Bengal and Bengali culture
Bengal
is situated in northeast part region of Indian subcontinent at the apex of Bay
of Bengal. The majority of Bengal is inhabited by Bengali people who
speak Bengali language. Today, it is mainly divided between the
sovereign land of peoples Republic of Bangladesh (previously East
Bengal / East Pakistan) and the state of west Bengal. The region of Bengal
is one of the most densely populated regions on earth, with a population
density exceeding 900/km. Most of the Bengal region lies in the low-lying
Ganges–Brahmaputra River delta or Ganges delta, the world's largest delta. In
the southern part of the delta lies the Sundarbon —the world's
largest mangrove forest and home of the Bengal Tiger, though
the population of the region is mostly rural and agrarian. Two mega cites,
Kolkata (previously Calcutta) and DHAKA (previously
Dacca), are located in Bengal. The Bengal region is renowned for its rich
literary and cultural heritage as well as its immense contribution to the
socio-cultural uplift of Indian society in the form of the Bengal Renaissance,
and revolutionary activities during the Independence movement. West Bengal
also (proposed new English name: Paschimbanga) is a state in the eastern region
of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous region. It is also the
seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million
inhabitants covering a total area of 34,267 sq mi (88,750 km2), which is
bordered by the countries of Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, and the Indian
states of Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar, Sikkim, and Assam. The state capital is
Kolkata (formerly Calcutta). West Bengal encompasses two broad natural regions:
the Gangetic Plain in the south and the sub-Himalayan and Himalayan area in the
north. Bengal was divided in 1947 on religious lines into two separate
entities: West Bengal – a state of India – and East Bengal, which initially
joined the new nation of Pakistan, before becoming part of modern-day
Bangladesh in 1971.Bengal was divided on religious and language lines. Bengali
language movement has played a very important role for its separate entity
which catalyzed the assertion of Bengali national identity in East Bengal and
later East Pakistan, and became a forerunner to Bengali nationalist movements,
and subsequently the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. In Bangladesh, 21
February is observed as language movement day, a national holiday. The shaheed
miner monument was constructed near Dhaka Medical College in memory of the
movement and its victims.
The
saliency of Twenty First February has made the historic movement for
establishing Bengali as one of the State languages of Pakistan synonymous with
the 1952 phase of the Bengali language movement. However, the movement for
making Bengali as one of the State languages of the then Pakistan was known as
Bangla vasha andolon.
Bangla
vasha andolon.
That
spirit of 21th February (ekushey) has not diminished. Rather, the radiant
spirit of the twenty first February has remained ingrained in the core of our
hearts and souls even after the elapse of almost half of a century of the
historic Bengali language movement. People from all walks of life still come
out in thousands in the early hours of February twenty first and mournfully trod
the streets of Dhaka, and throng the Central Shaheed Miner (Marty s Monument)
for offering their heartfelt tributes to the fallen language martyrs. Before
depicting the cultures of Bengal, we must go to the historical roots.
Bengali Renaissance
The
Bengal Renaissance refers to a social reform movement during the nineteenth and
early twentieth century’s in the region of Bengal in Undivided India during the
period of British rule. The Bengal renaissance can be said to have started with
Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1775–1833) and ended with Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941),
although there have been many stalwarts thereafter embodying particular aspects
of the unique intellectual and creative output Nineteenth century Bengal was a
unique blend of religious and social reformers, scholars, literary giants,
journalists, patriotic orators and scientists, all merging to form the image of
a renaissance, and marked the transition from the 'medieval' to the 'modern
Bengal.
During
this period, Bengal witnessed an intellectual awakening that is in some way
similar to the European Renaissance during the 16th century, although Europeans
of that age were not confronted with the challenge and influence of alien
colonialism. This movement questioned existing orthodoxies, particularly with
respect to women, marriage, the dowry system, the caste system and religion.
One of the earliest social movements that emerged during this time was the
Young Bengal movement that espoused rationalism and atheism as the common
denominators of civil conduct among upper caste educated Hindus.
The
parallel socio-religious movement, the Brahmo Samaj, developed during this time
period and counted many of the leaders of the Bengal Renaissance among its
followers In the earlier years the Brahmo Samaj, like the rest of society,
could not however, conceptualize, in that feudal-colonial era, a free India as
it was influenced by the European Enlightenment (and its bearers in India, the
British Raj) although it traced its intellectual roots to the Upanishads. Their
version of Hinduism, or rather Universal Religion, although devoid of practices
like sati and polygamy that had crept into the social aspects of Hindu life,
was ultimately a rigid impersonal monotheistic faith, which actually was quite
distinct from the pluralistic and multifaceted nature of the way the Hindu
religion was practiced. Future leaders like Keshub Chunder Sen were as much
devotees of Christ, as they were of Brahma, Krishna or the Buddha. It has been
argued by some scholars that the Brahmo Samaj movement never gained the support
of the masses and remained restricted to the elite, although Hindu society has
accepted most of the social reform programs of the Brahmo Samaj. It must also
be acknowledged that many of the later Brahmas were also leaders of the freedom
movement.
The
renaissance period after the Indian Rebellion of 1857 saw a magnificent
outburst of Bengali literature. While Ram Mohan Roy and Iswar Chandra
Vidyasagar were the pioneers, others like Bankim Chandra Chatterjee widened it
and built upon it .The first significant nationalist detour to the Bengal
Renaissance was given by the brilliant writings of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee.
Later writers of the period who introduced broad discussion of social problems
and more colloquial forms of Bengali into mainstream literature included the
great Saratchandra Chatterjee.
The
Tagore family, including Rabindranath Tagore, were leaders of this period and
had a particular interest in educational reform however their contribution to
the Bengal Renaissance was multi-faceted. Indeed, Tagore's 1901 Bengali
novella, Nastanirh was written as a critique of men who professed to follow the
ideals of the Renaissance, but failed to do so within their own families. In
many ways Rabindranath Tagore's writings (especially poems and songs) can be
seen as imbued with the spirit of the Upanishads. His works repeatedly allude
to Upanishadic ideas regarding soul, liberation, transmigration and—perhaps
most essentially—about a spirit that imbues all creation not unlike the
Upanishadic Brahman. Tagore's English translation of a set of poems titled the
Gitanjali won him the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. He was the first
Asian to win this award. That was the only example at the time but the
contribution of the Tagore family is enormous. The Bengal Renaissance saw the
emergence of pioneering Bengali scientists such as Jagadish Chandra Bose,
Satyendra Nath Bose, Upendranath Brahmachari and Meghnad Saha.
Etymology
of Bengal/Bengali
The
exact origin of the word Bangla or Bengal is unknown, though it is believed to
be derived from the Dravidian-speaking tribe Bang that settled in the area
around the year 1000 BC
Vanga
(Greater Bengal) was a kingdom during the times of Mahabharata.
Other
accounts speculate that the name is derived from Banga which came from the
Austric word "Bonga" meaning the Sun-god. The word Banga and other
words speculated to refer to Bengal (such as Anga) found in ancient Indian
texts including the Vedas, Jaina texts, the Mahabharata and Puranas. The earliest
reference to "Bangala" has been traced in the Nesari plates (805 AD)
of Rashtrakuta Govinda III which speak of Dharmapala as the king of Vangala
Some
accounts claim that the word may derive from bhang, a preparation of cannabis
which is used in some religious ceremonies in Bengal. Dravidians migrated to
Bengal from the south, while Tibeto-Burman peoples migrated from the Himalayas
followed by the Indo-Aryans from north-western India. The modern Bengali people
are a blend of these people. Smaller numbers of Pathans, Persians, Arabs and
Turks also migrated to the region in the late middle Ages while spreading
Islam.
The age and history of Bengal and
Bengali culture is near about 1000 years old. Since the end of Magadha Empire
the Bengal religious-socio-cultural ceremonies held great importance’s among
the Bengalis. Ceremonies play the symbolic role of every tradition handed over
to the decedent’s generation after generation. Some important ceremonies of Bengal.
Annaprashan is a social ritual among the
Hindus, an occasion when the baby breaks its baby food pattern to welcome home
made food. It is as well as a social introduction of the new
member.'Annaprashan' is a social ritual among the Hindus, an occasion when the
baby breaks its baby food pattern to welcome home-made food.
It is as well as a social
introduction of the new member of the family in the community. Annaprashan
literally means feeding the baby rice for the first time. "Anna"
means food, especially rice while "prashan" means to feed.
Annaprashan gathers the importance of a religious ceremony. Arranged for the
Hindu child generally before teething, this ritual is separate for both boys
and girls.
Upanayana is a Vedic ritual of Hinduism. It
is an important religious ritual in our society. Upanayana is performed only
for Brahmin boys. According to Vedic culture it is a second birth for
them..Upanayana is a Vedic ritual of Hinduism. It is an important religious
ritual in our society. Upanayana is performed only for Brahmin boys. According
to Vedic culture it is a second birth for them. Upanayana marks the beginning
of Bramhacharya.
Marriages are made in heaven, goes the
proverb. Two people start of a new journey towards future, hand in hand,
sharing at each step new outlooks, responsibilities and love. Marriage is an
auspicious occasion among us. Arranged marriage is still a common
Bengali marriages are a mixture of
pure custom, tradition and religious beliefs. It is an occasion where the
entire family gather, take part in the typical Bengali ‘Adda’, regale in
fanfare and remain busy in making the necessary arrangements for the invitees.
Bengali culture must be searched and seen from the aspect of festivals,
literature, drama, music/dance, cousins, dress.
Literature
The
Bengali language boasts a rich literary heritage, shared with neighboring
Bangladesh. West Bengal has a long tradition in folk literature, evidenced by
the Charyapada, Mangalkavya, Shreekrishna Kirtana, Thakurmar Jhuli, and stories
related to Gopal Bhar. In the nineteenth and twentieth century, Bengali
literature was modernized in the works of authors such as Bankim Chandra
Chattopadhyay, Michael Madhusudan Dutt, Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam,
and Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay. Coupled with social reforms led by Ram Mohan
Roy, Swami Vivekananda, and others, this constituted a major part of the Bengal
Renaissance The middle and latter parts of the 20th century witnessed the
arrival of post-modernism, as well as literary movements such as those espoused
by the Kallol movement, hungry lists and the little magazines Jibanananda Das,
Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay, Tarashankar Bandopadhyay, Manik Bandopadhyay,
Ashapurna Devi, Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay, Buddhadeb Guha, Mahashweta Devi,
Samaresh Majumdar, Sanjeev Chattopadhyay and Sunil Gangopadhyay among others
are well-known writers of the 20th century.
Theater
and films
Among other types of theater,
West Bengal has a tradition of folk drama known as jatra Kolkata is the home of
the Bengali cinema industry, dubbed "Toll wood" for Tollygong,
where most of the state's film studios are located. its long tradition of art films includes
globally acclaimed film directors such as academy award -winning director
Satyajit Roy, Ritwik ghatak, Mrinal sen, Tapan sinha, and contemporary
directors such as Aparna Sen,
Buddhadeb Dasgupta, and Rituparna ghosh.
Cuisine
West
Bengal shares its distinctive culinary tradition with neighboring Bangladesh,
and also borrows from other Indian states. Boiled rice constitutes the staple
food, and is served with a variety of vegetables, fried as well with curry,
thick lentil soups, and fish and meat preparations of mutton and chicken, and
more rarely pork and beef by certain groups. Sweetmeats are mostly milk based,
and consist of several delights including roshgulla, sandesh, rasamalai, gulap
jamun, kalo jamun, and chom-chom. Several other sweet preparations are also
available. Bengali cuisine is rich and varied with the use of many specialized
spices and flavors. Fish is the dominant source of protein, cultivated in ponds
and fished with nets in the fresh-water Rivers of the Ganges delta. More than
40 types of mostly freshwater fish are common, including carp, varieties like
rui (rohu), katla, magur (catfish), chingŗi (prawn or shrimp), as well as shuţki
(dried sea fish) are popular. Salt water fish (not sea fish though) and Ilish
(hilsa ilisha) is very popular among Bengalis, can be called an icon of Bengali
cuisine.
DRESS
Bengali
women traditionally wear the sari, the shalwar kameez and Western attire is
gaining acceptance among younger women. Western-style dress has greater
acceptance among men, although the traditional dhoti and kurta of men are seen
during festivals. Like any other metropolis, Kolkata also has an eclectic mix
of western wears with a tinge of ethnic wears. People are found dressed in
jeans along with kurtas, or sari along with an overcoat.
Festivals of West Bengal
West Bengal is a land of festivals.
There is a popular saying in Bengali ‘‘Baro Mase Tero Parban’: it literally
means thirteen festivals in twelve months. Almost all festivals of all
religions are celebrated here with equal religious sentiment and fervor. The
people of West Bengal strive hard to maintain the tradition and culture of its
land in the festivals they celebrate. A great number of fairs are also
organized. The most popular festival celebrated in West Bengal is Durga Puja
where all the people come out in the streets and celebrate this four day
festival. Other festivals celebrated in West Bengal are Kaali Puja, Basant
Panchami, Dushera, Bahi Dooj, Holi, Mahavir Jayanti, Buddha Jayanti, Rathyatra
and Christmas. Other events which have almost taken the form of festivals are
Rabindra Jayanti (birthday of Rabindranath Tagore), Birthday of Sri Ramakrishna
Paramahamsa and Birthday of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
List of Festivals in West Bengal:
Holi
Birthday of Sri Ramakrishna
Paramahamsa
Birthday of Netaji Subhas Chandra
Bose
Rabindra Jayanti
Durga Puja
Basant Panchami
Dushera
Bhai Dooj
Holi
Mahavir Jayanti
Buddha Jayanti
Rathyatra
Rakhi
Christmas
Bera Utsav
Kolkata Festival
IST may
Folk
culture of Bengal
West
Bengal
Bengal,
a land of fecundity and prosperity embraces all within her fold. The varied
hues of her rich culture color her songs, music and literature. The numerous
tribes and ethnic groups of Bengal have their own distinctive folk arts, as
varied and beautiful as the tribes themselves. Bengal’s repertoire of folk
songs with its lyrical appeal and richness, its thematic diversity and range is
a reflection of rural Bengals creativity and imagination. As a traditional art
form, folk dances of Bengal have gained immense popularity and recognition over
the years. The dances contain themes that range from ritualistic to satirical
and from allegorical to social. They involve prayers, offerings, celebrations
and odes. Usually performed during festive seasons, or to mark a happy
occasion, these dances ingrained in folk culture, reflect local faith,
tradition and custom. These dances encompass a broad spectrum, from invoking
the rain Gods for a good harvest to depicting mythological events. In fact,
some religious festivals are celebrated through songs and dances that
characterize devotion, prayer and worship. The dance forms that have evolved
from the martial arts depict events from the great Indian epics, the Ramayana
and the Mahabharata. These vocal musical dances are performed round the year on
various occasions, at fairs and festivals and religious conglomerations.
Some
of the well known folk songs and dance of west Bengal include:
Baul
Bengal,
during the post medieval period, was a divided and closed society. Ruled by
religious strictures, Hindus and Muslims led cloistered lives, against which
grew a protest that took on the character of a cult. The community of
protesters could be identified by the robes they wore (a long saffron-colored
cloak called the alkhalla with a turban of the same color), the one-stringed
instrument or Ektara they always carried and the bells they tied to their
perpetually dancing feet. Sometimes the alkhalla would be made of different
pieces of cloth patched together. They were the Bauls, the creators of a
phenomenal music tradition that has survived and grown despite the ravages of
time. Apart from the expected bamboo flute, they developed a variety of musical
instruments like the Premjuri and Dotara, the Khamak and Goopi Jantro, the
Kartal and Dubki among others.
The
Bauls are free wanderers. They are detached from the bondage of society and
family. They move from place to place, making a meager living from the alms
given to them by those who can plumb the profound depths of their frugality. The
Bauls belong to a sect with a distinctive mystic ideology of their own and
their songs spread the message of peace and universal brotherhood. The word
‘Baul’ means mad, the madness that comes out of an overwhelming love for the
Infinite Self. The singers describe the transience of mundane existence and the
simple means to spiritual upliftment, though the root of their philosophical
theory rests in a deeper complex psychological consciousness. Bauls are
basically philanthropists, though sometimes satire from day to day life finds a
place in their songs. The Bauls have played a major role in India’s freedom
struggle when they moved from village to village in rural Bengal with their
songs stirring up a feeling of nationalism and pride in our motherland among
the illiterate village folk.
Both
men and women (Bauls and Baulanis) are a part of this great music tradition.
For a long time, the Baulanis performed with the Bauls and they did not have
any separate identity. But in recent years Baulanis have carved out their own
foothold. The music of the Bauls had a significant influence on Rabindranath
Tagore. Today the Bauls’ songs can be heard in many districts of West Bengal as
their footsteps dot the muddy village lanes of Bankura, Birbhum, Burddhaman,
Nadia, Dinajpur and Murshidabad. Baul Sangeet has always held a special place.
It is basically a folk dialect of Bengali music and highly spiritual in nature,
but far away from religious dilution. This form of music was developed by a
group of mystic minstrels from Bengal who are considered to be a syncretism
group with music in their blood. In 2005 they were declared as the
'Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity' by UNESCO.
Joydeb kenduli annual fair is considered to be the biggest fair of Bauls at
Birbhum district of west Bengal.
Purulia
Chhou dance
The
Chhau dance of Purulia district is one of the most vibrant and colorful art
forms. Emerging from martial practice, the Purulia Chhau is a vigorous form of
dance drama that draws its themes from the two great Indian epics, The Ramayana
and The Mahabharata.
Masks
and elaborate headgear are the ornamental apparels of the Chhau dancers. The
dance is believed to date back to over a century, though the specific date of
its origin cannot be definitely ascertained. The dance was patronized by the
royalty and landlords of the region. Since its inception, the members of the
Mahato, Kurmi, Bhumija, Deowa, Bhuama and Dom communities have sustained this
dance form. The dance is an essential part of the Gajan Festival, a festival
that celebrates the glories of Lord Shiva. Today, the dance is no longer
restricted to one particular time of the year. The Purulia Chhau dance has been
influenced by many dances of the district, like the Nata Jawaid Dance, the Mahi
Dance and the Nachni Dance. Even two relatively sophisticated dance forms like
the Jhumur and Bhadra Jhumur have influenced the Chhau Dance in its tune and
rhythm. The accompanying musical instruments include the Dhol, Dhamsa and
Shenai.
The
dance commences with an invocation to Lord Ganesh. Then the movements follow
the nuances of the story. In a Chhau Dance the fight between good and evil
always culminates in the triumph of good over destructive evil. The elaborate
masks, the dazzling costumes, the rhythmic drum beatings and shenai,
characterize the Chhau Dance. A distinctive feature of this dance is the
acrobatic use of the body and the intricately crafted masks worn by the
dancers. Powerful movements, immense concentration and release of energy are
the other features of this dance.
In
the villages the performance usually starts between 9.00 and 10.00 o’clock in
the evening. As the night grows and the dance gains momentum, there is an air
of excitement all around. Communication between the performers and the audience
is a significant feature of this dance form. In the olden days, the performance
area used to be illuminated by torches that burnt throughout the night. Over
the years the dance has undergone evolutions in form, stage craft, lighting and
use of musical instruments.
The
masks help the dancers to portray different characters. There are masks
depicting particular Gods and Goddesses, demons and monsters. There are also
interesting masks for different animals like the lion, tiger, bear, monkey and
so on. These finely-crafted masks are made by the painter artistes of the
district. With the face covered by a mask, it is left to the dancers to emote
using their bodies. Movements and postures therefore serve both to portray
emotions and make the dance lively.
One
of the most popular presentations of the Purulia Chhau Dance is Mahisasur
Mardini. Oppressed by the tyranny of the Mahisasura, the Gods pray to Goddess
Adyashakti Mahamaya who takes the form of Goddess Durga, Durga tinashini and
after a fierce battle with Asura, finally slays him.
Santhali
Dance
The
Santhalis are an integral part of the folklore of Bengal. The Santhali dance
form is seen in the districts of Birbhum, Bakura, Malda and Burddhaman. The
Santhalis are born dancers. Dance is an integral part of all festivities of the
Santhali community. Musical accompaniment is provided by instruments like the
Madol, Flute, Dhamsa, Jhanj, Kartal and occasionally the Shenai. The songs are
typically based on Taal Madol Chhanda. Dances are usually performed on a full
moon night and are connected with the celebration of certain rituals. A notable
feature of the Santhali dances is the unison in movement. The dancers stand in
a line holding hands and move to the rhythm of the madol. Usually the women
take part in the dance and the men provide the musical accompaniment. This is
reflected in the words of a song, which accompany the Dang Dance, a dance
performed as a part of marriage rituals. The boys carry two types of drums, the
Madal and the Lagra. They sing to the girls telling them: “Though the drums are
heavy, we carry them around dancing all the time”. The girls reply, “As we hear
the beat of drums, we cannot stand still. We lift our feet and begin to dance”.
Simplicity
of theme and language is what makes the Santhali dances so endearing. Nowadays,
Santhali men also take part in the dances, most of which are seasonal and
reflect the ritualistic life of the Santhali community. Each dance form has its
own distinctive rhythm and dance style. Some of the popular dances include the
Sohrai, which is a harvest dance, inviting all the village folk to come out of
their homes and join in the festivities, and the Dasai, a dance performed just
before the Durga Puja, when the Santhali men go out to the neighboring
villages, where they sing and dance to collect donations of rice and alms.
The
Santhali dance reflects the beauty of rural Bengal and adds color to the
palette of the folk culture of the state.
Mundari
dance
The
members of the Mundari community perform these dances on different festive
occasions, most of which are related to agriculture. The main festival of the
Mundari community is the Karam Puja. The dances of the Santhali and Mundari
communities are very close in style and form. The musical instruments used by
the two communities are also common.
Gambhira
Gambhira,
a popular annual festival of Malda District comprises songs and dances closely
related to agriculture and mythology. Performances depict on one hand, the
success, failure or annual production of crops, and on the other tell stories
about mythological figures. Depending on the theme, dancers perform solo, duets
or in groups, stepping in tune with the beat of dhaks. Colorful masks
representing Gods and Goddesses like Kalika, Chamunda, Rama, Hanuman, Shiva and
even animals and birds, make the performances both charming and entertaining,
while retaining the authenticity of this primitive dance form.
The
word Gambhira means ‘Devalaya’ or House of God. This festival is very closely
associated with Shiva Puja. In the different rituals associated with Gambhira
Puja we find an amalgamation of different religious thoughts like Shaivism,
Vaishnavism, Buddhism and Shaktiism. In Malda district, where this festival is
immensely popular, Shiva is also known as Gambhir, and hence the festival
associated with Shiv Puja is known as Gambhira. The Bengal Drum or Dhak and the
Gong or Kanshi are main musical instruments accompanying this dance. Dancers
tune their steps to the different beats of the Dhak, the intricate patterns of
their dance blending into the pulsating rhythm of festivity and celebration.
Over the years, poverty and social changes are forcing this dance, which was
once synonymous with grandeur, into oblivion. The Gambhira festival begins with
Agamani songs. The second day of the festival is called the Choto Tamasha and
the third day the Boro Tamasha. These days are devoted to Shiva and Gouri Puja.
Other popular dances of the Gambhira tradition include the Baan Nritya (Arrow
Dance) Bak Nritya (Stork Dance) Tapa Nritya (a dance performed by the fishermen
and fisherwomen using a special kind of bamboo basket known as the Tapa which
is used for catching the fish) and Kali Nritya (the dance of Goddess Kalika).
Gajan
Gajan
is a very popular festival in some parts of Bengal. Gajan songs are sung in
praise of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati in the Bengali month of Chaitra.
Singing and dancing is an integral part of this celebration. The dance is
performed with great devotion and austerity. The dancers sometimes dress up as
Hara Parvati and move around the village, dancing to the accompaniment of the
Dhol, Kanshi and Flute. In Malda and Murshidabad, the celebration is known as
Bolan. The dancers undergo penance with a view to attaining salvation and
becoming free of worldly sufferings. This celebration is observed during the
latter part of the month of Chaitra. Being a festival of austerity, the dancers
often fast before a performance. The performance of this Puja involves some
harrowing rituals and is usually performed by the lower castes. The involvement
of the upper castes is limited to bowing down before the lower castes for just
this one time in the year.
Durga
Puja Dhak
Utsav
is synonymous with Durga Puja. The Bengali waits all year round for the arrival
of Devi Ma. It is a time for celebration and festivity, and it is the sound of
the Bengali Drum or the Dhak that joyously announces her eagerly awaited
arrival. It is the sound of the Dhak that captures the many moods of the Devi,
frenzied, calm, plaintive and nostalgic, and it is the sound of the Dhak that
also tells us it is time for her to return to her heavenly abode. Every beat of
the dhak is different and each of them holds a special place in every Bengalis
heart.
Dhol
Badan
The
Dhol (a variation of the Bengali Drum) is an indispensable musical instrument
of the different festivals of Bengal. The musicians dance and play the Dhol
simultaneously.
Bratachari
– Raibense
The
Raibense dance which is performed by a group of male dancers is a part of the
repertoire of the ‘Bratachari’ tradition of West Bengal. The Raibense dance of
ancient Bengal is a significant and authentic reminder that the Bengalis were
once renowned for their military prowess. The dance belongs to a living tradition
of the war dances of ancient Bengal. Rai means royal, kingly and bansh or
bansha means bamboo. This was used by the infantry soldiers in the middle ages.
This vigorous dance form includes mock fighting and acrobatics. It speaks
volumes about the valor of the people of ancient Bengal. The Dhol and Kanshi
are the main instruments used. The strident rhythmic notes of the Dhol and the
clanging of the Kanshi generate courage and daring in the hearts of the
dancers. No songs are sung or verses recited during this martial dance.
Instead, vigorous yells mark the various sectional movements. The simplest
costume, a dhoti (which is the traditional dress of Bengali men) is worn with a
strip of red cloth signifying spirit and valor. Shri Gursasaday Dutt, ICS, was
responsible was resurrecting this ancient group dance and modifying it to its
present form.
The
Bagdi, Bauri and Dom communities of Burddhaman, Birbhum & Murshidabad
districts, perform the dance.
Stick
Dance or Laghur Nritya
The
Stick Dance or Laghur Nritya is another interesting martial folk art form of
West Bengal. The stick, which has from time immemorial been used as a weapon of
self-defense, is used in this dance. The long sticks not only keep the beat of
the dance, but are also used for the acrobatic feats, which are an integral
part of this dance form.
Ranapa
Dance
The
Ranapa is another martial form of dance, where the artistes walk and dance on
stilts. As the dancers display mock fights, they exhibit their skills of
balancing on stilts.
Dhali
& Paika Nritya
These
two dances are heroic war dances and are performed by a group of dancers. The
dances are evocative of the valor and prowess of the people who took part in
the wars.
The
Dhali Dance, as the name implies, is the Shield Dance. It was the war dance of
the Dhali (Shield man) troupes in the armies of the ancient potentates of
Bengal. In the Dhali Dance, the spectacular movements are formal and are more
in the nature of athletic exercises. It is a dance of high aesthetic value by
virtue of its intricate maneuvers and ordered formations. Being a war dance, it
is not accompanied by any songs. This dance form originated and flowered during
the reign of Raja Pratapaditya of Jossore. After winning a battle, the fatigued
and exhausted solders starting dancing with swords and shields in the
cantonment to inspire them for the next war. It is believed that Raja
Pratapaditya maintained an army of highly skilled Dhali soldiers. Over the
years, the dance form has been modified extending to women dancers as well.
Natua
Dance
Natua, an ancient
dance form, features in the Shiv Puranas. The word Natua may have been derived
from the name of Lord Nataraj. It is believed that Nandi and Vringi, the
associates of Lord Shiva were the first to perform this dance during the time
of Shiva’s marriage with Durga. This highly acrobatic dance form involves many
tricks with fire and is usually accompanied by the beats of a Jai Dhak, the
instrument which is said to have been created by Lord Shiva. The dance is
performed during the Charak Puja and occasionally during marriages.
Kirtan
Dance songs
The
Kirtan music is the most widely practiced folk music (vocal and dance) form of
Bengal. The democratic nature of the dance, which unites people of the whole
village, irrespective of their caste or social standing is its most striking
feature. The dance is performed to the accompaniment of the Dhol and Mridanga.
The great spiritual leader, Shri Chaitanya Dev gave the dance a national
character.
Rabha
Dances
The
women of the Rabha Community perform the Rabha Dances, popular in the Northern
part of Bengal. The men provide the musical accompaniment, playing the
Barangshi (a bamboo flute), Hem (a drum with two faces), Dandi & Barding,
(idiophones made from bamboo) and Karnal (a rare tribal instrument made of
bamboo and buffalo horn). The Rabha women have different dances for different
occasions, like the “Fai Nang Ning Mein” or Welcome Dance, the “Braisar Pridan”
or New Year’s Dance and “Larai Lunge” or War Dance. The dancers depict the
daily life of the community and embody the merriment that enlivens all their
festivals.
Chaibari
Nritya
The
Chaibari Nritya, as the name suggests, is a dance mastered by the tea garden
workers of Northern Bengal. The dancers, with their intricate costumes and
jewelers make for a picture perfect sight in the breathtaking backdrop of the
verdant tea gardens. The melodious music adds to the charm and beauty of the
dance..
Domphu
Nritya
The
Domphu is a musical instrument used by the Nepali community settled in North
Bengal. The Domphu Nritya takes its name from this traditional instrument. The
dances give expression to the joys, hopes and aspirations of the community
through this colorful folk dance.
Kukri
Nritya
TheKukri
Nritya, also from North Bengal, is performed by the girls of the
community, as they ceremoniously hand over their traditional weapon, the Kukri,
to their brothers, before they set off for the war.
Mech
Dance
The
Mech Dance is another popular dance form of North Bengal, the land of forests,
mountains and turbulent rivers. In this dance form, which originated in
Jalpaiguri district, we see and feel the inner rhythm which pervades the simple
life of the tribal people living in harmony with nature. There are several
variations of the Mech Dance.
Bagroomba
is performed by the Mech women at spring festivals, the colorful costumes used
by the dancers are evocative of butterflies.
Chal
Jhumgre Gele Nai is a war dance which is rhythmic and martial in character.
In
the Mesa Glang Nai dance, performed by the Mech women, the youth of the
community is exhorted to be industrious and hardworking. The young members of
the community are reminded that they must always retain the purity of their
minds and bodies. This dance is performed as the women pluck flowers for the
‘Kherai Puja’. They carry small bowls in their hand to collect the flowers.
Rajbanshi
Dance
The
Rajbanshi is one of the many tribes of North Bengal. The lives of the people
belonging to the Rajbanshi tribe revolve around the Teesta River, which they
worship as a Goddess. The Teesta flows down the snow-capped peaks of
Darjeeling, through the dense forests of Jalpaiguri. It then charts a turbulent
course through the lush scenery of Coochbehar, finally meeting the Brahmaputra
River in Bangladesh. This graceful dance is performed to invoke the blessings
of the River Goddess. The Dhol, Kanshi, Kartal and Mukhabanshi are the
instruments that accompany this invocatory dance.
Jhumur
Dance
The
Jhumur songs and dance is one of the liveliest musical forms of Purulia
district of west Bengal, this is an elaborate dance, choreographed and
performed by professional artistes. Here lies its essential difference with
forms like the Santhali Dance. The dance is performed by girls while the boys
play the Dhol and Madol. This entertaining dance is performed on stage and
during road shows. Heavy make-up and ornate jewelers form part of the costume
of the Jhumur dancers. This secular dance form is accompanied by fast-paced and
cheerful Jhumur songs.
The
sensuous Nachni is an offshoot of the Jhumur Dance, depicting the love of Radha
(Nachni) and Krishna (Rasik).
Bhadu
As
the rains pour down on the red earth of Bengal, voices rise in praise of
Bhadreswari Ma, invoking her blessings for a good harvest. Originating from the
districts of Bakura, Purulia, West Burddhaman and Birbhum, the Bhadu Dance is
performed mainly during the Monsoon. The dance draws its name from the Bengali
month of Bhadra, when the monsoon showers drench the earth. During the
festival, Bhadreswari or Bhadu (goddess of crops) is invoked by the villagers,
seeking her blessings for an abundant harvest. The women of the community, both
married and unmarried perform the Bhadu Dance. The unmarried girls pray for a
loving husband while the married women pray to Mother Earth to be blessed with
children.
The
Bhadu festival is also celebrated in Chota Nagpur, where it is known as ‘Karam
Parab’.
Tushu
When
we think of harvest songs in Bengali folk culture, we think of Tushu. Tushu
songs, originating from the districts of Bakura, Purulia & Midnapore have
similar features. The daily lives and relationships of the villagers form the
theme of this genre of songs. Family rows between rival co-wives and between
wives and their sisters-in-law find a place in Tushu songs.
Tushu
songs being associated with harvesting always refer to the householder’s wealth
– ‘ghee of 32 cows’, ‘rice of fine paddy’, ‘pots of ghee and gur’ are some of
the expressions used. The villagers pray to the Folk Goddess Tushu for
prosperity. They ask for the Goddess’s blessings so that their homes and the
homes of their sons may overflow with wealth.
Dhamail
Dhamail
is a folk dance performed by the married women of rural Bengal. The women
arrange themselves in a circle, around a certain object of prayer, clapping to
the beats of the song. While praying to the Sun God, a lit diya, symbolizing
the sun, is kept at the centre. The clapping brings a rhythmic element into the
otherwise slow-paced dance.
Nabanna
Nabanna
is a ritualistic dance performed after the autumn harvest. It is part of a
religious ceremony associated with cultivation and harvesting. The dance is an
expression of the happiness of the farmers’ families after a successful
harvest. A special religious ceremony is held on the day the new rice is eaten.
Noila
Broto
Farming
is an integral part of the lives of villagers in rural Bengal. After a day’s
toil, the villagers often sing and dance as a welcome break from their daily
routine of labor and hard work. In most parts of rural India, agriculture is
still dependant on the rains. Noila Broto is a traditional ode to the Rain
Goddess, “Megh Kanya”. This prayer dance, involving rituals and offerings,
celebrates the arrival of the first monsoon clouds. The farmers and their wives
pray for a good monsoon that will bring forth an abundant harvest of crop,
ushering in prosperity and happiness.
Baromashya
The
Bengali community is known for the warm hospitality it extends to visitors.
When a guest arrives unannounced at a Bengali home, he is greeted warmly and
made to feel welcome, while the host makes every effort to ensure a comfortable
stay. The Baromashya songs and dances describe this endearing quality of the
simple folk of rural Bengal.
Bou
Nritya
This
is a part of the traditional Badhubaran ceremony of Srihatta. Bou Nritya enacts
the custom of asking a new bride to dance; a process of helping her shed her
inhibitions. The dancers wear ornaments typical of this region and drape the
sari in a different way. The distinguishing feature of this dance is that the
dancers never lift their feet off the ground during the entire performance.
Through this dance of initiation, the new bride is welcomed into her new
family.
Ganga
Baidya
Ganga
Baidya is a dance of the snake charmers or Bedes of Bengal. The dance gives
expression to the daily lives, customs, hopes and aspirations as well as the
pains and tribulations of this sect of people of rural Bengal. The Bedes were a
nomadic tribe who moved from place to place, earning their living by singing
their songs and displaying acrobatic tricks – with fire, knives, sticks and
ropes. These worshippers of Ma Manasha use snakes for a variety of tricks.
Through their songs and dances, the fearless Bedes sold snake venom and
talismans to the villagers, promising them that these would keep evil away.
Lathi
Dance
This
is another notable form of folk dance which has a different art of expression.
This dance is performed to express different situations of human life like
remorse, celebration, anger, pain or love. The dance is performed in the first
ten days of the Muslim festival of Muharram.
Music
of West Bengal
The
richness of Bengali culture also reflects in the music that expresses the
feeling of love, sadness, anxiety, motivation, devotion or spirituality. The
music of West Bengal also refers as Bangla Sangeet. Some of the popular Music
of Bengal are:
Classical
Bangla Music
The
classical music of West Bengal is highly inspired by the other forms of Indian
classical music. The influence of Karnataka music has significant influence on
the classical music of Bengal. Like other classical forms of music of this place
also based on the musical modes called ‘Ragas’. Themes of classical music have
its root in Jaydev's Gitagovindam, Rabindra-Sangeet, Shyama-Sangeet, Mangalgiti
and Padavali kirtan.
Rabindra
Sangeet
This
is one of the most popular kinds of Bangla music which was created by the great
poet and the Noble Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. These songs are regarded as
cultural treasures of Bengal
Artists/painters
of West Bengal
The Bengal
School of Art commonly referred as Bengal School was
an influential art movement and a style of painting that originated in Bengal,
primarily Kolkata and Shantiniketan, and flourished throughout India during the
British Raj in the early 20th century. Also known as 'Indian style of painting'
in its early days, it was associated with Indian nationalism (swadeshi) and led
by Abanindranath Tagore (1871-1951), but was also promoted and supported by
British arts administrators like E.B Havell the principal of the Government
Collage of arts Kolkata from 1896; eventually it led to the development of the
modern Indian painting.
However
Bengal continues to produce some of the best artists of modern India. Among
them the best known artists of present day Bengal are Ganesh Pyne, Manishi Dey,
Nirmal Dutta, Nilima Dutta, Jahar Dasgupta, Bikash Bhattacharya Sudip Roy,
Devajyoti Ray and Paresh Maiti
Architecture
of Bengal
The
Bengal region, which includes the Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state
of West Bengal, has many architectural relics and monuments/temples dating back
thousands of years.
Bengal,
a land of natural and cultural heritage.
Temples
of West
Bengal an amazing architectures;
1 Bakranath
Temple at Bakreswar near Siuri in West Bengal: Built in the Oriyan
style, the large temple is the most important of the several shrines in
Bakreswar. Hot springs are another feature of interest in this town.
2 Balrampur
Jain Temple at Balrampur near Purulia in West Bengal
3 Bansuli
Temple at Nannur near Bolpur in West Bengal: The temple site is like a
mound, and the lowest level dates back to the Gupta period.
4 Barakar
Temples at Barakar near Asansol in West Bengal: Four stone temples in
the North Indian Rekha style built in the 8th through the 15th century.
5 Bargabhima
Temple at Tamluk near Medinipur in West Bengal: Large Temple to Shakti
influenced by the Oriyan architecture style displaying interesting engineering
and architectural features.
6 Bhagwati
Temple at Gourangpur near Asansol in West Bengal: A beautiful brick
temple over 150 years old now deserted.
7 Brindabanchandra
Temple at Guptipara near Calcutta (Hooghly) in West Bengal: The
biggest in the group of temples in Guptipara.
8 Chaitanyadev
Temple at Guptipara near Calcutta (Hooghly) in West Bengal: 17th
century temple in the Bengali style of architecture.
9 Chinese
Temple at Achipur near Calcutta in West Bengal: Chinese temple with
inscriptions dating back to the 18th century.
10 Dakshineswar
Kali Temple at Calcutta in West Bengal: Famous 19th century Kali
temple associated with Ramakrishna.
11 Dhirdham
Temple at Darjeeling in West Bengal: Built along the lines of the
Pasupathinath temple in Nepal.
12 Dugdheshwar Shiva
Temple at Amaragarh near Burddhaman in West Bengal
13 Ekteswara
Temple at Ekteswara near Bakura in West Bengal: Famous Shiva temple
that looks like a massive solid pillar near the river Dwarkeshwar.
14 Hanseswari
Temple at Bansberia near Calcutta in West Bengal: Dates back to the
19th century with ornate arches.
15 Jagannath
Temple at Serampore near Calcutta in West Bengal: Large and ancient
Jagannath temple famous for its rath yatra second only to Puri.
16 Jain
remains at Pakbira near Bara Bazar (Purulia) in West Bengal: Remains
of numerous temples and images some about 2000 years old.
17 Jain
Temple Ruins at Boram near Jaipur in West Bengal: Ruins of three
identical Jain temples
18 Jain
Temples at Dulmi near Purulia in West Bengal
19 Jain
Temples at Deoli near Purulia in West Bengal: Group of Jain temples,
the largest of which has an image of Arhanath worshipped by Hindus as well.
20 Jain
temples and ruins at Chharra near Purulia in West Bengal: Old temples
and ruins of Jain origin.
21 Jateshwarnath
Temple at Mahanad near Calcutta (Hooghly) in West Bengal: A center for
Shiva and Shakti worship.
22 Jaya
Deva Temple at Kenduli near Bolpur in West Bengal: Well known temple
to Radha and Krishna dating back to the 12th century - current structure over
200 years old.
23 Jor
Bangala Temple at Bishnupur near Bakura in West Bengal: Specimen of
remarkable sculpture and architecture.
24 Kalighat
Temple at Calcutta in West Bengal: 200 year old temple from which
Calcutta is said to take its name.
25 Kalna
Shiva Temples at Kalna in West Bengal: A group of 108 Shiva temples in
concentric circles.
26 Kalyaneshwari
Temple at Barakar near Asansol in West Bengal: This is a 500 year old
temple a great center for Shakti worship.
27 Kanak
Durga Temple at Chikligarh near Medinipur in West Bengal
28 Kapil
Muni Temple at Sagar Island near Diamond Harbor in West Bengal:
Associated with the mythological descent of the Ganges from the heavens (into
the sea) and a site held in great reverence.
29 Kiriteshwari
Temple at Murhsidabad near Murshidbad in West Bengal: Regarded as one
of the Shakthi Peeths this was once a center of great importance.
30 Krishnachandra
Temple at Guptipara near Calcutta (Hooghly) in West Bengal: Located
along with the Chaitanyadev, Ramachandra and Brindabanchandra temples.
31 Krishnarjun
Temple at Tamluk near Medinipur in West Bengal: Ancient temple -
current structure built 400 years ago.
32 Lalji
Temple at Chandrakona near Medinipur in West Bengal: 16th century
temple built in Bengali style, enclosed by a high wall with a gateway.
33 Malleswar
Temple at Chandrakona near Medinipur in West Bengal: 60 feet high
temple dating back to the 18th century, with an even older shrine.
34 Mankeshwar
Mahadev Temple at Amaragarh near Burddhaman in West Bengal
35 Radha
Kanta Jiu Temple at Rajbalhat near Calcutta (Hooghly) in West Bengal:
A fine specimen of Bengali architecture dating back to the 18th century.
36 Ramachandra
Temple at Guptipara near Calcutta (Hooghly) in West Bengal: Fine red
colored brick temple with a curved roof, with brick panels carved with fine
specimen of Bengali art.
37 Sarva
Mangala Devi Temple at Garbeta near Medinipur in West Bengal:
16th-17th century temple in the Oriyan style dedicated to Devi along with other
temples within the fort.
38 Sheetalnath
Jain Temple at Calcutta in West Bengal: 19th century temple - an
ornate mass of mirrors, colored stones and glass mosaics.
39 Shivakhya
Devi Temple at Amaragarh near Burddhaman in West Bengal
40 Sidheswara
Temple at Bahulara near Onda in West Bengal: Ancient Shiva temple in
the Oriyan style with fine ornamentation depicting replicas of the temple.
41 Suratheshwar
Temple at Supur near Bolpur in West Bengal
42 Swayambhava
Kali Temple at Bansberia near Calcutta (Hooghly) in West Bengal:
Located near the Vishnu temple, this temple dates back to the 18th century.
43 Syamaleswar
Temple at Dantan in West Bengal: Ancient temple to Shiva in this town
where there are 2 large tanks - the Bidyadhar and Sarasankha.
44 Tarakeshwar
Temple at Tarakeshwar near Calcutta (Hooghly) in West Bengal: A very
well known temple in the Bengali style of architecture attracting scores of
pilgrims.
45 Temple
Ruins at Chandrakona at Chandrakon near Medinipur in West Bengal:
Ruins of several Oriyan styled temples now abandoned.
West Bengal terra
cotta temple architecture
Although
there is plenty of evidence of human settlement in Bengal from prehistoric
times but there are regrettable dearth of evidence. This is because of the soil
structure of Bengal The community being spread on the alluvial plain of the
mighty rivers of Ganges, Brahmaputra the whole region is susceptible to flood
and its resulting unsettling geographical pattern. The only somewhat undulated
regions being the western Chota Nagpur and the Himalayan ridges of east and the
north. This soil structure is reflected in the building material chosen by the
Bengali temple designers. Mainly the terra cotta temples with elaborate surface
decorations and lettering written in nagari alphabets. The roof structure also
has been the effect of the heavy rainfall that the river delta and the Tarai
experiences throughout the monsoon, it has Ganges been curved effectively in
most cases to get rid of the huge amount of water as soon as possible and
thereby increasing the lifetime of the structure. The architectural evidence
generally has been from the Gupta Empire period onwards. There have been recent
discoveries of plaques from the times of Chandraketugarh and mahasthangarh
throwing additional light on the architectural styles of sunga and gupta
periods. Apart from the Pahlavi and Phamsana influence on the architectural
style it is also closely connected to the Bhanja style of temples from
mayurbhanj district of Orissa But the temples of south Bengal is a distinction
due to its roofing style so unique and closely related to the paddy roofed
traditional building style of rural Bengal. Bishnupur in the southern district
Bakura of West Bengal has a remarkable set of such temples which being built
from the Malla dynasty are examples of this style. Most of these temples are
covered on the outer surface with terra cotta reliefs which contains plenty of
secular materials making these important to reconstruct the social structure
from these times.
The
temple structures contain gabled roofs which are colloquially called the chala,
For example a gabled roof with an eight sided pyramid structured roof with be
called "ath chala" or literally the eight faces of the roof. And
frequently there is more than one tower in the temple building. These are built
of laterite and brick bringing them at the mercy of severe weather conditions
of southern Bengal .Dakshineswar Kali Temple is one example of the Bhanja style
while the additional small temples of Shiva along the river bank are example of
southern Bengal roof style though in much smaller dimension.
Bankura district is a land of temples. There are more historical temples inBishnupur than in any other place in West Bengal. There are several aspects oftemple art, architecture and construction that need to be considered.
Almost all temples in Bishnupur town are Vaishnavite, but many of those scatteredin different areas of the district spread outside the town are Shaivite, with traces ofJainism and Buddhism. While some of the older temples were built of laterite, thearea has numerous brick built temples, some with exquisite terra cotta carvings.Terra cotta carvings are also found in some temples outside the district, as forexample at joy deb kenduli or Antpur, but the art of terra cotta carvings seems tohave flourished with the rise of the Rajas of Bishnupurand virtually died out withthe fading of their supremacy. Some of the earlier temples built by the BardhamanRaj have terra cotta carvings, possibly by artisans from Bankura district, but by thetime Rani Rashmoni decided to construct the Dakhinswar kali temple, in the mid-nineteenth century, the art of terra cotta carvings had obviously faded out.
Terra
cotta Temples are the pride of Bishnupur, a small village in Bankura Districtof West Bengal. The Malla kings of the 16th-18th centuries constructed thesetemples, about 30 in all, in their devotion to Lord Krishna. This architecture
betrays influences of various ancient Indian styles as well as of Mughal andPersian designs. Ras-Manch, Shyamrai, Jor-Bangla, and Radha-Shyam are someof the most important of the Terracota Temples. The basic building material of
these temples is tiles made from the local red soil. The terracota tiles aredecorated with filigreed carvings that have Mughal, Persian or Indian lineage.
Attraction
of Bakura bishnupur
Malleshwar
Temple: Dedicated
to Lord Shiva, it is the oldest temple in Bishnupur.
Rasmancha: Built in the
late 16th century by King Bir Hambir, the temple has an unusual elongated
paramedical tower, surrounded by hut-shaped turrets. Idols were kept here for
public worship during Ras-utsav.
Pancha
Ratna Temple of Shyam Raya: Built in 1643 AD by King Raghunath Singha. The
walls are richly decorated with terracotta carvings featuring different aspects
of Lord Krishna’s life.
Jorebangla
Temple of Keshta Raya: Built by King Raghunath Singha Dev II in 1655
AD, the ornate terracotta carvings are set off by the roof in the classic chala
style of typical Bengal architecture.
Madanmohan
Temple: King
Durjana Singh Deva built the temple in 1694 AD in the ekaratna style. It is a
square flat-roofed building with carved cornices, surmounted by a pinnacle.
Impressive carvings on the walls depict scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata
and the Puranas.
Kalachand
Temple: It
is of ekratna style and is on the bank of Lal-bandh.
Mukutmonipur: Mukutmonipur is 55Km
away from Bakura (a 2 hours drive) District Head Quarters and is situated at
the confluence of river Kangsabati and Kumari. Green forests and hillocks
surround the vast bluish tract of water. The undulating terrain along the
southern edge of the Kangsabati Water Reservoir extends as a three-dimensional
necklace of green and terracotta color. Tourists flock here for its stunning
natural beauty.
Jhilimili: Jhilimili is situated 70 Km away from Bakura Town. It is
a beautiful, undisturbed dense natural forest. The road from Ranibund to
Jhilimili offers a wonderful view of spectacular forests on varying heights on
both sides, finally reaching Jhilimili, which is mounted on the top of a
hillock.. The sparkle of micaceous soil adds to the beauty of the environment.
Susunia: Susunia hill, 50 km from Bishnupur, is quite popular as a
trekking spot. It is also an important tourist spot for people who visit the
place to see "Dhara" (a natural spring) and Silialipi. Excavations
have revealed inscriptions dating back to the 4th century AD.
Joyrambati, 44 km from Bishnupur, the birthplace of Sree Maa Sarada Devi, is a
holy town. The famous temple of Singha Bahani Devi is a special attraction.
Mayerepukur, in front of the residential house of Ma-Sarada is also a sight
worth visiting.
Sutan Forest: Bakura is also popular for beautiful Tourist Spots
like Sutan, Near Ranibandh & Eco-Park, and Near Taldangra, covered with
dense forest, decorated with small lakes and thrilling with wild animals. Biharinath
Hill: Biharinath, situated in the extreme northwest area of the district,
57 km away from Bakura town, thought to be an ancient centre of Jainism. The
height of the hill is 448 m is the highest hill in Bakura. Biharinath is very
rich in flora and fauna.
Hyena, Pangolin, Chameleon, Racaphorus, though few in number, are still found
here.
The place is known for its natural beauty.
Ganga
The
fisherman community of rural Bengal prays to Ganga Devi in the month of
Chaitra. Through their prayers and dances, they appease the Goddess, so that she
bestows blessings on them throughout the year. According to great philosopher
Aristotle all source of great human
world knowledge and wisdom has come from the banks of holy Ganges river of
India.
Ganga
Heritage Cruise West Bengal
The
river Ganga passing through the state of West Bengal in India has been an
important trade route from time immemorial. It is through this route trade was
conducted with the early civilizations. Later when European colonial powers
came through this river they established trade posts along the river. One can
also find important places of pre colonial times also. The aim of the Ganga
Heritage Cruise, West Bengal is to discover these historical places along with
natural historical sites. The whole Ganga Heritage Cruise, West Bengal
stretches 260 km from Howrah to Murshidabad spanning seven districts with
picturesque rural Bengal. The cruise is conducted by a number of cruise
launches where staying and fooding facilities are well provided for.
The
starting point is the town of Murshidabad the erstwhile capital of Bengal. The
town was founded by Nawab Murshid Quli Khan and its prosperity was its silk
center. With this silk trade came the European traders but after the Battle of
Plassey in 1757 the British founded the British colonial empire. One of the
important historical landmarks is Hazar Duari named after the thousand doors of
the palace though not all are real. It is now a museum displaying rare books,
military weapons, paintings, royal artifacts etc. Other places are Katra Mosque
housing the tomb of the founding Nawab, Jorebangla a four terra-cotta temple
complex and other historic places.
Next
place is Mayapur the birth place of Shri Chaitanya who started Vaishnavism five
centuries ago and Nabadwip where Shri Chaitanya propounded the Vaishnavism
philosophy in 1485.
Then
comes the town of Kalna with its famous 108 Shivlinga temples build by the
Maharaja of Burdwan in 1809. You can also visit the beautiful terracotta temple
of Pratapeswar temple built in 1849.Other important sites are Shyamsunder Bati,
Krishna Chandraji temple, Amli Briksha and Pancha Bimsati temple.
Next
comes the city of Chinsura the former Dutch trading post established in 1656.
Discover the Dutch colonial heritage. After that visiting the city of
Chandernagore, the erstwhile French settlement feels like being transported to
the 16th century with its beautiful esplanade by the river with chairs. One can
visit the house of Dupleix, the French Governor, the police headquarters and
the French Institute. And lastly the Ganga Heritage Cruise, West Bengal stops
at Belur the foundation of Ramkrishna Mission and a site for an equally
imposing temple.
Go
onboard the Ganga Heritage Cruise, West Bengal which takes you back in time and
discover each stages of cultural, historical heritage of Bengal in a
comfortable journey through the romantic river Ganga. An unforgettable
experience! An incredible amazing
Bengal.
Climate
and geography of west Bengal
The
eastern state of West Bengal experiences a tropical type of climate due to its
geographical location. The state has diversity in physiographic as it touches
the Himalayas in the north and is bordered by the Bay of Bengal in south. The
northern districts remain cold throughout the year and for that reason, the
hill stations are favored by the tourists especially during the summer months.
The
climate of West Bengal is full of variation. The seasons in West Bengal can be
broadly categorized into summer, winter, autumn and rainy seasons. The summer
months in West Bengal span from mid of March to mid of June. During this time,
the average temperature is 38 degree to 45 degree.
The
monsoon season in West Bengal is much awaited as the landscape turns lush green
after the monsoon showers. By the middle of June, monsoon approaches the state
and it is influenced by the winds blowing from Bay of Bengal. The autumn season
in West Bengal is welcomed with a number of festive occasions. From September
the festive mood commences and it is during this cool and pleasant climate, the
festival of Durga Puja is celebrated in West Bengal.
During
the winter season, the weather of West Bengal remains very pleasant. The state
experiences a mild cold climate while the temperature drops very low in the
hilly region of West Bengal. From about mid November, winter approaches West
Bengal and temperature rises not before the middle of February. The temperature
varies around 15 degree in these cold months.
The
Geography of West Bengal is varied. The state of West Bengal is
situated in the eastern part of India. On the east lies Bangladesh. Sikkim and
Bhutan lie on the north of West Bengal. The state of Assam is situated on the
north east of West Bengal. Bihar and Jharkhand is situated on the western side
of the state. The geographical location of the state is 23 degree North
latitude and 88 degree East longitude.
As per details from Census 2011, West Bengal has population of 9.13 Crore, an
increase from figure of 8.02 Crore in 2001 census. Total population of West
Bengal as per 2011 census is 91,347,736 of which male and female are 46,927,389
and 44,420,347 respectively. In 2001, total population was 80,176,197 in which
males were 41,465,985 while females were 38,710,212. he total area of West
Bengal is 88,752 sq
The
population density of West Bengal per square kilometer is 904. Sex Ratio in
West Bengal is 947 i.e. for each 1000 male, which is below national average of
940 as per census 2011. In 2001, the sex ratio of female was 934 per 1000 males
in West Bengal.. The population of West Bengal is predominated by the Bengali
population. But immigration from different states of India has enriched the
population diversity of West Bengal.
The topography of the state also varies from region to region. The northern
part of West Bengal touches the Himalayan range. The topography of West Bengal
alters as the Indo-Gangetic plain begins. The Gangetic plain is rich in
alluvial soil and thus is very fertile. This kind of soil is suitable for
agriculture. Further south, the deltaic plain or the Sunderban region is a very
important spot for tourism in West Bengal.
The climate of West Bengal is full of variation. The state experiences a tropical
type of climate. The seasons in West Bengal can be broadly categorized into
summer, rainy, autumn and winter seasons.
Demography
According
to the provisional results of 2011 national census, West Bengal is the fourth
most populous state in India with a population of 91,347,736 (7.55% of India's
population). Majority of the population comprises Bengali people. Marawaris,
Behari and Oriya minorities are scattered throughout the state. Communities of
Sherpa’s and ethnic Tibetans can be found in
Darjeeling
Himalayan hill region .Darjeeling district has a large number of Gurkha people
of Nepalese origin. West Bengal is home to indigenous tribal Adivasis such as
Santhalis, Kol, Koch-Rajbonshi and Toto tribe There are a small number of
ethnic minorities primarily in the state capital, including Chinese, Tamils,
Gujarati, Anglo Indians, Armenians, punjabis,and parsis. India's sole chaina
town is in eastern Kolkata
Religions
in West Bengal
Religion
Percent
Hindu
72.5%
Muslim
25.2%
Others
2.3%
The
official language is Bengali and English. Nepali is the official language in
three subdivisions of. Darjeeling district .As of 2001, in descending order of
number of speakers, the languages of the state are: Bengali, Hindi, Santali,
Urdu Nepali, and .Oriya Languages such as Rajbangsi and Ho are used in some
parts of the state.
As
of 2001, Hinduism is the principal religion at 72.5% of the total population,
while Muslims comprise 25.2% of the total population, being the second-largest
community as also the largest minority group; Sikhism Christianity and other
religions make up the remainder. The state contributes 7.8% of India's
population. The state's 2001–2011 decennial growth rates was 13.93%, lower than
1991–2001 growth rate of 17.8%, and also lower than the national rate of
17.64%. The gender ratio is 947 females per 1000 males. As of 2011, West Bengal
has a population density of 1,029 inhabitants per square kilometer (2,670 /sq
mi) making it the second-most densely populated state in India, after Bihar.
The
literacy rate is 77.08%, higher than the national rate of 74.04%.Data of
1995–1999 showed the life expectancy in the state was 63.4 years, higher than
the national value of 61.7 years. About 72% of people live in rural areas. The
proportion of people living below the poverty line in 1999–2000 was 31.9%
Scheduled Castes and Tribes form 28.6% and 5.8% of the population respectively
in rural areas, and 19.9% and 1.5% respectively in urban areas. A study
conducted in three districts of West Bengal found that accessing private health
services to treat illness had a catastrophic impact on households. This
indicates the value of public provision of health services to mitigate against
poverty and the impact of illness on poor households.
The
crime rate in the state in 2004 was 82.6 per 100,000, which was half of the
national average .This is the fourth-lowest crime rate among the 32 India.
However, the state reported the highest rate of Special and Local Laws (SLL)
crimes. In reported crimes against women, the state showed a crime rate of 7.1
compared to the national rate of 14.1. Some estimates state that there are more
than 60,000 brothel-based women and girls in prostitution in Kolkata. The
population of prostitutes in sonagachi constitutes mainly of a Nepalese,
Indians and BANGLADESHI. Some sources estimate there are 60,000 women in the
brothels of Kolkata. The largest prostitution area in city is SONAGACHI .West
Bengal was the first Indian state to constitute a Human Rights Commission of
its own
Flora
and fauna
Flora
and Fauna of West
Bengal is rich in flora and fauna and has diverse ecosystems because of its
varying terrain from the high altitudes to the sea level plains. Protected
forests cover 4% of the state area. There are 15 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 5 National
Parks and 2 Tiger Reserves.
The
Sunder ban, in south Bengal, is home to the famous Tiger Project – a
conservatory effort to save the Bengal tigers from extinction. It is an UNESCO
world heritage site. Another similar project exists in Buxa in north Bengal.
Wildlife includes the Indian one horned rhinoceros, Indian elephants, deer,
bison, leopards, gaur, crocodiles and others. The state is also rich in bird
life. Migratory birds come to the state during the winter months.
Conclusion
; Bengali
culture and its excellence
Historically
Bengal has a very rich cultural heritage. Bengal is, indeed, noted for its rich
culture in songs, music, drama, dances and language. Its indigenous style of
music, art, dance and drama is very rich. Bengali is one of the oldest languages
in the world. According to statistics, jointly with Spanish, Bengali is the
fourth largest language group in the world, only surpassed by Chinese, English
and Hindi It is the first of Indian languages to develop western style secular
fiction and drama. It originated from the Indo-Aryan family of languages in the
7th century, thus making it comparable to English, French and German. Bengali
language is much older than Hindi Urdu and even Portuguese, Spanish and many
other established modern languages.
In
the middle ages, Bengali was already a well-established language with popular
poets like Bidyapati, Chandidas, Daulat Kazi and Alawol. It was during this
period of middle ages that the famous Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata
were translated in lyric forms from Sanskrit into Bengali by Krittibas and
Kashiram Das respectively. This period also saw a rich output of romantic
songs, poems and dance centering on the love of Radha and Krishna. These were
simply superb in their wording, rhythm and style.
However,
things started changing rapidly about 200 years ago. With the emergence of some
great personalities like Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar (1820-91), Michael Madhusudan
Datta (1824-73) and Bankim Chatterjee (1838-94) Bengali language and literature
really got a new life. About one hundred and forty years ago came the famous
Bengali poet Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) and then rebel Poet
Kazi Nazrul Islam appeared in 1899. These two great Bengali poets have actually
initiated a new era for Bengali language and culture. Tagore represented this
new era of cultural modernization; others followed him almost as disciples.
Palli Kabi Jasimuddin was also one of them. Tagore was urban, sophisticated and
universal; Nazrul exhibited his spirit of protest and opposition to all social
injustice, discrimination, oppression and exploitation while Jasimuddin vastly
remained rural and provincial in his approach. Their common bond was their
liberal outlook for secular Bengali culture.
Music,
songs, drama and dances are also part of rich Bengali culture and there are
three mainstreams of this Bengali Culture: folk, modern and classical. Folk
music mainly based is rural Bengal. It has been nurtured by the village
singers, musicians, actors and dancers. With sweet melodies, touching words of
love, tragedy and devotion, folk music is the most popular form of music in all
over Bengal. The best known forms of folk music are bhatiali, Baul, bhawaia,
jaari, marfati and murshidi. Lalan Fakir, Hasan Raja, Nirmalendu Chowdhury,
Abbasuddin Ahmed, Shachin Dev Burman, Purnadas Baul, Sadhan Bairagi and Abdul
Halim are some of the greatest names in Bengali folk music.
On
the other hand, the pioneers of modern Bengali music were, indeed, the world
famous Nobel Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore and the rebel poet Kazi Nazrul
Islam. Tagore initiated a blend of East and West and Nazrul experimented with
the synthesis of folk and Middle Eastern strains.
Bengal
also shares the rich tradition of classical music of the subcontinent. Indeed,
Bengal has produced many musicians and maestros of international repute like
Ustad Alauddin Khan, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty and Pandit
Ravi Shankar who have successfully made sitar and sarode popular all over the
world.
Before
I conclude let me describe a few words about the musical instruments which are
also playing vital roles to promote the rich Bengali culture and its
excellence. The typical Bengali folk musical instruments are Ektara (one
string), Dotara (two, but actually four strings), Ghungur, Khol, Mandira,
Behala (violin) and Banshi (flute) and the classical musical instruments are
Sitar, Sarode, Tanpura, Shenai, Eshraj, Pakhwaj, Tabla and Harmonium. Even now
a large number of people in the villages of Bangladesh, West Bengal and Tripura
regularly listen to the folk drama called Jatra and the age old melodic folk
songs.
Bengali
Performing Arts' aim is to promote this rich Bengali cultural heritage and its
excellence by organizing cultural programs round the year throughout the world.
.
