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FLOWERS
West Bengal is a diverse blend of many cultures which bring a wide variety of blooms along with it. With each occasion, Bengal brims with vibrancy and the heavely fragrance of flowers which are authentic to its culture. The fresh flower business is always flourishing in Bengal, especially in its heart, Kolkata because of the wide variety of local species that are grown in the region. One of the flowers that is the pride of Bengal is the night-flowering Jasmine. Commonly referred to as the Parajit, it is the state flower of West Bengal. The feminine fragrance of this white glory is celebrated throughout Bengal and symbolizes love, prosperity and beauty. Due it’s delightful fragrance, it is commonly used in perfumes and attars. The Plumeria, commonly known as Champa, is a pristine white coloured flower that yields no nectar, but always soothes one’s soul with it’s aesthetic appeal. They are often seen at funerals in Bengali culture, since they symbolise peace and calm. Marigold is a flower of paramount significance in Bengali traditions. It’s used in several events such as ceremonies, festivals and poojas due to its fresh, vivid hue. The Passion flower, or the Jhumaka Lata as it’s known in Bengal, is cherished for its fascinating floral arrangement. The scent of this flower is so divine that it is known to cure insomnia. The royal beauty, or the Oporajita, is renowned for its fresh, blue flowers and is also touted for Ayurvedic medicinal properties. The Oleander, known as the Raktakarabi is yet another blooming beauty of Bengal. The funnel-like flowers, coming in a multitude of shades, set a stunning floral carpet upon shedding. If you have heard of the famous Valley of Flowers, you cannot miss the charm of Bengal’s Khirai garden where endless tracks of flowers of varied colours are sure to leave you mesmerised. Indeed, there’s no site more resplendent than the gardens of Bengal.
FOOD
The multitude of delicacies that West Bengal has to offer ranges from starters to main course and of course, desserts. Decadent spices and robust tastes characterize the Bengali platter and leave you longing for more. Here are the recipes of some of these delectable dishes that you can try and get a taste of this cuisine.
FASHION
West Bengal is a state of vibrant colours with a diversity that is mostly unmatched. This diversity is omnipresent in the day to day life of the common man in the shape of the clothes, the food and above all, the culture; each has its own uniqueness and history. The capital city of Kolkata or as we fondly call it, 'The City of Joy' has its own glamour. From the wide and fast levelled roads in the newer parts to the often fractured and narrow lanes swarmed with its tens of thousands of citizens in the old part, Kolkata has it all; the old city blended in with the modern city, the result of which is a vibrant pot of mesmerising culture, unheard of. The tradition of clothing in West Bengal pays tribute to the deep running culture of the people and this region. The clothes speak volumes about the phenomenal craftsmanship of the weavers of this state. The women of Bengal wear sarees made either out of silk or cotton. They’re mainly themed in red and white with a red blouse to go along. The eye-catching and striking sarees are draped in a very distinct way which makes them stand out. The muslin cotton sarees from the border zone regions of West Bengal and the batik printed sarees from the Murshidabad region are in great demand too. Tussar silk print on sarees from Malda and kantha silk sarees from Shantiniketan are popular wears too. Sarees from across West Bengal are made on handlooms with intense craft and keeping in mind the intricacies on some of the finest fabrics, grown in the state or many a times, even brought from other states. Even the jewellery, usually made of gold and precious stones and conch shells, has its own style and cultural value. Traditional attire of the Bengali men is often called 'punjabi' in Bengali. Men here can be seen in dhoti worn with a kurta made usually of silk or cotton. The bona fide Bengali fabric makes these kurtas stand out with silks like 'tussar' and 'muga' among the most in-demand. The kantha prints at the edges or the embroidery at the neck on cream coloured kurtas is a popular wear in weddings and festivals. The traditional attire of West Bengal and the fact that it is so very precious for us, is evidently seen during the Festive seasons. The red and white sarees during Durga Puja, the yellow sarees and kurtas during Saraswati Puja and the lively shades of kurtas worn during Diwali; each festival brings out the best of clothing in us. Our love for this traditional habiliment and the great care that we take in dressing differently for every occasion, keeping in mind our colourful tradition and the significance of each style has made us proud of our dressing culture. This sensational dressing culture has appeal all over the world due to its epitome of grace and has helped maintain the ethnicity of West Bengal.
ART
The Bengali art and architecture is extremely rich and diverse and a huge part of the credit goes to the reign of different rulers in the past who successfully left a mark of their art style here.
Patachitra paintings an integral part of the Bengali paintings that can be seen in Kalighat done by the Patua community. A vivid feature features of this art form is the diversity in the style of different region. For instance, the patachitra of Purulia can be easily distinguished by their preference for a particular shade of burnt sienna relieved by white and yellow patches and densely packed composition.
During our visit to the Hasthsheel art fair, we came across the relization of how rich and enthusiastic Bengal is in all terms. Irrespective of the cold weather The people swear to dress up and enjoy themselves. The air, though cold, carried a warmth and sense of belongingness with it. People ranging from art critics to me onlookers crowded the place and appreciated the efforts and the talents of the artists. It was an experience like no other and through this project we aim to delineate what we saw and felt that night in the embrace of our true and traditional culture.