Mukhe Bhaat

The word “Mukhe” means mouth and “Bhaat” means rice it literally mean the feeding of first grain to the baby. This ceremony is very important and it followed in the north and also in other parts but with different name.

This ceremony is done on the 6^th or 8^th month for a boy child and on 5^th, 7^th or 9^th month for a girl child. Some does this ceremony at temple and some at home. Friends and relatives are invited. The priest does the homa or a holy fire and chant mantras for the prosperity, happiness and good health for the child and to kill evils around him and then on the same day the name is given to the child which is known as Namkaran.

Namkaran

After the ceremony is over rice pudding which is made up of rice and milk is fed by the mother’s brother to the child.

Rice pudding fed by mother's brother

And many interesting and fun rituals are done. In one ritual 5 things are kept in front of the child which symbolises different aspiration. Gold- wealth, Pen- Wisdom, Books- Knowledge, Soil- Property, Food- love for food and then child is encouraged to go for those things. Whichever item baby picks up first it is said to be in future with him.

HOLI

Holi is a festival of colours which is celebrated in the month of March. The celebration starts with the tradition of burning Holika known as Holika Dahan, which is religiously followed by several states of India specially in north. Just a night before the holi a huge bonfire is lit and people fling cow dungs into the fire and shouts saying “Holi-hai! Holi-hai!”

Holika Dahan

Story behind the Holika Dahan: Holika was sister of king hirankashyap.To become a great man the king worshipped Lord Brahma for many years. After atonement, lord brahma was very impressed and gave him blessings and also granted the wishes of the king.

The wishes was: He will not be killed by human or animal.

                               He will not die in day or at night.

                              He will not die by weapons.

                              He will not die in land, sea or air.

                              He will not die outside or inside in the house.

Now as his wishes were granted he was saved by the blessings from being killed easily. Taking this as an advantage he started forcing people of his kingdom to preach him as a god. Excepting his own son Prahlad who use to worship Lord Vishnu, everyone other obeyed.

The king was very angry with his son so he decided of killing him. He asked his sister Holika to sit in fire and make prahlad to sit in her lap. Holika was blessed with a gift, that she will not be affected by fire. The king thought that prahlad will be burnt but as he kept on chanting the name of lord Vishnu. He survived and Holika was burnt to death. It signifies the victory of good over evil.

So Holika dahan is celebrated as a success of devotee that anybody however great or powerful, cannot harm a true devotee and who will torture the god’s devotee will be reduced to ashes.

There is also a story of Radha Krishna: Krishna is known to be very powerful and mischievous and playful. As a child one day Krishna goes to her mother Yasodha and ask “why I am dark and radha is fair?” this is injustice to him and he started crying at his high pitch so mother while consoling asked him put colour on radha’s face to make her like him. Now the naughty Krishna heeds towards her beloved Radha and other gopis to apply colour using water jets known as Pichkaris.

Krishna and Radha playing holi

In this way pichkaris got popularity and till now colours and pichkaris are used in holi to express their love and affection towards each other.

Holi is an important festival as on this day people forget about the quarrel and mix with all freely.

Holi have different regional name like Hola Mahalla, Rang panchami, basant utsav, Dol Purnima, Dulandi holi.

children playing with  pichkaris.

Holi Celebration: On this day, the enthusiasm of people reaches its peak and the festival is celebrated with a great joy. Children go about the street and throw water balloons and ,water colours with their Pichkaries and hide themselves to save by others balloon attack. Young boys make small parties, sing and dance. Everywhere special Thandai is made without which the holi is incomplete. Thandai is like refreshment drink when people get exhausted throwing each other in the pool of coloured water a glass it offers instant energy and after drinking the bhang thandai the world seems different, some becomes very happy and some turns depressed as hell. One should not over drinking this bhang thandai, it may not prove good.

Bhaang Thandai

Sweets like Gujiyas, Rossogulla and Laddu are made and in the evening people visit their relatives and offer sweets.

Sweets: Gulab Jamun, Rossogulla.

Gujiyas

Jamai shasthi

India is a land of cultural diversity. Every states have their own culture.one can find the different types of  food habits, clothes, rituals and festivals. There is hardly any culture in the world that is as varied and unique as India.Hindus,specially bengali are the one who love to adore their relationship by celebrating special festival and rituals.

One of the festival celebrated by them is Jamai Shasthi. Jamai means “Son in law” and Shasthi means “ The sixth day of “shukla pakha” in the bengali month of “jaistha”.

In this day son in-law spends whole day with his in-laws and receive gifts, treats and blessing from “sosur bari”or in-laws home.

Story behind it: It is said that in a village their was a greedy lady who used to eat everything from the kitchen and used to blame the cat who used to come often in their house. Cat who are also considered to be a child of Goddess Shasthi, complains against that greedy lady to Goddess Shasthi. Now when this greedy lady give birth to seven son and one daughter,Maa Shasthi steal all of them as a punishment.Heart broken lady cries a lot then the goddess shasthi comes to her and reminds of her past wrongdoings. She used pray and worship goddess shasthi and then she gets her children back.Freom then women started worshipping goddess shasthi for their children.so on the day of Jamai shasthi mother in law  pray and perform this  ritual for his prosperities .

Jamai Shasthi

Celebration of the day: This festival is celebrated with a great joy.The married daughter and Son-in-law are invited by the in-laws. Everybody in the in-laws home starts decorating and planning.As the couple arrive on the door the  Mother-in-law holds the thali which consist of “Dhan” i.e. paddy, “Durba” a special kind of grass,five different fruits and a “Diya” lamp and a clay offer his son-in-law.He touches the feet of his mother-in-law and she bless him and then he enters into the home.She put a mark of curd on the forehead of son-in-law and ties a yellow thread on his wrist.

Mother in law offering the thali

Mother-in-law makes 15 to 16 dishes like Hilsha mach,Pulao,Dahi,Rossogulla,and many other dishes for the son.First of all the son-in-law eat and mother-in-law fan him with a hand fan and then other members of the house have the meal.

Durga Puja

Durga Puja Shopping 2016

At the end of the dampening shower of the monsoons, the sun peep out through the broken cotton shaped floating clouds in the clear blue sky which indicates the arrival of “sharad”or autumn season. The fragrance and colour of coral jasmine and the beautiful odour of mud fills everyone’s heart with joy, excitement and anticipation for the arrival of the “Pujo” or “Puja”.

Kaash Grass during Autumn Season

Durga puja is the biggest art carnival which is celebrated grandly in Bengal .The virus of puja fever strikes all over Bengal and preparations starts 3 months before. After office hours the locals head for shopping though they are tired & exhausted however feel happy to shop, choose souvenirs for their family and friends. People prefer shopping in groups rather than going alone because some of them are good in bargaining and some may be experts in choosing or selecting the perfect combination for the right fashion. The locals prefer bargaining but do not want to compromise on the quality of the products as they wish to bestow the best gifts to their kith and kin.

Puja shopping is bread and butter for many hawkers selling food and apparels and accessories on the streets. Before the arrival of the pujas most of the locals are busy with their shopping, renovation and rearrange/whitewashing their homes, they tend to go out and have lunch/dine in restaurants with friends and families as the women usually aren’t in the mood of cooking. Therefore the restaurants, eateries (for e.g. Arsalan and Shiraz biryani is in huge demand during pujas.) are overcrowded and many a times one needs to wait in a queue for more than an hour to get a table. Ad hock food stalls are erected on the sidewalks where Pedestrians, pilgrims, locals and pandol hoppers love to eat. Young girls in their best attire are glued to the puchka shops and boys are seen ogling them .Most girls believe that they aren’t looking their best until and unless guys tease them.

Kolkata: Newly wedded bride ( tillotama)

The shopkeepers in a bid to sell more products and to compete with their fellow businessman they give huge discounts and also give small gifts, some hawkers voice their product in order to attract customers. Every inch of the city is occupied with ad hock stalls and road side stalls. If someone needs to reach a destination he/she needs to have ample time since the city is at its high pace and everybody is busy it takes a lot of time to travel from one place to another. Though the city is sprawling and bustling with people yet they don’t mind shouldering the crowd and huge traffic jams as all are in the festive mood it may be hair raising experience for foreign tourist to witness the crowd on the streets of the city. The city is at its best and is decorated like a newly wedded bride and according to the local phrase the city becomes “tillotama” or miss universe.

Authentic gold jewelleries

People believe that puja month is an auspicious time “subh muharat” so people usually buy valuable assets like traditional gold or silver jewelleries and also artificial jewelleries like terracotta and dokra and in clothes for e.g. Women buy traditional silk, taant, benarasi, Dhakai and jamdani saree (white saree with red border is famous in Bengal, white represents spirituality, red border symbolises purity.) and men buy sherwaani, Dhoti and kurta but some also prefer modern fashion like jeans and tops, t-shirt, skirts. People prefer comfortable shoes as most of them visit the city from the suburbs and villages to explore the pandols, as there is a lot of walking involved in the pandol hopping. So there is girls wear sandals to match with their beautiful saree and men wear leather shoes. People renovate and rearrange their homes so they also buy new furniture, curtain, bed sheets and decorative and small authentic souvenirs.

What to shop/where to shop:

• Traditional sarees (Tussar silk, taant, benarasi, Dhakai, jamdani saree ,Lal paar saree and Baluchari saree)

          Gariahat

          Burrabazar(largest whole sale market in Bengal)

          Dakshinapan (dhakuria)

• Sherwaani and traditional mens wear

          Park street
          Burrabazar

• Authentic jewelleries ( Gold, silver, diamond)

           Bow Bazaar

           Gariahat

• Artificial Jewelleries ( Terracotta and dokra)

          Gariahat
          Vardhan Market

• Home decor (Drapers, curtains, table runners, bed sheets, pillow cover and carpet)

          Chandani Market

          Burra bazaar

• Home and office furniture

          Shopping malls
          Poddar court

Durga Puja Tour with Lets Meet Up Tours

Book a Durga Puja shopping tour with Lets Meet Up Tours

Why you should book a shopping tour?

Our tour expert/guide will help you to shop the best quality products and will bargain on your behalf to get best price (not applicable for fixed price shop).you will be guided to the specific shop or market as per you requirement.

On booking this tour is you don’t have to look each and every shop for buying your stuffs and waste your time as we take you to the specific shop based on your requirement.

Details of the tour:

• We help you to customize a shopping tour as per your requirement.

• Tour expert/guide will pick from hotel or guest house within the city.

• Duration of the tour will be up to 6 hours.
• Aircon vehicle all parking charges, guide charge, packed water are included.

• Excludes food and tipping charge.

• Charge for 2 pax is INR 5000 and additional person INR 500.

Where to eat/what to eat :

• Authentic bengali Food

           Oh! Calcutta , Bhojohori Manna, Aaheli.

• Biryani, Kababs, Rolls

            Park street : Arsalan, shiraz

• European Food

           Park Street: Flurys, Bar b Q

• Puchkas, kachori,Shingara, Lassi, juice

           Outside Hogg Market, Sharma Tea Shop.

• Sweets ( Gulab jamun, Rossogulla, Sandesh)

           Kc das Sweet shop

Gulab Jamun

Kachori

Puchka

     

Puchka wala

Roll

More details please send us the mail at:

tours@letsmeetuptours.com
letsmeetup.tours@gmail.com

Our website: www.letsmeetuptours.com

Contact us: 9051201818/1717

           

Explore Shantineketan with Let's Meet Up Tours

Let's Meet Up Tours on Le Soleil (Quebec), a French-language daily newspaper in Quebec City
about  Le Soleil: a French daily newspaper founded in 1873

 Dans ce contexte, les femmes sont réticentes à voyager en Inde. "Nous avons augmenté le nombre de femmes guides au sein de notre agence, confirme Indu Elahi de Let’s meet up tours à Calcutta. L’aspect sécurité importe davantage que le prix pour les voyageurs dans le choix de l’agence avec laquelle ils feront affaire"

Translation: In this context, women are reluctant to travel to India. "We have increased the number of women guides in our agency confirms Indu Elahi Let's meet up towers in Calcutta. The security aspect is more important than money for travelers in choosing the agency with which they will do business.

www.letsmeetuptours.com

The Bazzar walks by Let's Meet Up Tours.

The Bazzar walking tour....

19th century Calcutta had quite diverse sec­tors of retail trade. At the one extreme stood the exclusive shops of European tradesmen dealing in imported goods and fashionable bespoke orders. At the other were the 'informal' activities of itinerant hawkers and businessmen and the unorganized street bazaars which sprang up near residential areas. Between these were the privately owned market areas where individual stall­holders could rent space and the streets of stalls and shops, such as Old and New China Bazaar Streets.

Only in the last quarter of the century did Calcutta build a public (municipal) market, the Stuart Hogg Market or New Market.

The bazaar life of Calcutta has always been a prosperous one. A growing popu­lation with many distinct communities having their different food needs, clothing styles and lifestyles called into being diverse and busy markets.

1830: there were some 30 food markets in Calcutta but only two were for Europeans and the wealthy Bengali babus.

One was Dharamtolla Bazaar on Dharamtolla Street, owned by a wealthy Bengali native, and the other was the Tiretta Bazaar which had been started by a Venetian. Both were very old, having been established in   1794   and   1788    respectively.

In 1871 a municipal report stated: •The Dhurrumtollah Market is situated on the corner of Chowringhee and Dhurrumtollah Streets.

This market was full of cock­roaches and flies; refuse was thrown about and lay rotting in cesspools. There was no control over the quality and display of the meat and fish sold there. Charges were made that dis­eased cattle which had died in the fields were sold in the market. It was said that the conditions were such as to change any meat eater into a vege­tarian.

The health officer of the Calcutta Corporation felt that it was impossible to   enforce a   clean-up.   These were private markets; there was no public control. The Calcutta Corporation had established slaughterhouses for the sanitary killing of cattle, goats, pigs and fowl but could do nothing about how the produce was marketed. By the 1860s the European residents were up in arms about the spread of gastro-erteritis and intestinal disease in the city. They brought pressure on the Corporation about the markets but the private owners were reluctant to invest large sums in redesigning the markets and the Corporation lacked the power to interfere.

Thus was born the concept of a municipal market, to be built and ad­ministered by the Corporation of Calcutta.

 

 

                                                 A fruit seller

   our Guest from U.K on a Bazzar walking tour

                                                women from the suburbs travel by local trains to sell their goods in these local markets and return back home.

 

                                                  Every Bengali kitchen has potatoes.... and pati lebu(lime)

 In Bengal people believe that chiles should never been put directly in another persons hand as you might buy a fight or quarrel with the person, rather put it in a basket or put it down for the other person to collect it.

                                                       Masala or Indian spices

                                               Tamarind is used in fish curry.

 During summers the locals prefer to eat a cucumber everyday. you will find hawkers selling cucumber on the sidewalks....especially in Dalhousie,new market,in front of schools and colleges and small street as well...."beat the heat with a Cucumber"

                         Chicken or Murgi is a sunday thing in most families....lol

 Bongs don't mind fish throughout the week.

                                        crabs crabs and crabs....

                          Jaggery or palm candy..used in cooking rice pudding (Payesh or kheer)

how to detect if it is a fresh fish...check the eyes if they are milky white its a fresh fish and if is yellowish then walk up to the other shop...

                             Tour expert Indu in the market...

                                   Brooms and brooms

To book a bazzar walk with us mail us at tours@letsmeetuptours.com or call at 9051201818/1717visit our website www.letsmeetuptours.com