This being the Pujo season, I am thinking of Bengal quite often, though to be very honest, to me Bengal and Calcutta are kind of intermingled. I'm actually more Calcuttan than "Bengali", because I can relate more to the rainwater puddles near Deshapriya Park than to the paddy fields of Bengal. So, I would use Calcutta and Bengal interchangeably as needed.
These are a few things which are absolutely Bengali, can be called symbols of Bengal too, that I like very much!
The big debates:
Bengalis are renowned debators. We love to argue. The typical "coffee house" setting would speak of endless arguments about various topics from all over the world that has intrigued Bengalis. But those topics that even Bengalis are at a loss to determine are ones totally home grown. That's about bangal versus ghoti. That is which group has produced better people, whose food is better - that continues to which fish is better, with ilish representating the bangal (people from East Bengal) and chingri, the symbol for ghoti (people from the west). That can't keep the arch-rivals out of the argument for long. So inevitably it comes to which football team is better - Mohun Bagan or East Bengal. This is continuing for ages. Major problems arise when spouses hail from the different teams (like us) or when a supporter of one team finds him/herself surrounded by the rival supporters.
Another debate is about north and south Calcutta. The north being the older part and the one where heritage still resides, north Calcuttans say that it bears history and the richness of the place, whereas south Calcuttans would always find the old quarters back dated and time barred, the roads too narrow and proudly say that it is the south which is the hub of modernization that is so necessary in the 20th (or 21st) century.
The food:
Street food from Calcutta still comes in my most pleasant dreams, but the ones that are "signature luchi, rasogolla and mishti doi. I would also include the fine Darjeeling tea in this group. I don't know the history of mishti doi, but know that the sweet version of regular yoghurt is a speciality from Calcutta and is renowned all over the country. It probably comes second to the other great one - rasogolla. It is not for nothing that Nabin Chandra Das from Bagbazar is called "rasogolla'r Columbus". Luchi is another concoction to which bangals have to bow their heads. Luchi and rasogolla are the two foods which can compete with all the ilish recipes that bangals have produced so far! The flaky thin white balls of luchi, paired with mutton curry or the simplest cubed potato in light gravy can make any Bengali nostalgic.
food" from Calcutta are
The clothes:
The moment you dress a 21st century corporate woman in a red bordered white saree (laal paar shada saree)and make her wear the traditional red and white bangles, you bring out the essence of a Bengali girl in her! This is "the dress" of a married Bengali woman and is a trademark of traditional ceremonies. It changes the entire look.
For men, white dhuti-panjabi, especially the ones that have crinkly sleeves (the sleeves are crinkled by using a fruit) adds that special "bengali touch". The white clothes also look very nice in summer.
Related to clothes and fabric, another thing which started off with humble beginnings but are now selling for $128 at Nordstrom is kantha. This is an essence of Bengal as well, where when babies were born, they were wrapped in kantha (quilts). Those were lovingly made by the grandmoms or aunts by reusing old soft sarees. Those sarees were stitched together with some soft stuffing in between. Some artistic women didn't just stitch them together, but used to design those stitches in beautiful patterns. These are now sold as "kantha throws" in Nordstrom!! Anyway, the design is reused for sarees and other types of tops as well. This is one of my favorites too.
The celebrations:
Even if I was an unbiased third person, I would still think traditional Bengali weddings are the best! It
is colorful, absolutely gorgeous but without elderly ladies dancing on the streets. The bride's dress in red and gold is stunningly beautiful and the groom's white provides the subtlety contrast. Overall, it's as beautiful to look at as it is to feel.
Indians celebrate a lot of religious, or should I say socio-religious events. Durga puja is the one for Bengalis. The pandals (decorated tents) in which the idols are kept for five days have crossed the level of good craftsmanship and had elevated itself to be a work of art. That is beautiful to look at and sustains many families all the year round.
The creativity:
Bengali names are very creative and almost all of them have come from Sanskrit words. Unlike most of the world, Bengali names are not always derived from gods and goddesses (at least that is not the criteria in naming someone) and are very modern. People think of unique names, with Rabindranath setting the bar really high in this regard. Some names are a bit too intellectual, but still I am very proud of Bengali names, and my name too. (Well, I am still hanging on to it even with all the distorted pronunciation that I hear.)
That's the thing...
These are a few things which are absolutely Bengali, can be called symbols of Bengal too, that I like very much!
The big debates:
Another debate is about north and south Calcutta. The north being the older part and the one where heritage still resides, north Calcuttans say that it bears history and the richness of the place, whereas south Calcuttans would always find the old quarters back dated and time barred, the roads too narrow and proudly say that it is the south which is the hub of modernization that is so necessary in the 20th (or 21st) century.
The food:
Street food from Calcutta still comes in my most pleasant dreams, but the ones that are "signature luchi, rasogolla and mishti doi. I would also include the fine Darjeeling tea in this group. I don't know the history of mishti doi, but know that the sweet version of regular yoghurt is a speciality from Calcutta and is renowned all over the country. It probably comes second to the other great one - rasogolla. It is not for nothing that Nabin Chandra Das from Bagbazar is called "rasogolla'r Columbus". Luchi is another concoction to which bangals have to bow their heads. Luchi and rasogolla are the two foods which can compete with all the ilish recipes that bangals have produced so far! The flaky thin white balls of luchi, paired with mutton curry or the simplest cubed potato in light gravy can make any Bengali nostalgic.food" from Calcutta are
The clothes:
For men, white dhuti-panjabi, especially the ones that have crinkly sleeves (the sleeves are crinkled by using a fruit) adds that special "bengali touch". The white clothes also look very nice in summer.
Related to clothes and fabric, another thing which started off with humble beginnings but are now selling for $128 at Nordstrom is kantha. This is an essence of Bengal as well, where when babies were born, they were wrapped in kantha (quilts). Those were lovingly made by the grandmoms or aunts by reusing old soft sarees. Those sarees were stitched together with some soft stuffing in between. Some artistic women didn't just stitch them together, but used to design those stitches in beautiful patterns. These are now sold as "kantha throws" in Nordstrom!! Anyway, the design is reused for sarees and other types of tops as well. This is one of my favorites too.
The celebrations:
Even if I was an unbiased third person, I would still think traditional Bengali weddings are the best! It
is colorful, absolutely gorgeous but without elderly ladies dancing on the streets. The bride's dress in red and gold is stunningly beautiful and the groom's white provides the subtlety contrast. Overall, it's as beautiful to look at as it is to feel.
Indians celebrate a lot of religious, or should I say socio-religious events. Durga puja is the one for Bengalis. The pandals (decorated tents) in which the idols are kept for five days have crossed the level of good craftsmanship and had elevated itself to be a work of art. That is beautiful to look at and sustains many families all the year round.
The creativity:
Bengali names are very creative and almost all of them have come from Sanskrit words. Unlike most of the world, Bengali names are not always derived from gods and goddesses (at least that is not the criteria in naming someone) and are very modern. People think of unique names, with Rabindranath setting the bar really high in this regard. Some names are a bit too intellectual, but still I am very proud of Bengali names, and my name too. (Well, I am still hanging on to it even with all the distorted pronunciation that I hear.)
That's the thing...
2 comments:
1. how cud u forget roll and fuchka in food? onyo kon state e erom parar more e roll er dokan dekhte pao? ar oi paani-puri and gol-gappa r songe amader fuchka has no comparison.
2.21st century r modern girl er attire niye kotha bole tarpor eder chhobi kyano?
3. biyer chhobi ta khub bhalo.
1. Ami gol-gappa etc khaini kokhono, tai phuchkar byapar ta thik compare korte parchi na.
2. are 21st centure deri to dhore top kore "bouma" baniye deya jaye. Tokhon tara ei 4 bahuzz er motoi hoye jabe.
3. Hmm, dadabhai der biyer chhobi gulo onekdin pore hotat dekhlam, amar FB e ache :)
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