be seen how the indian Govt. makes the best use of his wonderful feats in the field of Welfare Economics. We wish Amartya Sen a long, prosperous, happy and healthy life.

Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose

2012-04-24T23:14:00.001-07:00

Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose was born in a bengali family in the year 1858 in Mymensingh, now in Bangladesh.Having received his primary education in the village Pathsala he came to Kolkata and took admission in St.Xavier's School. He completed his graduation from St.Xavier's College. Then he went to England and took his B.Sc degree from Cambridge University.
On his return to India, he joined Presidency College, Kolkata, as a professor. During his service career he carried on extensive research on Electro-magnet and plant-life during the period 1884 to 1915. His great post retirement work, foundation of the Bose Institute in Kolkata in 1917, enormously helped development of Science in India. As a scientist Sir J.C.bose is ranked as one of the greatest in the world. This great scientist left us in 1937.

Raja Rammohan Roy

2012-04-24T22:47:00.001-07:00

Raja Rammohan Roy was a great social reformer of India. He was born on May 22, 1772 in a Bengali Brahmin family in West Bengal. As a student, he learnt many languages like Bengali, Urdu, Sanskrit, English, Arabic, Latin, French, Persian etc. He was given the title Raja by the Mughal emperor for winning a case for him.
Rammohan Roy was a great scholar who studied the Holy Quran and the Upanishads. He joined the Ease India Company from 1805 to 1815 for ten years. After retiring, he spent the rest of his life serving the people of India.
Raja Rammohan Roy had always been interested in social reforms. He worked very hard for improving the conditions of the people of India, and did great work in social, religious, political and educational fields.
Raja Rammohan Roy is best remembered for his work against the Sati System. It was a cruel practice where a wife had to burn herself at the funeral pyre of her husband. He persuaded the people of Bengal to rise against it. Finally, Lord William Bentinck declared Sati to be illegal in 1829.
He founded the Brahmo Samaj which was against idol worship. He fought for the rights of women. He wanted to free Hinduism of all its evils and make it a noble religion again. He fell ill in 1833, and died on September 27. His service to the cause of women will always be remembered.

Saurav Ganguly : Maharaj

2012-04-24T22:34:00.000-07:00

Saurav Ganguly, bengali's pride was born on 8th July in 1972. He was born in a renowned family. His father Mr. Chandi Ganguly is an affluent printer. Ganguly's first step towards cricket was a happy accident of fate: Ganguly was not encouraged to play cricket because his parents wanted him to focus on his studies as he was a very sharp and intellingent student but his elder brother Snehasish was an accomplished cricketer. Sourav started to follow his brother and started playing cricket. As a person Sourav Ganguly is very quiet, reserved, undemonstrative man with nerves of steel. Sourav is a deeply religious person and observes a fast every Tuesday. He is married to Dona, who is a famous odissi dancer. Achievements In February 2008, Ganguly joined as the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team, owned by Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan, as part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Ganguly was appointed the Captain of the Indian cricket team in February, 2000. Ganguly was the Man of the Series in the New Zealand-India 5 match ODI series in November 1999. Ganguly made a mammoth 183 against Sri Lanka in World Cup 1999, which, at that time, was the Highest ODI Score by an Indian, beating Kapil Dev's Record of 175*. Ganguly was the Man of the Series in the Pepsi Cup 1999 (March-April) for scoring 278 runs and taking 6 wickets in total. Saurav Ganguly has the distinction of being one of the few players in the World to Score a century and take 4 wickets in the same match. (ODIs) Saurav Ganguly along with Tendulkar forms the 4th Best Opening Pair in the History of One-day cricket. Saurav Ganguly and Tendulkar were involved in a World Record Opening Partnership of 252. Saurav Ganguly scored a Century on Debut at Lords in 1996, and went on to score a century in the very next match as well. Saurav Ganguly was named Sport star Person of the Year 1998. He also won the Arjuna Award in 1998. Saurav Ganguly was the Highest Run-Scorer for India in ODIs in 1997. In the Sahara Cup 1997, Saurav Ganguly set a new World Record for 5 consecutive Man of the Match Awards. He was also the Man of the Series.

Aloor dum Or Dum aloo Or Potato gravy

2012-04-24T21:54:00.000-07:00

Ingredients ::

Cardamom : 2
Cinnamon stick: 1
Cloves : 3
Bay leaves : 2
Cumin seeds : 1 tsp
Garam masala powder : 1/2 tsp
Ginger paste : 1 tsp
Garlic Paste : 1 tsp
Green chilies slits : 2
Tomato puree : 1 tsp
Onion paste : 1 big onion's
Potatoes - 8 pieces (boiled)
Red chili powder : 1 tsp
Turmeric powder : 1 tsp
Salt
Sugar

Method ::
Peel the potatoes and boil the pieces in a pressure cooker. Heat oil in a frying pan and fry till they turn into golden brown and firm. Keep aside. Take oil in a kadhai and put in the bay leaf, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom and cumin seeds till they splutter. Add onion paste, ginger paste, garlic paste and tomato puree in it and stir for 2 minutes, if required you can add a little water with it. Add the red chilli powder and turmeric powder and cook for more 1 minute, mix salt and sugar in it. Finally you will give the boiled pieces of potatoes and cool till they turn tender and the paste should go inside the pieces, in case you can make hole with the fork. Cook the masala along with the potatoes with 1 cup of water for more 2 minutes. Add the garam masala powder for the taste and decorate it with green chilies. Serve hot with rice, roti, luchi/puri in hindi or paratha.

Bengali Payesh / Kheer

2012-04-24T15:11:00.000-07:00

Ingredients ::

milk : 1 litre
basmati rice : 4 tbsp
Pure ghee : 2 tsp
Black cardamom : 1 piece
Bay leaves : 1 piece
Sugar as per required
For Garnishing: kishmish/raisins broken cashew nuts Method ::

Boil the milk in a low flame till it thickens.Remember to stir from bottom of the pan otherwise milk can burn from the lower side.Heat 2 tsp ghee in a frying pan fry bay leaves & a piece of black cardamom with the washed rice till the rice turns into golden.Add the mixture to the milk.Don't boil excessively.When the rice is boiled, mix sugar as per your requirements and sprinkle kishmish and broken cashew.Cool paayesh and serve in a bowl.

Dhokar Dalna

2012-04-24T14:33:00.000-07:00

Ingredients ::

Cholar dal : 1 Cup (chana dal/Bengal gram)
Potato : 1 (Medium) cut into cube sizes
Tomato : 1 (Medium) cut into small pieces
Ginger paste : 1 tsp
Cumin seeds : 1 tsp
Coriander powder : 1 tsp
Cumin seed powder : 1 tsp
Turmeric powder : 1/2 tsp
Chili powder : 1 tsp
Garam masala
Ghee
Mustard oil
Salt to taste
Sugar
Method ::
Wash and soak Bengal gram in the water for 6 hours. Drain water and grind the dal in a mixer grinder and make a fine paste of the Bengal Gram. Heat oil in a frying pan and pour the paste into it, add sugar, salt, turmeric powder with it and cook it till it becomes tight. Smear 1 drop oil in a dish. Pour the cooked dal and spread on the dish. Press lightly with the back of the spoon so that it sets properly. Cool it and cut the dhoka into square or diamond shapes. After an hour again heat oil in the frying pan and fry the dhoka pieces. Keep them aside. Fry the potato pieces and add cumin seeds, ginger paste, cumin seed powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, chili powder, salt and sugar with it, if required mix a little water with it and cook till the spice gets seperate with the oil. Then add water and cook tillthe potatoes get boil. When it is ready add the square shaped dhoka with it and cook only for a single minute. Add garam masala and ghee for the additional taste.

Santiniketan : abode of peace

2012-04-24T13:34:00.000-07:00

Santiniketan is a small town in the Birbhum district in West Bengal. Rabindranath Tagore’s father Maharshi Debendranath Tagore established Santiniketan (abode of peace) in 1863. Today the place is known as second home of Rabindranath Tagore. Vichittra and Art Gallery – Nandan will take you closer to the great poet. Natural beauty of Santiniketan is still mesmerizing. You may visit to the Deer Park or Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary where you will find Black Buck, spotted deer, jackals, foxes and a variety of water birds.

Murshidabad

2012-04-24T13:24:00.000-07:00

Murshidabad was the last capital city of independent Bengal and was named after Nawab Murshid Quli Khan, the Dewan of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. After the historic battle of Palashi in 1757 between Nawab Siraj-Ud-Daula and Lord Clive, of East India Company British got the ultimate supremacy in India. Hazarduari Palace( the palace with a “thousand doors”) is the main tourist attraction here. It was built in 1837 by Duncan McLeod for the Nawab Najim Humaun Jah, descendent of Mir Zafar. It is now converted to a museum and has an exquisite collection of armor – including 2700 weapons and armor, swords used by Shiraj-ud-Daulla and his grandfather. Other places to visit are Wasef Manzil by the bank of the Ganga, Tripolia Gate, the Dakshin Darwaza, the Chak Darwaza, the Gharighar (the Clock Tower), the Bachchawali Tope (a canon manufactured in the 12th and 14th centuries and required 18 kilograms of gunpowder to fire a dingle cannon ball), Katra Mosque etc.

Kolkata : The City Of Joy

2012-04-24T13:17:00.001-07:00

Kolkata is the heart of East India. Tourist attractions here are Fort William, Victoria Memorial, Eden Gardens (Stadium), Birla Planetarium, Howrah Bridge, Marble Palace, Writer’s Building, Nicco Park, Saheed Minar, National Library, Botanical Gardens, Science City, Kalighat temple, Belur Math, MP Birla Planetarium, Indian Museum (Jadu Ghar), Alipur Zoo and many more. Kolkata means Park Lane! Dreamy place!! It means Yellow cabs, makeshift buses, trams,metros, ride across the Hooghly. It's a heavenly world.. Kolkata .. the city is more like a museum .. full of culture... its about the yellow taxis... one way traffic which changes its direction twice in a day and creates nuisance... people say "You can take the bong out of kolkata but you cant take the kolkata out of the bong"!!!!

Sunderban : The Royal Bengal Tiger

2012-04-24T12:53:00.000-07:00

Sundarban is the largest mangrove forest in the world. It is mostly famous for the Royal Bengal Tiger. The Sundarbans provides an eco biological system and a rich wildlife habitat. According to the 2011 tiger census, the Sundarbans have about 270 tigers.150 species of commercially important fishes, 270 species of birds, 42 species of mammals, 35 reptiles and 8 amphibian species are also available here.

Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary

2012-04-24T12:43:00.000-07:00

Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary is a reserved park situated at the foothills of Eastern Himalayas in Jalpaiguri District in West Bengal. It is located on the bank of river Torsa. The main attraction of the sanctuary is Asiatic one-horned rhinoceros. The other animals available in this sanctuary are Royal Bengal Tigers, elephants, deers, sambhar, barking deer, spotted deer, hog deer, wild pig, bisons. Here anyone can find a huge collection of animals. Jaldapara is mostly popular for bird watchers too. The Crested Eagle, Pallas’s Fishing Eagle and shikra, besides Jungle fowl, peafowl, patridges, Bengal Florican and lesser Pied Hornbill are easily can visible here. 8 species of fresh water turtles along with Python, monitor lizards, kraits, cobras, geckos are also available here.