Friday, March 17, 2017

BELUR MATH : Old Spot - With New Dos and Don'ts

Are you planning to pay a visit to BELUR MATH after a long time ?

Belur Math : Main Temple
Read the following carefully to avoid disappointment , the way we have had it the last Sunday :

a) Your plan for "Whole Day spend @ Math?" - In case you plan to visit in the morning and have "Mahaprasad" @ the dining hall (picture attached) ...... must not reach after 10.30hrs...... as Main Temple would close at 12noon..... Prasad for the last batch at 12noon (starts from 11am only) and you will be channeled out by 12noon only , without any scope to stay in the compound after 12noon till 3.30pm

b) Your plan for else - In case you plan to visit in the 2nd half , you would be allowed the entry after 3.30pm only till the evening

c) Mahaprasad - Those, who have not been to Belur math for long, what to speak of the scope to have "Mahaprasad" , may wonder to see "Prasad Bitaran" or distribution of "Prasad" has reached a mammoth level of experience as under :

Under Supervision of A Monk
d) There is a new building with four floors , each floor has arrangement of 2700 seats per batch (pictures are attached)

e) Pocket Pinch for "Mahaprasada" - Any small donation against receipt.....
f) Food Arrangement / old to new - Those, who had earlier experience of having "Mahaprasad" in a much more simple manner of lower scale and sitting on the ground , could not be able to connect the present scale of high volume of visitors and disciples , flowing in every day , apart from the important festival occasions.  
So, the change in volume of visitors has rippling effect over the arrangement too. Table and chair replaced the old model / steel utensils pushed the banana leaves (as plates) out .

Large drums and trolleys on wheels  replaced the manual distribution of Prasada by few servers and cooks......  
And finally, the job is outsourced now for all the right reasons....

In stead of max. 100 per batch ..... it is 2700 per batch X 4 floors in a new building  

Before a batch starts

f) Lift By TOTO : 

Did you finish your "Mahaprasada" part ?  Over ? 

Then, pls. do not go go back to the "Math" premises again ..... but walk down to the Main Gate to catch your vehicle..... 

For senior citizens and sick persons, vehicles (TOTO) are arranged for pick up from outside "Prasad Griha" to entrance gate of Belur Math - Free of Cost"

The visitors are coming out of new "Prasad Griha" - under construction 

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Saturday, October 24, 2015

PUJA SPECIAL - DESTINATION : The Ganga

PUJA SPECIAL –  River Cruise Tour :

By Partha Pratim Majumder


Destination : The Ganga

One River Cruise Out Of The Two
“Experience Bengal”’s Durga Puja  : A Rivercruise Way

The caption this year floated by Deptt. of Tourism, Govt. of West Bengal & West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. (WBTDCL) was “EXPERIENCE BENGAL - THE SWEETEST PART OF INDIA”.

Way To Jetty
There is hardly any doubt asto mere words can not describe what Puja means to Bengal and the Bengalees. It is perhaps the convergence of all quintessential components of life like :
         ·            Emotions
         ·            Culture
         ·            The cult of Goddess
         ·            The warmth of being together
         ·            The joy of celebrations
         ·            The pride of artistic expression  in search of variety and uniqueness and
         ·            Finally the love of life  


Therefore, Durga Puja is much more by several notches than just worship …… that’s why be it  Kolkata or the whole of West Bengal, so many thousands of pandals with amazing idols, glitz of illumination and loud beating  of drums (Dhaaker Awaaz) greet so many millions of puja revelers in new dress and shoes, who joyfully roar to  say -  “Been there – Seen that”.

With this tradition of a typical  carnival time, a slice monotony looms large in our mind to question – “Can’t we think beyond and celebrate in an innovative way? Can’t we go back to the soulful river or Maa Ganga  for  few hours ?

Yes, we can – thankfully by holding the hands of West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. (WBTDCL)

It has been organizing several “Puja Special Package Tours” every year since long – out of the lot, one model i.e “River Cruise Tours” stands out of the crowd.

This cruise tour is made for a crowd that loves to be somewhere  far from the madding crowd ........ more in the aura of slow pace of life that believes things to be enjoyed with its subtlety and simplicity like the riverside buildings ....... standing aloft for so long 

WBTDCL  realizes this towards implementation 


River Cruise Tours : 

Every year, subject to date finalization, such tours take place on :

ü  Mahalaya Day for Tarpan – Morning Trip
ü  Shubha Saptami / Shubha Astami / Shubha Navami - Morning Trip & Evening Trip
ü  Shubha Bijoya Dashami – Immersion Trip



Baul Song 
Experience Bengal - A Lifetime Experience :

M.V Sarbamangala - Upperdeck 

         ·            On 22nd October (Shubha Navami), I, as a first timer,  was on board with more than 100 tourists in its evening trip (6pm to 9pm) from New Babughat Jetty to Belur Math and back

         ·            A special gate @ New Babughat Jetty was set up to welcome the tourist traffic carrying tickets (either online or offline). Once checked by WBTDC Officials, you are given a Souvenir Bag with several booklets on tourism in WB and a token gift

         ·            There were two large and well illuminated vessels bound together (M.V.Sarvajaya & M.V.Sarbamangala) , hosting the event of cruising along the river while enjoying the rituals of exclusive Durgapuja on board with memorable musical soiree and an exotic Bengali cuisine to satisfy the tourists’ taste-buds

         ·            On entering the abode of Goddess on the riverbed, we all had the first but divine eye contact with “Maa Durga” , the idol in traditional attire  with her family in the lower deck of the 1st vessel . The priest  and dhaki  were found to be attached and busy in rituals

Maa Durga @ The Vessel 


         ·            The musical function was  arranged on the upper deck of the 2nd vessel, whereas the audience was found sitting having catering arrangement made on the upper deck of both the vessels

         ·            Just at 6pm, both the vessels tied together  started its journey amidst chanting of mantra and sound of drums (Dhaker Bajna). While leaving the jetty and listening to the Baul songs of  Birbhum ,  the crowd had the first sip of its fruit juice as “Welcome Drink”, accompanied a fistful of  starter items. Tea followed closely.


Ms.Moumita, The Anchor 

         ·            Ms. Moumita of “Akaash Aaath (8)” appeared as anchor and welcomed all the guests heartily , recited couple of Bengali poetry and then introduced Ms. Bandita Sarkar with her orchestra for an entertaining performance touching all taste points from Agamani to Rabindra Sangeet to Old Bengali Melodies to Hindi Foot Tapping Numbers of old & present time


         ·            Suddenly Moumita and all others spotted Mr. Arindam Ganguly, the famous iconic  singer cum “Shreeman Hansaraaj” famed actor  of Bengali Film Industry in the audience. He was present with Ms. Kheali Dastidar Ganguly , his wife and a team of his friends to enjoy the evening.


         ·            He, on a request for rendition of a few liner song of his choice, charted out one of the ever favourite Bengali folk song on “Ganga river” , originally sung by Late Nirmalendu Chowdhury, (the maestro of folk music of Bengal) in the film named “Ganga” in sixties , directed by Late Rajen Tarafdar

 
Mr. Arindam Ganguly 

         ·            It (“Ammai dubaili re amaai bhasaili re”) was a superb rendition without any accompaniment and through the use of a highly prepared voice quality , practiced  from his childhood, (when he was Master Arindam). His rendition on the river and remembering the river was truly an out of the world experience . Arindam mesmerized all to take the atmosphere to a different level


         ·            Thank you Arindam for showing your rare virtue of not having ego , which all of us must look at and follow. It was a sudden return gift from the guests  to WBTDCL for such awesome journey, arranged by them  


         ·            Our cruise navigated through the darkness gently in between the two lighted borders of the river …. crossed Howrah Bridge underneath … Nimtalla Ghat … Shova Bazar Ghat …. Kashipur Ghat… and finally close to Belur Math Ghat at about 7pm , when we could hear the chanting of devotional songs during “ Sandhyarati” going on

Howrah Bridge at night

         ·            Now, on the way back………. We touched upon all the timeless points of Ganga and its  riverside civilization. The river has been seeing celebration of life called “Durgotsav or Sarodotsov” for centuries as silent observer and finally the close down by the event “Immersion”


         ·            At about 8.30pm, we were served Dinner , having the following items on the menucard :


o    Salad
o    Rice & Luchi
o    Daal
o    Veg. Curry
o    Chicken Curry
o    Bhetki Paturi
o    Chaatney
o    Papad
o    Sweet Dish – Sandesh, Rossogolla,Gulabjamun and Icecream
o    Paan & Paan Masala

         ·            At 9pm, you are back to the point of commencement of the journey i.e New Babughat Jetty for departure to own destination

Upper Deck - It's light everywhere 
2016 booking : Where , How and When ?


Booking Office : Tourist Centre, 3/2, B.B.D Bag (E), Kolkata-7000 01 (P) 033-2248-8271 /2243-6440 (F) 2248-5168

  • Pocket Pinch : As per price fixed before booking is open next year / This year it was @ Rs.1300/- for the morning tour and Rs.1500/- for the evening tour
  • Contact Person heading this program : G.M (Operations)


Belur Math at night from the vessel 

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Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Tuki – “TAKI Tour”


TAKI

By Partha Pratim Majumder



Boatride on Ichhamoti River


TAKI , North 24 PGs. ,West Bengal : A Great Weekend Trip

In Kolkata or any part of West Bengal, you need to have a restful  and relaxed weekend (Saturday & Sunday) at the end of daily rigour or grind for many months or years, You may zero in on a common weekend tour destination like Digha or Bolpur to  boringly say -  “Been there – Done that” .

But, in stead , you may opt for a soulful river plate as your next tour destination for rest, relaxation, river cruise and get serenity with fresh breeze of a river inside for complete rejuvenation. Then, you return to your normal life after recharging your battery of life. 

View from Amrapali Guest House 

Taki is your best bet in this category as you have a divine connect of “Ichhamoti Nodi”  or “Ichhamoti River”, flowing gently but diligently for centuries as a common water bed between two member countries  of U.N.O – India & Bangladesh.

Riverside Park

Unique part of observation is this that in the widespread river, both run their boats with individual flags in the air , but for a common purpose – fishing.

Where To Stay :

Taki is still alien to  the so called “Hotel Culture” unlike other tourist destinations because of its serene atmosphere. Therefore, a few Guest Houses as under are visible by the riverside to take rest and have view from your balcony :-


1.     Suhasini Guest House (www.suhasiniguesthouse.com) – (03217-234108/322212)/9330826779
2.     Bidhan Saikat Guest House (Taki Municipality/ Sabyasachi Bose) (M) 93337-57003
3.     Amrapali Guest House (Contact PersonSayan Paul) (P) 03217-234471
4.     Check – In & Check Out Time – 10am
5.   Pocket Pinch - Room Tariff @ Rs. 800 to Rs.1200/-  Per Day (Non A.C/A.C)
6.   Food (Breakfast / Lunch /Dinner) - Tasty dishes available at "Kichhukkhan Restaurant" C/o, Suhasini Guest House - Fish Meal (Rs.100-Rs.150) / Chicken Meal (Rs.100) / Breakfast with Tea  - Rs.35/- per head 


Children's Park - Riverside Road
Location : How to Go ? 

  • 2hrs. by Hasnabad Local train from Sealdah Rly. Stn. and 3 hrs. journey by car  from Kolkata
  • Train almost every hour
  • Few train timings (to & fro) are as under :
            From Sealdah To Taki - 07.47hrs / 08.20hrs/ 09.18hrs/ 11,45hrs.
            From Taki Stn.  To Sealdah Stn.  – 10.58hrs. /11.37hrs./11.57hrs./13.44hrs/14.58hrs.


Inspection Bunglow
The Tourists’ Activity Area : What To Do ?

Any traveller has the expectations  and activity as under :

·         A cool morning walk by the riverside under the rising sun and in the cool clean breeze
·         Rest of mind and body for meditation  or sitting for hours while looking at the river
·         Prime focus will be in resting one’s body and mind towards rejuvenation and self realization
·    Tour of the local hotspots like Machhranga Island,Golpatar Jungle by Van Rickshaw and so on apart from enjoying boat ride
·         Taking children, if you have with you, to a A-1 Children’s Park by the side of the river   


TAKI - Brief History  :


  • Taki is found in the very old records as a very prosperous village under direct control of “Zamindar (Landlord)” during the Moghul rule , particularly during the rule of Emperor Jehangir
  • Subsequently, the family of landlord Roy Chowdhury had started staying over there with his menials and people
Blog writer in front of Suhasini Guest House

  • During the period marked by the upheaval of Raja Rammohan Roy, the then landlord Kalinath Munshi had been his an ardent and close associate
  • Taki Academy, the first school had been established by him in 1832 and a connecting road (46km) between Taki and Barasat had been built by him
  • In 1869, Taki Municipality had been established over a population of 5261 persons
  • Just opposite to Taki, Sripur (under erstwhile Satkheera now Khulna district) stands at the other side of the river in Bangladesh. Dr. B.C.Roy, the first Chief Minister of West Bengal had his mater uncle’s house at Sripur , for which he used to visit Taki several times for the boat ride



Ichhamoti River - Natural View
River Jetty - Boats waiting
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