Things u must not miss while visiting Kolkata!!!

After a long time …… am back to blogging, and this starts with this ………… “ Things u must see / experience while visiting Kolkata”. 

For non-Kolkatans: This is about  our culture, our heritage. We are proud of these things. As per my experience, for some; Kolkata is all about SONAGACHI ( world’s biggest red light area, for those who don’t know about it ). But Kolkata is proud of the below things, which many of u or may be almost all of u don’t know. In this context I would like to quote from an article by Vir Sanghvi (Editorial Director of Hindustan Times) regarding this……… 

“Most modern Indian cities strive to rise above ethnicity. Tell anybody who lives in Bombay that he lives in a Maharashtrian city and (unless of course, you are speaking to Bal Thackeray) he will take immediate offence. We are cosmopolitan, he will say indigenously.

 

Tell a Delhiwalla that his is a Punjabi city (which, in many ways, it is) and he will respond with much self-righteous nonsense about being the nation's capital, about the international composition of the city's elite etc.

And tell a Bangalorean that he lives in a Kannadiga city and you'll get lots of techno-gaff about the internet revolution and about how Bangalore is even more cosmopolitan than Bombay.

But, the only way to understand what Calcutta is about is recognize that the city is essentially Bengali. What's more, no Bengali minds you saying that. Rather, he is proud of the fact.”

 

 So take time to go through it.

I’ll try comparing it with other cities of India ( Where I visited and know well, needless to say Bangalore will come into picture mostly as I’m staying here for close to 1.5 years now ). And I’ll also quote from Vir Sanghvi’s article in between………… So take time to go through it.

 

For Kolkatans: Please enrich this if u have anything to add.

1.. Phulkopir Shingara: Bengali version of “SAMOSA”, “SAMOSA” fans …… don’t forget to try this, believe me ….. this is quite different from “SAMOSA”.
2.. Phuchka: gol-gappas aren't a patch on phuchkas. Try BengalLamp/Dakshinapan.
3.. Karaishutir Kochuri: a seasonal favourite, have it with "alur dam".
4.. Luchi: Bengali version of puri and phulkas, needless to go to a comparison between these, but ………………...
5.. Alur dom: the world's best. Try the offering at Vivekananda Park. This reminds me of my school days where at lunch time we used to have ALUR DOM from road side shops.
6.. Jhal muri: a unique concoction, with nothing to equal it. What the rest of theIndia know as “Masala Muri”. Kolkata is the source. And this reminds me of the school days too.
7.. Telebhaaja: these and jhalmuri are like 'made for each other'. Not very good for health but trying it for once or twice is not bad at all.But remember this………… “this is not good for health”. In Bangalore u’ll gate “BONDA”, “BHAJJI” ( not Harbhajan Singh ) ……………. but not as popular as it is in Kolkata.
8.. Chanachur: many have tried unsuccessfully to steal the formula, MNCs included!!!!!!!!
9.. Alukabli: Boiled potato with nuts and masal etc. Just don’t miss it ………  
10.. Ghugni: again, chana is not the same at all.
11.. Radhaballavi: Some variant of “Luchi”. Try it with “Alurdom” or “Cholar Daal”.
12.. Chanmp: even Pakistani cricketers have sampled these, in Chitpur.
12.. Rezala: out of this world, just out of this world! 
13.. Paradiser Sharbat: there is one which is green, and another, pink. No college student from Presidency or the University has failed to sample these!
14.. Lere Biscut: needed to make the batter for chop-katlet. Well this is nothing but heavily fried bread, did not find it anywhere else in India.
15.. Chicken Kabiraji: an unbelievable variation on the chicken cutlet, special of Kolkata.
16.. Moton Afghani: an equally innovative presentation of the mutton cutlet.
17.. Dimer Kalia: To translate it bluntly ………. Egg curry, but not the exact same ………… again, where do you get something like this? 
18.. Kasha mangsho: Heavily fried meet in masala ………. it has become an institution now.
19.. Roll: the ubiquitous mutton, chicken or egg roll.  Unquestionably superior to any variants ( Frankies 4 that matter ) in any other city of the world. And u’ll not find this anywhere else in India.

 And also.... 
20.. Coffee houser coffee ar adda: It’s one of our heritages, older version of modern “Coffee Day” or “Barista”. Place for intellectual to gather and discuss different issues. Was the gathering point for writer, politician, lyricist, poets during ‘80s. This place is still kept in its ‘80s look. A must visit for all to get a feel of old Kolkata culture.

21.. Bharer chaa: on the Maidan, from shining brass vessels on a rainy day. And not to be missed in all this.
22.. Pan: unmatched, even in Benaras or Lucknow . Honestly!

The sweeter side
Well everyone all over the world knows Bengal for this. So needless to say ………… the best IN THE WORLD ………….
23.. Roshomalai: a creamy, mouth-watering delight! 
24.. Jilipi: smaller than the Jalebis and tastes quite different then what u get here in Bangalore at least.
25.. Lal doi: is an experience by itself! For non-Kolkatans, u guys can call it sweet-card. 
26.. Sada Doi: have it @ the shop, "Mithai". 
27.. Kamala bhog: a pale yellow orb, delicately sweetened.
28.. Notun gurer sondesh: a winter specialty available in no other city.
29.. Rosogolla: simply needs no introduction. U’ll find it here in Bangalore in some local sweet shop as well as in KC DAS ( the king of sweets ……. Inventor of ROSOGOLLA ). But to get the real test …………….. ummmmmmmmm visit Kolkata.
30.. Natun gurer Rosogolla: the latest innovation. There are many, many more traditional favourites.

and also...

31.. Shitabhog: pure white, sweetened to just the right extent.
32.. Mihi Dana: golden yellow, saffron scented.
33.. Maalpoa: rich brown pancakes, dripping in sugar syrup, what we know as “Gulabjamun”  here in Bangalore. 
34.. Ranga alur pithey: another traditional favourite in winter, it’s the symbol of “Pous Sankranti”………….. celebrated across alover India, but “PITHE” ……. a patent of Kolkata.

Up fashion street …………… fashions keep changing. But the….

35.. dhuti-panjabi and tangail look never becomes out-dated.
36.. Dhuti with extra broad borders: the finest and most elegant available here.
37... Dhutis in red or black: The latest sensation in Calcutta.
38.. Giley kara Panjabi: those with the improbably crinkled sleeves.
39.. Tangail Sari: the best in these all-time favorites can be found here. U might wanna ask your mom or girlfriend or wife regarding this …………..

and the other marks of distinction are...

40.. Bidy asagari choti: you still get them here.
41.. Kabuli Chappal: another old favourite.
42.. Garader Sari: ideal with pujo bari , shankher awaaj.

Sights and sounds

One wakes up in the morning and hears their voices drifting through
the air. So typically do they say their bit...that it is difficult
to forget....and even more so ...to imitate...

43.. Shil katowala: they chip the stone slabs which grind masalas.
44.. Chhuri Kanchhi Shaanwala: sharpens knives, scissors and anything with an edge.
45.. Lep Shelaiwala: they make those cotton quilts which warm you up in winter.

And early in the morning, before Durga Pujo, who can forget the
strains of

46.. Mahalayar mahishashuromardini: Well for all of those who does not know about “Mahalaya”………. It’s apart of our biggest festival “DURGA PUJA”. This is a special program aired on All India Radio 12 days before the start of the “PUJA” at 4 AM.

Other things, quaint and very special

48.. Chinese Food in China Town : an early morning breakfast here is an experience.
49.. Metro Rail: spick and span, and the trains are dot on time. Well I believe this is the only punctual thing in Kolkata. U can blindly trust this. Kolkata was the first to get metro rail in India. Later Delhi followed and now in Bangalore it’s coming up ………….
50.. Maidan: the ideal p lace to be on a sleepy, winter morning. Lover’s paradise also ……..

51.. College Streeter Boipara: bookworms buzz around this place morning, noon and night. For Bangalorians, Avenue Road is a miniature version of this. And for a quantitative comparison College Street is 100 times lager ( YES . trust me ) than Avenue Road. And it’s cheaper too.

52.. All Night Music Conference: you won't find a minute to yawn.
53.. Circular Rail: see the river all along as you travel on the train.
54.. Ganga te nouko bihar: either in a country boat or a steamer or on hover craft!
55.. Dolphins in the Ganga : if it's your lucky day, you might catch a glimpse of a frolicking shoal.
56.. Morning tram to the Maidan: see how green and fresh the city looks.
57.. East Calcutta Wetlands: our very own eco-system regulator - just on the outskirts.

Travel in style

58.. Rickshaw: still the preferred form of transportation for some, especially children and the elderly. Though many terms this as inhuman and humiliating, hand driven Roickshaw is still there in Kokata. And u’ll find the same thing inBangkok, Tokyo ( more for fashion ………  )

59.. School van: it's to be seen to be believed.

60.. Tram: if you have time on hand, you can see the city glide by. It’s tribally slow, but a touch of old Kolkata is in it. And by no means compare it with Tram service of Melbourne.

Calcutta 's passion

61.. Roker adda: Calcuttans are an adda baaj lot.Mohan Bagan & East
Bengal : prices of ilish or chingri go up, depending on who wins the day.
62.. Jatra: who says it is all melodrama?
63.. Durga pujo: the pomp and pageantry, reserved each year for the 'mother of all festivals'. This is the biggest festival for us, Kolkatans. Big pandals, people in new cloths, pandal hopping, great food and love stories; that’s how I wanna explain DURGA PUJA in KOLKATA. Here is a few lines from

“Ah religion! Tell outsiders about the importance of Puja in Calcutta and they'll scoff. Don't be silly, they'll say. Puja is a religious festival. And Bengal has voted for the CPM since 1977. How can godless Bengal be so hung up on a religions festival? I never know how to explain them that to a Bengali, religion consists of much more than shouting Jai Shri Ram or pulling down somebody's mosque. It has little to do with meaningless ritual or sinister political activity.

The essence of Puja is that all the passions of Bengal converge: emotion, culture, the love of life, the warmth of being together, the joy of celebration, the pride in artistic expression and yes, the cult of the goddess. It may be about religion. But is about much more than just worship. In which other part of India would small, not particularly well-off localities, vie with each other to produce the best sandals? Where else could puja pandals go beyond religion to draw inspiration from everything else? In the years I lived in Calcutta, the pandals featured Amitabh Bachchan, Princes Diana and even Saddam Hussain! Where else would children cry with the sheer emotional power of Dashimi, upset that the Goddess had left their homes? Where else would the whole city gooseflesh when the dhakis first begin to beat their drums? Which other Indian festival - in any part of the country - is so much about food, about going from one roadside stall to another, following your nose as it trails the smells of cooking?”

64.. Little magazine: you still find devotees of this publishing wonder.
65.. Book Fair: when the fair is on, you are there - whether you love books or not.

66.. Cricket match at the Eden : cricketers and cricket lovers the world over treasure the experience.

City's own

67..Hydrant: there's a move by the CMC to revive the practice of splashing the streets with Ganga water from the hydrants
68..Italian Saloon: road side barber joints, where you sit on a piece of brick (it). But don’t try this……………
69..Chinese dry cleaners: do a very clean job, indeed.
70..Darjees of Metiabruz: are a cut above the rest. Even if they cut corners at times!

 

So here goes the quantitative thing.

 

But there are something more than this for us, Kolkatans. Every Kolkatan is proud of his culture and cross cultural heritages. Being home to people from all over India and world, it proudly maintains it mixed cultural trends. Kolkatans equally celebrate DURGA PUJA, CHAT PUJA, GANESH PUJA, CHRISTMAS …………………………. Thanks to reach cultural ideologies of Kolkatans which does not encourage fanatic ideas of similar to RAJ THAKEREY’s ( so called MUMBAIKARS might take a note of this, Kolkata is home to many MUMBAIKARS also, and Kolkatans do not see them as threat ). Life is not as fast and sexy as it is in Bangalore or Mumbai. Life is slow and grim here but full of love and affection. Again I would quote Vir Sanghvi here …………………

“Calcutta's strengths and weaknesses mirror those of the Bengali character. It has the drawbacks: the sudden passions, the cheerful chaos, the utter contempt for mere commerce, the fiery response to the smallest provocation. And it has the strengths (actually, I think of the drawbacks as strengths in their own way). Calcutta embodies the Bengali love of culture; the triumph of intellectualism over greed; the complete transparency of all emotions, the disdain with which hypocrisy and insincerity are treated; the warmth of genuine humanity; and the supremacy of emotion over all other aspects of human existence.

That's why Calcutta is not for everyone.

You want your cities clean and green; stick to Delhi. You want your cities, rich and impersonal; go to Bombay. You want them high-tech and full of draught beer; Bangalore's your place. But if you want a city with a soul: come to Calcutta.

When I look back on the years I've spent in Calcutta - and I come back so many times each year that I often feel I've never been away - I don't remember the things that people remember about cities.

 

When I think of London, I think of the vast open spaces of Hyde Park.

When I think of NewYork, I think of the frenzy of Times Square.

When I think of Tokyo, I think of the bright lights of Shinjiku.

And when I think of Paris, I think of the Champs Elysee.

 

But when I think of Calcutta, I never think of any one place. I don't focus on the greenery of the maidan, the beauty of the Victoria Memorial, the bustle of Burra Bazar or the splendour of the new Howrah Bridge.
I think of people. Because, finally, a city is more than bricks and mortars, street lights and tarred roads. A city is the sum of its people. And who can ever forget or replicate - the people of Calcutta?

…………………………………………………………………….

In Bombay, a man with a relatively low income will salt some of it away for the day when he gets a stock market tip. In Calcutta, a man with exactly the same income will not know the difference between a debenture and a dividend. But he will spend his money on the things that matter. Each morning, he will read at least two newspapers and develop sharply etched views on the state of the world. Each evening, there will be fresh (ideally, fresh-water or river) fish on his table. His children will be encouraged to learn to dance or sing. His family will appreciate the power of poetry and for him, religion and culture will be in inextricably bound together. ”

So that’s how it is …………. Kolkata , CITY OF JOY. Everybody is welcomed with open heart, but to understand Kolkata u must understand Kolkatans …… Bengalies ……………. Let’s again take help of Vir Sanghvi again to explain this………..

“To understand Calcutta, you must understand the Bengali. It's not easy. Certainly, you can't do it till you come and live here, till you let Calcutta suffuse your being, invade your bloodstream and steal your soul. But once you have, you'll love Calcutta forever.

Wherever you go, a bit of Calcutta will go with you. I know, because it's happened to me.”

So people come, enjoy and feel Kolkata ………………..