Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

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A musical evening with Rabindra Sangeet on the river Ganga on 9 September. Only for guests. -- A. B.

Ganga Dashahara of this year is being celebrated across Bengal. It is the observance of myth of descent of river Ganga by the King Sagar. And the puja of river Ganga is being observe between 21 May to 30 May every year. Here in this picture, devoted people offering pujas to goddess Ganga. -- A. B.

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Since the dawn of civilisation, bathing on river seems to a pleasure words cant express. Most of the people of India regularly bath on rivers or ponds. Bathing on river Ganga or for just a touch of water - always a joy, and it is more joyful when the friends and family are with. Since the inception of Kolkata and its ghats, both the city of Kolkata and Howrah have many bathing ghats. Here in this picture, one of bathing ghat of river Ganga on the Howrah side. -- A. B.

Poush Sankranti means Uttarayan Sankranti. And from ancient times, Uttarayan Kaal is the best time to start auspicious works in our country. And Ganga Sagar Mela held during this Makar Sankranti. Sagardwip - the old island of Sundarban area in the coast of Bay of Bengal, and its ancient name is Shwetdwip (the white island). The southern part of it, where river Ganga meets Sagar, named Ganga Sagar. Once upon a time, the Sagardwip was full of inhabitants in an area of 170 square miles. About 2 lakh people plunged in typhoon in the year 1688 and since then, the island remained abandoned for ages. The foreign merchants and English re-discovered the island abandoned. In the year 1727, Alexander Hamilton mentioned it as a sacred pilgrimage for Hindus. Since ancient times, sages and pilgrims used to take holy dip here. In the eighteenth century, the island became a harbour. William Hicky wrote in his book 'Memoirs Of William Hicky' that he landed here from Madras by ship

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A man was cleaning up the heap of flowers from the bathing ghat of Mallick Ghat phool bazar (flower market) early morning in Kolkata today.-- A. B.

The centuries-old ghats of river Ganga are always a place for joyful bath. -- A. B.

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Kolkata would be beautiful like London someday - whether it is a dream or will becoming true, not known. But the administrators of the city want to do something new, something nice. A ropeway will be run from Millennium Park of Kolkata to Howrah Station. Floating jetty for steamers and arrangement of water sports will also be there. There'll be 'Kolkata Eye' on Howrah side of river just as 'London Eye'. From Nimtala Ghat to 2nd Hooghly Bridge in Kolkata side and from Howrah Station to Botanical Garden - both the banks of the river will be decorated with greens. A few multi-national companies showed interests to make the 'Marina' near the 2nd Hooghly Bridge. It'll be a floating jetty on the mid-river from which tours will be conducted for Digha, Sundarban etc. The project will be commenced next year. -- A. B.