Celebration of Viswakarma in the Industrial Towns.

                 Celebration of Viswakarma in the Industrial Towns.

Viswakarma Puja  celebrated with full enthusiasm in a pomp and grandeur manner  in this industrial cities. Most of the industries, Offices and Factories in this twin city all were in a festive look on this auspicious occasion. Somewhere beautifully decorated pandals were seen and somewhere the workshops, warehouses and even the small scale cottage industries premises were cleaned and decorated with mango leaves, banana plants and beautified  with alpana and paper chains of different colours. The industrial town and the coal belt as a whole had come alive with gorgeous pandals and loud speakers and the chanting of mantras by the priests.

            “In fact the month  September bring an essence of festivities. The pleasant weather of early autumn, fleecy clouds scattered across the sky looks more colorful with the numerous kites of different colour floating side by side on this festive day and with the essence of siuli and swaying beauty of kash –  creates a festive mood. In fact from the day of Viswakarma Puja  the smell of puja starts. Viswakarma puja bring an inspiration to the workers to create new products and increase productivity. As a mark of reverence Lord Viswakarma  is not only worshiped by the engineering and architectural community but also by all professionals. It is customary for craftsmen to worship their tools and tackles in his name.”- says Mr. Dinesh Kumar Singh, Electrical Superintendent-1 of Durgapur Thermal Power Station.

            The rituals are following by the distribution of Prasad and sweets packets. Almost all the organizers arrange for bhog that is khichuri and some veg.  items are served in the puja pandal at noon. In the evening some arrange for  party or a gate-together and arrange for sumptuous meal with some cultural activities. Hopping pandals throughout the city is another enjoyment for the young and kids. The contractors and the suppliers all arrange for sweet packets in a large scale for the entertainment of their clients on the hope of doing their business well through out the year.

            The famous sweet shops of this city like Arun Sweets, Rabin Sweets, Saha Sweets, Subhash Sweets, Swapan Sweets & Murarui Sweets all remain busy for preparing packets with varieties of sweetmeats. Almost all the owners of such shops have hanged the board as  ‘Order Closed’. Some of them offer dry sweet packets of Haldiram or canned Rasogollas or Gulabjamuns  of  K.C. Das or Ganguram.

 Fruit and flower sellers were also busy this year for their huge sale. Varieties of fruits are coming during this season. Now fruits from some other countries are also imported for selling in the markets of Durgapur & Asansol.  

            Side by side the demands of the priests irrespective of their reputation or efficiency were busy to the extent. In industrial town everybody arranges for a small puja anusthan in their home for their most favourite vehicles or dream cars and prays to the Goddess of Divine Architect for their safe and trouble free journey throughout the year. 

            Basudev Chatterjee a renowned priest of Milan Pally says, “After a long years this Viswakarma puja was celebrated on 18^th of September which is scheduled to be held on 17^th of September almost every year. But ritually Viswakarma Puja happens to be celebrated on the day of sankranti that is the last of the month of Bhadra according to Bengali Calendar. As this year Sankranti is on 18^th of September so this Puja is celebrated on this day. I remain extremely busy to perform the pujas of many small scale industries, workshops beside my regular day to day Puja.”

            Township, A-Zone Maintenance Office arrange for a fair from the day of this Puja. This fair is running since year after year. Besides the fair they arrange their Puja in the Maintenance Office in a large scale. High officials of Durgapur Steel Plant and Alloy Steels Plant, Leaders and other eminent personalities all attend the puja. The fair is also very nice and from the commercial point of view it has much importance particularly before the puja people of this city get an additional facility for shopping of various domestic  and decorative items.

Sushil Bhattacherjee, the National Teacher says, “Viswakarma is regarded as the supreme worker, the very essence of excellence and quality in craftsmanship. He is revealed as the God of  sciences of industry. All the workers and engineers pray to this Patron God for their courage and inspiration. All over this industrial belt workshops and manufacturing units are in festive mood. In Mahabharata, Viswakarma has been described as the lord of Arts, executor of a thousand handicrafts, the carpenter of the gods, the most eminent artisan, the fashion of all ornaments and a great immortal God.

“Viswakarma Puja is also associated with the buoyant custom of flying kites. This occasion  also marks the starting of the festive season. Throughout the day colorful kites are flown. The sky fills up with all shades of colour and the sky becomes a war zone. It’s really amazing when people see the descent kites dropping every now and then with the cry of ‘Bho-Kattaa’. But this scene is rare now in this city. The young guys remain too busy with their career oriented jobs and have no time to spare for such amusements. ” –says Samaresh Mazumdar of A-Zone Steel Township.

Kanchan Kumar Chatterjee.

Birth CentCommemoration of the 150th enary of Swami Vivekananda in this City.

Commemoration of the 150^{th  Birth Centenary}   of Swami Vivekananda in this City.

To commemorate Swami Vivekananda’s 150th Birth Centenary Ramakrishna Mission and many other organizations in this twin city celebrated the auspicious day  in a gala way. While the government has already taken up a host of benevolent project to pay homage to Swami Vivekananda, the benevolent organizations like Durgapur Vibekananda Bhab Samaj, an Organization for Welfare of the Society, 2A/149 Einstein Avenue, B-Zone, Durgapur-5 has also celebrated this occasion with various programmes and happenings. Secretary,  Smt. Deepali Sannyal says, “On 11^th January we had distributed Blankets and Clothes to the poor people near Durgapur Railway Station and Bus Stand who pass their life under the sky and have none to help them. Moreover there were packed programme on 12^th January from Morning to night. Sharp at 9 AM the renowned artists of this city assembled and presented a number of devotional songs. The whole programme was conducted under the guidance of Maharaj Premswarupanandaji of Sundiyara Ramkrishna Sebashram. From 12 noon bhog was  distributed to all and sundry present  there. In the afternoon we arranged for our annual programme where many eminent persons delivered their valuable lecture on Swami Vivekananda. Then we had staged a Drama captioned as ‘Briddhachhaya Kishalayam ’ by the old and feeble persons of our old age home and it was  probably the first time in our country that the boarders of an old age home performed a Drama like this. It was written and directed by Shri Molloy Bhattacherjee. In the concluding part we had presented a Nritryanattya ‘Pardeshi Megh’ by Goutam Dutta, Swagata Chowdhury and Chaitaili Dutta. Written and directed by the Secretary, Smt. Deepala Sannyal, Music by Goutam Dutta and Bodichitta Bandopadhyay, composed by the renowned elocutionist Goutam Chakraborty. After the drama, Shri Anal Chattopadhyay the worthy student of Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty presented devotional songs in this programme and bemeused the audiences.

                Not only this society in Durgapur Swami Vivekananda Sardha Satavarsha Janmotsav Udjapan Committee 5/35 Maxmuller Path, Durgapur-16 also paid homage to the 19^th Century Philosopher and spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda through a bunch of programme from the morning to evening on 12^th January.  Swapan Bikash Goswami, the General Secretary of this committee said, “After an act of singing awakening songs in procession through the streets of MAMC Area by  1000 school children and others; all assembled under the statute of Swami Vivekananda. We had advised all the women of this locality to blow crunch in every body’s house just at the propitious moment of the birth of Swamiji at about 33 Minute 33 Second past 6 AM.  Then after the morning procession  by the school children all assembled near the statute of Swamiji and 150 women wearing red bordered white saari blown conch and welcomed and greeted the students. In the afternoon the flag was hosted in presence of the dignitaries like SDO, MLAs, MD of DSP, ED of ASP, Mayor and many other eminent persons.  The dignitaries garlanded the great monk in the evening. On the 150^th Birth Centenary of Swami Vivekananda 150 lamps were lighted and all the members and other persons as a whole assembled near the statute in MAMC and discussed about the message and philosophy of Swami Vivekananda, Sister Nivedita, and Ramkrishna Paramhansa Dev.

                In Purusha Village near DTPS Township, the ‘Vivekananda Smritirakshya Committee’ celebrated this day in pomp and grandeur manner. Besides these organizations  in Durgapur many other philanthropic organizations celebrated this auspicious occasion through various benevolent works like distribution of clothes to the poorest of the poor, blankets to the widows and other destitute and food to all and sundry present there. ”

Kanchan Kumar Chatterjee.

Commendable activities of St. Michael’s School in Durgapur since 1966

  

Commendable activities of St. Michael’s School in Durgapur since 1966

In recent years, Durgapur has developed immensely as an education hub of Bengal. After Kolkata, Durgapur is perhaps the only place in West Bengal where one finds such huge concentration of School, College and Institutions. The city has now been one of the pioneers in introducing modern education in the state and the country. Even today, the local government is working hard towards development of the educational sector of the city. Among the prominent CBSE & ICSE Schools in Durgapur, St. Michael’s School in Bidhan Nagar is one of the best in this City now. This school was established in the year 1966.  The Rt. Rev. Probal Kanto Dutta took over the charge as the Bishop of Durgapur and the Chairman of the School from October 2003. Under his dynamic leadership other four branches have been established so far and are situated in Raniganj, Bankura, Sarenga and Adra. Presently the school has more than 3500 students and  is a co-education school. Since the inception this School caters the needs of the students from all strata of Society and the school  believes that fair chance should be given to the weaker sections also who are not able to get much further in society due to poverty and lack of opportunity.

The Present Principal Mrs. Madhumita Singh who has taken over the charge from 2009 says, “Our School is a Christian Minority Institution, unaided under the Diocese of Durgapur, Church of North India. I feel, the role of the school today is not only to provide knowledge according to the syllabus but also to equip them from the world beyond the classroom. It is the role of the school to teach life skills to the child so as to strengthen his or her character and develop leadership qualities. Sufficient opportunities are provided to the children to look “outside the box”. Our children learn to be responsible citizens so that they can contribute effectively to community life. The school has a huge campus with well-equipped science and computer laboratories and a large library. A new floor with more classrooms was inaugurated in April 2011. A school for underprivileged children ‘UDAAN’ has been inaugurated in June 2011 to sensitize the children to the needs of the community and inculcate values like sharing and caring for others. ”

‘UDAAN’ is a school  for the under privileged students some of them who have been never to School. Free education is given to the neighborhood children irrespective of  caste and creed.  It is run in the afternoon where some of the senior students and staff member voluntarily teach the students.  Moreover, the children are provided a small tiffin. We hope definitely many students will come up from this downtrodden group of children.

Our students are encouraged to take part in physical activities as well. The Principal believes that a healthy body is as important as a healthy mind.

The Principal clarified the meaning of Udaan – the flight of bird. It is the humble endeavour of the school to provide wings to these flightless children so that they can experience the joys of learning, of giving expression to their creativity and talents.

We try to help our students in many ways. We support children who are absolutely unable to pay their school fees. Besides the 1st Ranker in any class gets a Scholarship; and are exempted from paying the tuition fee. In fact we support innumerable student financially. As for instance, this year a couple  died in the road accident and their elder daughter is still now reading in our school and the school has taken care of her Tuition Fees and we  encourage her in all walks of her life.

Under Bishop Rt.Rev. Dr.Probal Kanto Dutta, and his able leadership as the Bishop and Chairman of the school, the school has grown from strength to strength in all spheres.

The Principal is of the opinion that with her well qualified and competent staff the school with scale newer heights of acclaim and will enable the school students to perform even better in the Board Examinations.

The Diocese of Durgapur, under which the school functions as a part of its Education Ministry, is going to celebrate 40 years of its Foundation. This Historic occasion is going to be marked by many events throughout the coming year.

Kanchan Kumar Chatterjee.

Celebration of Kalipujaby Prochesta - Philanthropic Organization in Durgapur.

Celebration of Kalipuja is not all to Prochesta, this philanthropic Organization  stretches  their hands to the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled and the blind who feel themselves unwanted, uncared in this vast world.

Celebration of festivals in this twin city is not at all rare now. It is seen that almost every club or organization is celebrating Pujas in pomp and grandeur manner depending upon the collection and sponsorship. As the traces of rain disappears and autumn comes the wide azure sky starts beaconing with the drifting patches of fleecy clouds, everybody feels the air of festivity here. The mild fragrance of shiuli makes all enchanted, the chanting of shakti mantras fill up our heart and mind. After Durgapuja another colourful extravaganza is waiting for us – the great Diwali and Kalipuja and all is trying hard to celebrate this Puja in some extra ordinary manner and to bag some rewards from the juris.

            But all the organizers are not only active to celebrate the Puja only and to make a hullabaloo for some days. Still in this City there are some Clubs or gosthis whose prime motto is far behind such celebration and the Prochesta Puja Committee at Bidisha More, City Center  is undoubtedly the exceptional one atleast for their noble deeds and mission so far their performance  for the last six years is concerned.

The 22 young minds of Prochesta, City Center, Durgapur converged from diversified fields with the aim of doing something for the society – in fact for the people who had no one besides them. It is a manifestation towards attaining a deeper love for the society which has helped shared and contributed in being an Engineer, Doctor, CA etc as they are today.

            A philanthropic organization – Prochesta has already traversed a long route. Being with the people it has rich experience of sharing and learning. The uncared downtrodden, school left outs, beggars they all live with a dream. They stand by them, helping them in fulfilling their dream. The Almighty has equally shared everything to each being; the distortion has been the results of their ego. The hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone – and they like to stretch their hands to them without any caste and creed.

            “We take the opportunity to introduce ourselves as a leading organization of the District. It was sometime during the spring of 2005, a few young minds from City Centre, Durgapur, decided to hurdle together and do something for the society and to celebrate Kali Puja as well, one of the biggest cultural festivals of Eastern India. The seeds of love and unity were sown on that very day leading to the formation of “PROCHESTA PUJA COMMITTEE”.We feel that the worship of the Devine Mother is not only limited with the celebration, but also with different socio cultural activities. ‘Prochesta’ has traversed a long route and stood by the uncared downtrodden and school left outs. Consistently for 6 years we have involved higher administrative officials to participate with us. Our socio activity includes clothes & blanket distribution among the beggars and for those who has no one besides them” – Mr. Debasish Moitra,  President of the Organization.

            They sponsor the Academic of few needy students even upto college level of studies. They contribute the whole session’s Dress Materials, Books and Copies. Library Books and many such things those are necessary for their studies. They also try to make them sound in Computer Applications so that after completion of their graduation they can at least do something in this era of technology. Besides for the victims of natural calamity, they donate a good amount of money and other things and try to send some paltry amount   in the Chief Minister’s Relied Fund every year. Their noble endeavour includes even the findings of ‘better halves’ of the daughters around them who have none to make them coupled in this vast world. They have organized such matrimonial arrangements a lot up till now.

            The Kali Puja started by them from the year 2005 in front of Bidisha and PETs Housing Complex. From then onwards the club has celebrating Kalipuja in a grand way. This is their 7^th year of such celebration and hope it will be at the peak of their performance. Every year they make some new theme. In the year 2008 their theme was based on mythological episode the story of ‘Samudra Manthan.’ The churning of the Ocean of Milk or the Milky Way was an elaborate process. Mount Mandaranchal was used as the dasher (churning tool), and Vasuki, the king of serpents, became the churning rope. The gods held the tail of the snake, while the demons (Asuras) held its head, and they pulled on it alternately causing the mountain to rotate, which in turn churned the ocean. However, once the mountain was placed on the ocean, it began to sink. Vishnu in his second incarnation, in the form of a turtle Kurma, came to their rescue and supported the mountain on his back. The theme gained much appreciation in this city since it was a completely new theme – the destruction of evil powers in this society as a whole.

Previous year based on a historical background they constructed Sphinx of Giza and the idol was equally on Egyptian style. Skill & creative ideas were used by the students and freelancers of Kala Bhawan, Viswabharati, Santiniketan to make the most exquisite and intricate structure which left the viewers awe-struck.

“This year is our 7^th year and similarly a team of young artists namely Sahadev Roy (B.F.A & M.F.A) a teacher of Sikshasetra, Viswabharati and Soumya Samanta (B.F.A & M.F.A) a freelance painter has taken up the job to construct the ruins of Machu Pichhu one of the most beautiful and enigmatic ancient sites in the world. An Inca civilization dating back to 1400’s AD, which has been declared as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. This Civilization whose origins is still unknown however, by year 1500 Tawantinsuya-Inca Empire was the largest and richest in pre-Columbian America. Even though short lived – just shy of one hundred years by the time of their surrender, Incas controlled an estimated population of twelve million people spread over 2500 miles along the western coast of America on the Andean range. Incas didn't have horses of wheels. Inca Civilization left a superb legacy characterized by remarkable Engineering and stone building technique” – says Abhijit Majumdar, Secretary of this organization.

           

“Every year we arrange for a cultural programme. Srikanta Acharya and Subhomita performed their best last year and this year we are trying to invite Monoj Murali Nyer but everything is depending on fund and the availability of the artist” –as told by Ujjal Sengupta and Sumit Mukherjee of Prochesta.  

Kanchan Kumar Chatterjee. (Published in TOI-DAP)

Health is wealth – this has now become the only mantra of the city people.

Health is wealth – this has now become the only mantra of the city people.

Though people in this industrial city are busy with their hectic day to day schedule, various career option, proper education of their siblings, family pressure and of course to maintain sociability, yet a good number of people are utilizing their time for keeping their health fit. Now groups of people are going to different centers at the predawn hour to practice yogasana or pranayama with the help of veteran instructors there. In Durgapur Steel City the rapid growth in number of various yogpits, gym centers and spas rightly proclaim so and the craze for pranayama – the art of breathing and the art of living – the packages of Swami Ramdev’ji and Shri Shri Rabi Sankar’Ji is high now in this city. Even the kids, the housewives and the school and college goers are practicing pranayama regularly. Age is no bar. Today Pranayama has entered every drawing room of our country and people from every corner of our society irrespective of age, sex and profile are getting wrapped up in the newly found meaning of health.

Pataki Chowdhury, 75 of Indraprastha, Amrai says, “I am practicing such pranayama since five years and in my late seventies still I am energetic and young. I keep myself busy from dawn to late night. A few years ago I was suffering from several ailments but after practicing such pranayama and asanas I am quite fit and energetic. I do not like to miss a day be it a stormy or frosty. ”

            In Sarada Nagar groups of women are performing such activities since a few years. The instructor,  Biswanath Acharjee says, “After having a training in this field I teach this technique to the interested people here. In my group more than 35 people come here regularly and all are very particular and punctual. I feel proud of my team members.  

Uday Chatterjee, who has recently taken over the charge as Instructor of Amrai Yoga Shibir says, “A few years ago I was suffering from many ailments. I consulted a good number of renowned doctors for my problems but to no effect. After that I started to follow the instructions of Ramdev’ji wholeheartedly and now I am leading a healthy, happy and peaceful life. In my team there are nearly 50 members and all are very particular in this respect. I pay hearty attention to all the participants here. ”

Shibdas Banerjee of this shibir says, “A year ago I was so ill that I had to go to Vellore for my treatment. My wife and son became hopeless with me. But after joining this shibir and doing such activities now I am free from all such problems. I remain active throughout the day. Thanks to our senior instructor and adviser Gouranga Chandra Sikdar whose personal care and instruction/advice helped me a lot. Only for his active endeavour this shibir was started in our village  a few years ago and now gained much popularity. Today it has given a new life to lots of those who had given up the least hope of survival and their life was engrossed with morbidity, melancholy and mood of hopelessness & feelings of inadequacy. ”

At the predawn hours before the early rays of sun kisses the industrial town and when the maximum are still enjoying the last hours in their cozy bed, ignoring the severe cold and rain they gather in this holy place and under the banyan trees and start practicing yoga, exercise and pranayama in the serene atmosphere.

Amar Saha, Naru Gopal Dutta, Mithu Rajak are to name a few who were suffering from obesity, hypertension, insomnia and some other problems and could not even dream to pass a day without popping pills and medicine are now leading a healthy life.

Even the women folk are also in no way lagging behind. Though they are typically not quite inclined towards joining such activities because of their domestic drudgery; yet the number of female participants in these two camps is in no way less appreciable. “Pranayama makes us doubly energetic and has given us a new blend of life” states the housewives who are staunch members of the camp. Even the working women and the college girls also manage to cut some time to attend the pranayama session by compromising with their busy and hectic schedule.

‘The benefits of pranayama need no recommendation. The only thing that needs a hearty commendation is the effort and the enthusiasm and that only has made these shibir a frontrunner in this noble mission. Yogic principle is now considered as the highest form of purification and self discipline covering both mind and body. I would be happy if more people join here. ’ said GC Sikdar further.

Kanchan Kumar Chatterjee (Published in TOI)

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Poush Mela of Shantiniketan.

Poush Mela of Shantiniketan.

Baro mase tero parban – so goes a saying. But among all the twelve months in the Bengali Calendar perhaps the Poush Mash is the best month during the year. It is actually the month of celebrating lots of harvest festival when people enjoy this winter in many ways. As a part of such merriment people in large do not like miss the chance of going once to the renowned Posh Mela the most important festival in the district of Birbhum and rather in Bengal. The festival is celebrated at Shantiniketan the abode of peace with great splendor on 7^th of Poush every year. Now not only from the different parts of our state gather there, even the people of different cultures and traditions from all parts of our country and even from abroad are coming to this abode of peace to enjoy the rare taste of this mela. Actually this fair is famous for the perfect amalgamation of various cultures and traditions.

The rich heritage of Bengal and the culture of Shantiniketan is the main theme of enjoyment and attraction there. The performances by the students of Shantiniketan and the folk and boul music enamor the visitors to a great extent. Many a people goes to this fair every year mainly for the higher level and mind blowing cultural performances in the mela ground during the week.

            In various camps group of TV and Radio artists show their excel performance in presence of the crowds. “The fun filled week of the fair is full of different interesting activities. Besides the cultural programmes, the Poush Mela presents collection of local artistic handicrafts and printed fabrics for all to buy and experience the Bengali spirit in its true sense. Ladies and Gents’ mostly like the Panjabi or Kurtas with the special type of fabric print and some leather products also. Every year we reach on the day before the mela begins. We have some relatives there and accommodation problem does not arise. Yet there are many hotels and lodges where people could easily stay in affordable rates. ” says Swapan Chatterjee, Moumita Saha and others of a local cultural group of Township.

            More than 500 vendors set up different stalls in the fair. But the visitors in all say, “Shopping in the fair is really a hard task. Jampacked fair ground makes it more difficult to hop in the stalls. The dust of the red cobbled road makes the situation more worst and a lot of people suffer from breathing problem in the crowds. The vehicular traffic has become a great concern for the people to reach there. Parking cars in the lots during the peak hours is a difficult job. Moreover the kids and the elderly people face great difficulties to reach the fair ground which is nearly 2 kilometers from the parking lot walking in the crowded road approaching the fair ground. ”

            Rimpa Sen and Writhik Sen both the Rabindra Sangeet Artist say, “This is the 5th year  we are planning to enjoy the Mela in Shantiniketan. We start early on the inauguration  day. We like to enjoy the inauguration programme which begins with a community prayer that includes vedic hymns and reading from  passages written by Maharshi Debendranath and Rabindra Nath Tagore. Since both of us are Rabindra Sangeet Artists we go there only to enjoy the Rabindra Culture in different forms by different groups and solo performances of the renowned artists”

            Officials of the mela committee say, “This year we have increased our  budget for adequate security and fire fighting measures. We are trying hard to maintain the peace and harmony among all the people will attend the mela. We have  installed close circuit TV in the crowded areas from where our control room people will make constant vigil the whole of the campus till late night. Security for the VIPs will be maintained more strictly so that no untoward situation arise during the mela days. ”

Kanchan Kumar Chatterjee.

Poor transport system in Durgapur.

Poor transport system in Durgapur.

Durgapur – the fastest developing city of West Bengal is the dream child of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy . Popularly know as the Steel City and is varying its image and emerging also in the fields of medicine, information technology and education to become one of the multipurpose cities of India and is one among the first twenty fastest developing cities of our country. But the poor transport system is Lagging behind the city in many a ways. The entire city is divided in many zones and sectors and a journey from A-Zone to B-Zone, B-Zone to Bidhan Nagar or from Steel Township to MAMC or ABL or DPL Township or even to Sagarbhanga Colony has become a thing of past since the withdrawal of the intercity Bus services of the South Bengal State Transport Corporation since decades that is from the early nineties. Since then the only intercity public transport option is nothing but the Mini Buses and that too is limited within the particular zones.  Now none can travel to another zone or colony in a single bus within these short perimeters.  Even the Minibuses are plying in particular zones and do not cover all the areas of that specified areas. As a result of which the students, the aged people and the aam janata as a whole who have no vehicle of their own are the worst sufferer for this poor transport system in this shining city.

“For a fast developing city like Durgapur, public transport system deserves and demands proper attention. Being one of the fastest growing cities of west Bengal, Durgapur needs to upgrade its transport system, especially after 9 PM. Anyone reaching Durgapur by train after 9 pm has to face a lot of problem in reaching his/her destination inside the township whether it is the Steel Township or the MAMC, DPL ABL or the posh areas of City Center or in fact anywhere here. Mini Buses ceases to ply after 8 PM generally and only few in this city run till 9 pm. This is a major cause or concern and worry. The only option of hiring an auto rickshaw or a taxi and they also take full use of the situation and charges hefty sum. That too becomes double in case of womenfolk.” Says Kabita Jain who frequently visits Kolkata for her official work and returns by Coalfield Express or Agneebeena Express to Durgapur.

                “The city has a large area consisting its urban and rural areas. The main mode of public transport since decades is the Minibus. Up to the early nineties, DSTC later SBSTC used to run within the city on various routes like A, B, 8A, 8B, 8C, G, C1, C2, BQAG, GAB, Waria-Prantika & etc. People had the            option of using both the minibuses and such Govt.  Buses as their mode of transport inter township and to the Station Areas. However due to some unknown reason, these state run buses gradually started withdrawing from the roads and no such buses are available. Presently in the township areas there is no other option but the Mini Buses. People as a whole here are totally frustrated on the service of Mini Buses. Firstly they take excessive time to reach the Station Via A-Zone or B-Zone that is within a distance of hardly 15 kilometers. They wait quite a long time in various points to carry huge number of passengers. Since there is no other option they take everything as granted by the helpless people. ”- says the Official of the Durgapur Consumer Association who has written all these points to the Transport Minister, Govt of West Bengal and demonstrated severally to the local Administrative Authority on this burning problem.

                T. S. Mukherjee, President of Durgapur Consumer Forum says, “On the consequence of such poor transport services the local administration started CNG Auto services on some routes of this City. Initially they gave quite a good and satisfactory service from the pre-dawn hours. But now we see that they close down services on many routes after evening. They are much interested to ply on reserved basis and this cost a huge amount on the part of the common people. They try to avoid running on share system by which people can go easily to the destination at a very cheap rate. The Govt. also started JNURN Buses in some routes but that too withdrawn. Taxis are very costly here. They never travel on Meter rate basis. They always like to ply on contract basis rate and that too depends upon the situation and demand. We have demanded to the Ministry and the SDO to run the Inter township State Buses immediately and to ensure the services atleast up to 10.30 PM and at the same time to introduce Taxis on Meter basis. More CNG Autos to be provided in all the routes even in the outskirts also.  ”

                On the other hand the public system in the outskirt village areas like Amrai, Kururia, Kandeswar, is absolutely nil. In these advance age no buses run through these village areas. Last year DMC had introduced some CNG Auto services but that too a few in number and do not cater the demands of the huge number of people. The local people demanded many a time to run minibuses at least up to the main points of the village areas but no improvement has been made yet to this effect.

Kanchan Kumar Chatterjee.

               

Pollution a direct consequence of industrial progress has become a great problem in this city .

Pollution a direct consequence of industrial progress has become a great problem in this city .

Pollution a direct consequence of industrial progress is becoming a huge problem in this city now. The big and small factories here emit tons of harmful smoke everyday leading to thick layer of smog which causes burning sensation to eyes and breathing trouble. Though Durgapur is shining in all other fields but the fastest growing city is reeling under pollution and probably it is the biggest hurdle in the growth of this Steel City and the only fact of concern for a healthy living. Being an industrial hub the pollution level in Durgapur is one of the highest in this country. Industrial pollution is destroying the environment in a number of ways and negatively impacts human lives and health. Pollutants killing  animals and plants, misbalancing  ecosystems, degrading air quality radically and  damaging  buildings and generally demeaning  quality of life as a whole in this city now.

                “Presence of a large number of industries in Durgapur is the biggest reason for the high level of pollution in this industrial town. Industrial pollution is the pollution which directly linked with industry in contrast to other pollution sources. Diseases like gastritis, constipation, diabetes, asthma, bronchitis, heart attack and failure of kidney are some of the most prevalent diseases among the people living in Durgapur. Irrespective of age, most of Durgapurians suffer from the above mentioned diseases. Use of inhaler has become a common practice and even the kids are in the habit of taking inhaler for their various respiratory problems” – says Dr. S. R. Bhowmick of DTPS Hospital.

                Sponge Iron also known as direct reduced iron is extracted from iron ore and is used in the making of steel. With rise in the global demand for steel over the past few years the sponge iron industry has also seen a boom. As a result in this southern part of Durgapur there is a number of Sponge Iron and Ferro Alloy Factories and all are polluting the environment of this area heavily. Factory workers are highly vulnerable to this uncontrolled pollution. The residents of Angadpur, Raturia, Arjunpur, Purusha all have protested jointly several times to the SDO and the Pollution Control Board but no action has yet been taken. They all are in favour of the closure of the Sponge Iron Factories in these thickly populated areas instead these should be established in some distant land out from the locality. They say unanimously that “we cannot open our doors and windows. Always there is a thick layer of dust on the floor. Pond and well water becomes so polluted that we are unable to use them. Small aqua creatures and fishes are dying for such pollutants in the water. We cannot move in these areas in open eyes. Due to closure of our doors and windows we are compelled to live in suffocated atmosphere in our home”. After a heavy and vehement protest some of the factory owners have installed Electrostatic Precipitators but they run these units during day time and from the evening they close such units to minimize their Electricity Bills and run the factory carelessly and the result is emitting of heavy dust particles during night.

Polluting agents are not only the Thermal Plants, Sponge Iron Factories, Cement Factories, Chemical Plants and Carbon factories in this city, the air here is constantly being polluted due to running of vehicular traffic in a large scale which emit huge amount of carbon monoxide. Petrol and Diesel driven motor vehicles produce high levels of Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, major source of Hydrocarbons and Nitrogen oxides. Fuel combustion in stationary sources is the dominant source of Carbon Dioxide and Sulphur Dioxide. Administrative Authorities are very much cautious about the valid pollution certificate of the two wheelers around the city but very reluctant about the same for the heavy vehicles particularly the old and used trucks which emits more carbon monoxide. Police force are inspecting the valid pollution certificate of the two wheelers in the busiest points of this city and giving seizure list and imposing fines to them is not a rare scene here but imposing fine to the heavy vehicles for the same reason is a rare happening  here.

                “The inhalation of particles has been linked with illness and deaths from heart and lung disease as a result of both short and long term exposures. People with heart and lung disease may experience chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue etc. Inhalation of particulate matter can increase susceptibility to respiratory infections such as Asthma, Chronic Bronchitis. The general medical term given for such lung disease is ‘Pneumoconiosis ‘says Dr. B. R. Dutta of Sagarbhanga, Durgapur’.

                As misery never comes alone, like that pollution of this city is not only limited to the industries and vehicular traffics, water pollution is equally an important field of concern. The water of Damodar is polluted with minerals, mine rejects and toxic effluents. Both its water and its sand are infested by coal dust and waster from the industries that have sprung up here in a large scale. Since coal based industries of all types here come-up in the area because of locational advantages and the easy availability of water and power the city is dotted with various industries varying from steel, cement, thermal power, chemicals and all are reducing their waste products and releasing different toxic metals which are causing severe damage to the water quality of Damodar

                “Durgapur was once covered with forests. Even a few years ago pollution was never a menace in Durgapur because of the coverage of greenery all around. But the recent fast pace of urbanization in and around Durgapur has led to massive downsizing of the forest covering aiding in pollution. But the balance for the indiscriminate cutting of trees and converting forests into dwelling places and afforestation is surely not maintained in this city since long years  - such is the view of the Sr. Citizens of this city.”

Kanchan Kumar Chatterjee.                       

Pithe Parbon.

Pithe Parbon.

As Cakes & Pastries are closely related with the celebration of X-Mass and New Year, Pithe Parbon is also closely associated with Poush Sankranti in Bengal. The Pithe Parbon is essentially a rural festival yet many urban family now enjoy this festival most ritually in some modified manner. In the outskirt of this city and even in some well decorated flats and quarters of the posh areas, people decorate their house with alpana, various flowers and mango leaves. Friends and relatives are invited to enjoy the pitheys. The senior members remain busy throughout the day for the preparation of the items and all the members of the family relish the pitheys with the flavour of new rice, nalen gur, keer and others. In village areas all the members of the family gather together near the hearth and enjoy such items in most rejoicing ways still now.

Purabi Sen of Bidisha says, “As winter approaches the gourmet Bengali eagerly looks forward to savouring  pithe,  puli – the delicious sweetmeats made during this time of the year. The newly harvested paddy and the date palm syrup or khejurer gur becomes the most wanted item in Bengal and it is a common sight at the market of this cities to find Bengalis living in other parts of the country holding on to that pot of patali gur and others to prepare delicious Pithyes . ”

But now the pithe parbon is not only limited in Bengal. Moumita Saha, MBA residing in Bangalore says, “The ladies wing of the Bengalee Association, Bangalore organized Poush Parbon in the club house every year. All the members are invited to taste the Bengali items like Patisapta, Puli Payesh, Gokul Pithe, Mug Daler  Bhaja Pithe and many such delicious items. In fact all the non-Bengalee people relish such items and some even suggest to organize such parbon regularly.

Swati Sen of Indraprastha says, “In earlier days we were in the habit of living in joint families and during the Poush Parbon occasion the elderly women folk remained extremely busy to arrange the ingredients like Rice Powder (not ready made that are now available in every shop), nalen gur, coconut, khoa and many such things,. Narkol Sandesh and Tiler Naru were the most essential sweetmeat in those days during this parbon. After having a bath in the pre-dawn hours in the chilled pond or river water as ‘Makar Snan’ people in large used to assemble near a fire to warm up them. After that a breakfast with chalbhaja enriched with kalai bhaja and kusum seeds , tiler naru, narkol sandesh was the most common thing at that time. But now the young generations do not like all such items and we the elderly people only suffer from such nostalgic things”.

Kanchan Kumar Chatterjee.

Commendable activities of Nirjhar Day Boarding School.

Commendable activities of Nirjhar Day Boarding School.

Nirjhar Day Boarding Secondary School has groomed with the mission of diffusing knowledge to bring up a young generation in health, strength and in the vigour of intellectuality. A variety of academic, aesthetic, athletic, cultural and social activities are synchronized into a single academic faculty. It is an ambitious endeavour to impart education in an innovative stress free manner and to encourage a spirit of challenge and competitiveness. Education amidst of joy is their mantra with varied facilities like Audio Visual Education through Multimedia, Science Museum, Computer & Information Technology Centre, Nirjhar Day Boarding Secondary School was born on 19^th April, 2004 as an important component of ‘Durgapur Child City Project’ conceived by Durgapur Children’s’ Academy of Culture. Durgapur Child City Project is a concept of integrated child development scheme. The school is built on 20 acres of land at the centre of industrial city of Durgapur with a network of educational institutions.

            Nirjhar School is in every sense a school with a difference. It is the only day boarding school under West Bengal. Board of Secondary Education in Durgapur with hostel facilities for both boys and girls. Students from different parts of West Bengal come to read here keeping in mind its excellence as a centre of education. The School never hesitates to take in students having primary education in Bengali medium but willing to switchover to English Medium with a pledge to upgrade them through a holistic approach. Nirjhar aims at imparting education through enjoyment. The School is manned with well-qualified staff. It works with the philosophy of producing a diffusing knowledge to bring up a young generation in health and in the vigour of intellectuality. Here is a school where a variety of academic, esthetic, athletic, cultural and social activities are synchronized into a single academic faculty. The school works with an ambitions endeavour to impart education in an innovative stress-free manner and to encourage a spirit of challenge and competitiveness.

            Apart from a well equipped library the school uses multimedia projection system enabling its students to understand and enjoy the process of learning. A well-equipped state-of-the art centre gives a comprehensive exposure to the use of information technology.

            The school provides a regular health-checking facility for its wards with the help of ‘Mother and Child Care Unit’ under Durgapur Children’s’ Academy of Culture.

            Unlike English Medium concept prevailing in the country NIRJHAR considers Mathematics as the basic for a systematic approach towards education and knowledge. As it provides the highest priority to mathematics It has introduced ABACUS system along with an excellent team of teachers in the faculty. ABACUS is a playing game method and Nirjhar has been the first and only school in the district which made it a component of teaching faculty, as it is done in most of the nationally framed school.

            The School is having facilities of swimming, rock climbing, along with other indoor and outdoor games. Cultural programmes in the spacious auditorium are regular events in this school. The School enjoys the blessings of centre and state Governments local self Govt. SAIL and maestros in the field of arts, literature and culture.

                        The School has classes from Nursery to Class-X. The syllabus is created combining the best of the curricular prevailing in India. The pre-primary curriculum is based on a system that makes no distinction between playing and learning. Then medium of instruction is English in all classes giving equal emphasis on Bengali. As the school is affiliated to WBBSE, the syllabuses of WBBSE as well as its Examination norms are strictly followed. The School nurtures the concept of education and the model of teaching conducive to holistic development of the pupils that will be following in future schools.

            “Education is a process by which a person’s body, mind, and character are formed and illuminated and strengthened. It is the bringing of head, heart and mind together, thus enabling a person to develop an all round personality by identifying the best in him or her. It is a humanizing process. Accordingly it s eternal values and universal appeal compel it to keep pace with the heralding age and hovering needs of the time. With this view in vision – Nirjhar Day Boarding Co-Education Secondary High School (NDBSS) under Durgapur Children’s Academy of Culture has introduced a unique educational structure with incisive commitment of forming the habits of piety, virtue and discipline and self-confidence reliance in children to help them become good citizens of India. Integration of varied number of features and faculties with the education system has groomed Nirjhar as a natural flow for communicating knowledge. ”- says Mridul Mukhopadhyay, Principal of the School.

            The School provides a wide range of co-curricular activities for the development of the pupils like Drawing & Painting, Dramatics, Debating, Music, Story Telling, Quiz & General knowledge, Dance, Public Speaking and Calligraphy. Sports and games are an integral part of NDBSS education that help the students to keep them physically fit and also ensures proper mental growth of the child. Various indoor and outdoor activities include Badminton, Table Tennis, Swimming, Cricket, Karate etc. Adventure sports like Artificial Rock Climbing adds special flavor to it. Incidentally, Nirjhar is having the first climbing wall in Primary School System. It is a recreation place for tiny tots where they are taken to the world of fantasy, the world of toys and games. It’s well equipped with education toys, puzzles etc. The park is a beauteous sight with swings, slides, jungle-jims & see-saws where tiny tots have a whale of a time romping about. Up to Class-V all the physical and cultural activities are compulsory and from VI onwards students can opt for their favourite physical or cultural activities.

            Nirjhar uses internet and multimedia projection system enabling its students to understand and enjoy the process of learning. Audio-visual education approach is directly related to the actual content of the curriculum and aimed far widening concept about nature and society.

Kanchan Kumar Chatterjee.

Crossing Hurdle.

Crossing Hurdle.

Ambulances, emergency services and commuters, school buses regularly get struck in long traffic jams at Mayabazar Level Crossing Gate.

Administrative Authorities and the Political Leaders are silent on this burning problem of this thickly populated area in the southern part of this industrial city.

The Mayabazar Railway level crossing gate has become a cause for concern for the residents of DTPS Township. Industrialists are complaining that it’s affecting their business. Emergency services such as Ambulances and Fire fighters are kept waiting and children on their way to school run late. Even residents from nearby villages like Purusha, Angadpur, Arjunpur, Raturia, Jiten Nagar are all complaining for their acute problem only  for this level crossing since long. The problem lies in the frequency at which the gate is closed. The railway authorities close the gate every 10 to 15 minutes to pass the important  trains like Rajdhani, Intercity, Purba , Satabdi and other express and super fast trains. The gates are also closed for the numerous passenger and goods trains that travel on the Howrah – Asansol route round the clock. During peak hours it can take up to 30 minutes to get clearance. Traffic snarls can sometimes extend up to one kilometer on both sides. The trouble begins when the gate opens and traffic at both sides, impatient after the long wait; begin to cross simultaneously resulting in chaos. Commuters said that it had been kept waiting in the long queues as there is no other route to reach the hospitals.

“This Level Crossing is the only gateway of the inhabitants of this area to the outer world, mainly the people residing in Durgapur Thermal Power Station Colony and its neighboring villages and immense number of commercial fraternity people doing their trades in this Area. But the worst sufferers are certainly the acute patients and the students to whom time is the essence. Most of the people depend heavily on DTPS Hospital but as  it is not so well-equipped to handle serious/acute  patients and in the crisis hours such patients are referred to the Steel Plant Hospital and the Mission hospital and even to Kolkata and people have no other options but to cross this railway crossing to reach there in time. Students also have their anxious moments when their school-bound buses are stranded at length at the level crossing helplessly while time tickles by and it comes down too heavy on them during the big events like Board Examination. Apart from that people from all walks of life get affected by only one hindrance in this vast area is this level Crossing.  ” – says Dr. S. R. Bhowmik of DTPS Hospital who is connected with many innovative programme and rendered great efforts several time and negotiated a lot with  the administrative authorities and political leaders to solve this  level crossing problem by constructing a Fly Over here.

                Industrialists, too, are voicing their complaints. The power sector is based in the southern part of Durgapur City. A group of industrialists have set up several mini-steel plants, sponge iron factories and many other industries here and the area has become an industrial hub. “Our business is hampered to a great extent because such frequent obstructions at the entry route of this area. Added to this is the poor road condition” says all of them unanimously.

                Financial establishment like the United Bank of India, Mayabazar (DTPS) Branch, the only Bank in this Vast Areas is also facing great problem to enhance their business maneuver though endowed with their modern infrastructure there in this era of technological development.  “In this age of competition, we have developed our Bank to the great extent but due to this Level Crossing problem and also for lack of conveyance people in large like to avoid to come this area for their various purposes in this Branch. From township it takes at least three to four hours time for their up and down journey excluding the time required in the Bank. In fact still this vast area is remaining under developed than other parts of this City only for poor conveyance system. Social life gets totally collapsed after evening.  For all such impediments except the DVC Employees and the local residents, none are interested to use this Bank mainly for insufficiency of communication and various hindrances like the Mayabazar Railway Level Crossing Gate and the DSP Loco un-manned gate.  As a result our business is getting hampered severely.” – says   Biswajit Dutta, Manager of UBI, Mayabazar (DTPS) Branch.

                Aniruddha Chatterjee, a senior employee of DTPS says, “I am an employee of Durgapur Thermal Power Station and coming here since late seventies and noticed no stint of development in respect of roads and communication system as a whole. Besides the Mayabazar Railway Crossing Gate there is another one unmanned loco level crossing gate of Durgapur Steel Plant for transportation of their products and the gate frequently blocks the road for their multiple purposes. A hellish situation occurs when heavy traffics , Ambulance and even fire fighters face both the obstructions of the level crossing gates during their to and fro journey to this vital power station and other areas. When Durgapur City is shining in all the areas, this southern part of Durgapur is still remaining as the land which was avoided by the Pandavas during their sojourn. The step-mother like attitude of the Administrative Authorities is restraining its development in all the spheres and the offspring are also lagging behind.  ”           

                Residents in this densely populated area have been vocal on the issue. They have, together with the support of political leaders, demonstrated many times to the Railway Authority and the SDO. The residents are in favour of a fly-over which they say will solve the problem. But this suggestion has not made any headway with authorities of the Eastern Railway.

                According to the official sources of the Eastern Railway, building a flyover would require permission from the railway ministry. “A large amount of money is involved and we cannot do anything independently.”

                “The vehicles which are no mean in number, rushes in from both sides, heavy vehicles from the Power Plant side, mainly the coal carriers and the fly ash carriers and the other vehicles from the east side where there are a hoard of mini steel plants and mushrooming sponge-iron factories and both the streams of heavy vehicles funnels at the level crossing and there wait another queue of vehicles across the rail line entering DTPS area. Now it would not be very difficult to image the chaotic situation that cooks up. A total disorder prevails there making life miserable for all of them in the fray. The whole traffic seems to be in a bottleneck and there is no way out too get the traffic move and this has been happening regularly day in and day out for years and no one seems to be bothered for it. ” – says the business community in all who are suffering a lot for this hindrance.     

As the authorities wait, the problem gets worse with every passing day. Parents worry as children run late for school, staff buses and mini buses are delayed in the traffic caught at this crossing. Residents are also apprehensive that accidents may occur any time in this area.

Kanchan Kumar Chatterjee. (Published in the Times of India's DAP)

Makar Snan in Damodar.

Makar Snan in Damodar.

Durgapur is not surrounded with much rivers and streams, and the only Damodar overflows with devotees (Punnarthi) for the religious gatherings on the auspicious occasion of Makar Snan at the pre-dawn hours of Poush Sankranti.

                In Durgapur Barrage local people arrange several ghats with all possible amenities like hot Tea and Coffee, Mineral Water Bottle, Light snacks and Tiffin, and the most essential fire wood and fuel to make temporary fire places so that people could easily warm up themselves after a holy dip in the chilled water.

                Biman Sen,55 a resident of Township says, “Every year we reach Durgapur Barrage with some of my friends for taking this holy bath. We hire a vehicle and come at 4 AM. After taking bath and warming up a while we take tea and coffee, and return. This is our regular programme in this day since 10 years.”

                The other group of Samir Banerjee of Ashoke Avenue says, “Every year we around 20 people from our para come here at dawn to take Makar Snan. Actually we also come here for a picnic on that day in Barrage Area. After this episode we all become busy for the picnic. Tiny tots enjoy a lot. Boating (small Boat) is an extra attraction basking in the warm and rejoice the winter sun floating on the boats. Till sunset we all enjoy there. After lunch we arrange quiz competitions, antakshari and enjoy immensely. We also arrange for token gifts and prizes for the participants.”

Benoy Mazumdar a retired teacher of township says, “All over the country this day is observed with great fanfare. It is celebrated with different names in different parts of our country. Now Makar Snan apart from a harvest festival, it is also regards as the beginning of an auspicious phase in Indian culture. It is known as the ‘holy phase of transition.’ Scientifically this day marks the beginning of warmer and longer days compare to the nights.”

                Makar Sankranti is Indian’s unbreakable tradition of culture and livelihood. It is a symbol of unity in diversity. This festival gives a message of unit to not just India but to the whole world. Because sun is the only God of world who is worshiped by everyone freely. Festival of Makar Sankranti inspires to have peace and harmony, love and forget the hatred and stay with unity.

Kanchan Kumar Chatterjee.

               

Kalpataru Mela in Durgapur.

Kalpataru Mela in Durgapur.

                City people are all now in a festive mood. Almost in every weekend they are making some programme either for a picnic or for an outing with their family and friends and to be frank now they have an unending list of such places surrounding this city. A stroll across this city during the winter unfurls a vivid and lively view of the above mentioned phenomenal practice almost daily. Thus it is seem that almost all the parks are remaining crowded with people of all ages.

                Besides such picnic and outing people enjoyed a lot on the renowned melas like Shantiniketan, Bishnupur a few days ago and after that the people became gladdened again for the famous Kalpataru Mela which starts every year from the first day of the year. It is held in the Gammon Friends’ ground near Durgapur Station adjacent to DPL Colony. It starts from 1^st January and continues up to 10^th. Probably this is the oldest fair held in the still city and almost crowds of people from Asansol, Raniganj, Andal, Ukhra, Panagarh, Burdwan and another adjoining places enjoy a lot here.

                Book fair and Agricultural fair (Krishi Mela) is the prime attraction of Kalpataru Mela. From the last year the organizers are paying special attention to attract much people in the Book Fair. The renowned publishers of Kolkata arrange several stalls with their latest publications, books of Knowledge, Story, Fiction, Devotional, Recitation and some rare books that are not available in market easily. School children eagerly wait for this fair to have their choiceable books. Moreover the organizers arrange in the lawn of the book fair several competitions like Recitation, Quiz, News Reading to attract the school children much.

                Agricultural fare is also very attractive in the fair. Not only the agriculturist join the fair but a large section of people who have a passion for gardening hops the stalls inquisitively for rare kinds of flower and fruit seeds and plants. The another attraction of this krishi mela is that almost daily some experts in this field comes and they interacts with the people about their personal problem and advise what type of pesticides and manure to be applied for the full growth of the plants.

                Amalendu Sen, the sr. active organizer says, “Though Durgapur has developed in all the fields in the recent years, yet this particular fair has not lost its old charm. The mad rush witnessed at the fair is something extra ordinary in this era of shopping malls and large company showrooms. The large Gammon ground seems small at times when the crowds swell up and there seems to be no space even for walking.  Perhaps fair will never lose the charm and importance from our life.”

                The authority now has taken much precaution for fire fighting and security measure. They have installed close circuit TVs in several points and made a close vigil on the fairground to avoid any  untoward incidents.  

                They authority arranged every day various cultural programmes from afternoon to late night where the famous artist from Kolkata and other places performed their solo and group programme. Many people enjoyed this programme ignoring the chilled atmosphere.

Kanchan Kumar Chatterjee.