In Photos : Ramadan market of Chitpur

Dome of Nakhoda Masjid at Chitpur .

Ramadan is the ninth and holy month of the Islamic calender. The followers of Islam (Muslims) abstain from drinking water and eating food from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan or Ramzan. It marks the anniversary of the revelation of  their holy book by Prophet Muhammad; Quran.

A young boy selling skull caps .

Muslims break their fast after offering Maghrib prayer; the prayer offered just after the sunset. Following to which they eat their evening meal; Iftar. Traditionally, an Iftar must contain three dates which are to be eaten to break the fast. In India many Muslims break their fast by also drinking water.

Fresh fried Jalebi (Jilipi in Bangla ) .

An Iftar platter varies from places to places. In Kolkata , people mostly eat dates, fresh fruits, haleem, samosa (singara), onion pakora (pyaji ),beguni (chickpea flour coated fried finely sliced eggplant), spiced chickpea , kebabs, sweets like jilipi, halwa and firni.

Exterior of Nakhoda Masjid .

Nakhoda Masjid is the key mosque of Kolkata. It was built by a small community of Sunni Muslims from Kutch in the year 1926. The mosque looks similar to the tomb of Sikandra; mausoleum of Akbar the Great. The mosque displays filigree work on red sandstone; one of the popular form of Akbari architecture .

A seller packing rumani vermicelli for his customer. 

The threads of rumani are finer than the regular vermicelli and only available during ramadan. It is used to prepare 'Sheer Khurma ' a traditional dessert (vermicelli pudding) on Eid- ul-Fitr . 

Imported embroidered skull caps.

Taqiyah or topi ,the rounded skull cap which was introduced by Aurangzeb in India , who used to stitch them during his free time . He even traded these caps during his reign.

The seller displaying the best topi from his stock.

Nakhoda Masjid and lanes (Zakaria street and Rabindra Sarani) connecting to it are one of the major Muslim pockets of Kolkata. During the month of Ramadan, these lanes are crowded with makeshift shops selling dress materials, attar (perfume), skull caps, vermicelli, breads and varieties of food items. 

Faiz  Ahmed's attar (natural perfume oil) shop at Zakaria street. 

Observing sawm or roza (in Central and Soth-East Asia) in the month of Ramadan is one of the basic acts out of five pillars of Islam. 

The main gate of Nakhoda Masjid influenced by Buland Darwaza of Fatehpur Sikri .

Haleem, a protein rich savoury is famous in and around Kolkata during Ramadan. Haleem is made from legumes with minced meat (beef or mutton) and consumed after breaking fast. At Aminia , Haleem is particular to Ramadan and it sells like hotcakes in this area. 

Haleem at Aminia. 

Faces of Zakaria Street .

 Shoppers chock-a-block the lanes.

A happy  face selling Dahi Vadas. 

Eid Mubarak !

In Photos : Handicrafts of West Bengal.

1. Terracotta.

  A Bengali couple in terracotta.

Terracotta figurines from 'Poush Mela' of Bolpur. These artifacts are made from baked clay.Districts of Bishnupur, Birbhum and Bankura are famous for their terracotta works. Price: INR 50.

2. Talpatar Sepai (puppet made from Palm leaves).

The dancing talpatar sepai on a table mat made from Paitara .

One of the oldest form of rod puppets in the history of Indian puppetrymade out of dried palm leaves. These leaves are also used to make hand fans in Bengal. Pattachitra on palm leaves is an acclaimed art in Odisha.   Price: INR 10 .
3. Dokra /Dhokra.

The lady with lamp.

A primitive form of art that had traveled from Eastern India to rest of the nation. The craft has derived its name from the caste of artisans who make dokra products from lost-wax. Price: INR 300 (figurine ) & INR 200 (neck piece) .

4. Kantha Embroidery .

 Kantha embellishment on a hand clutch .

Kantha stitch is an embroidery that finds a place in every Bengali household. Be it on a saree or on a bedspread this running stitch is loved by all. Traditionally Kantha is similar to a quilt; made by stitching layers of discarded sarees. Price: INR 250 .

5. Madur (Mat).

Table mats from Digha .

Madur or mats are traditionally made of grasses and paitara in West Bengal. Paitara (murta plant) is also used for making 'shital pati'; natural cool mat. Price: INR 200 ( for a set of six table mats and coasters).

6. Jute Handicrafts.

A Jute coaster.

From jute ropes to shoes, Bengal knows to extract every possible utility out of this vegetable fiber. Price: INR 10 .

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In Photos : Monasteries of Darjeeling

  1. Yiga Choeling Monastery 

Prayer bells outside the monastery.

Yiga Choeling Monastery is situated at Ghoom, which is 8 kilometers away from Darjeeling town. It is popularly known as Ghoom (Ghum) Monastery, established in 1850 by Sherab Gyatso. The old Ghoom Monastery is laid on ideas of the newest school of Tibetan Buddhism; Gelug-pa.

Maitreya Buddha of Ghoom Monastery .

The statue of Maitreya Buddha (15 feet) is draped in royal clothes.The library of this 160 years old monastery boasts of sacred Kangyur texts, which are supposed to be the work of Buddha himself.

A believer in search of  enlightenment . 

  2. Druk Sangag Choling Monastery

Ramp to the monastery .

Druk Sangag Choling Monastery is located on the Hill-Cart road and is about 5 kilometers from the district head-quarter. It is popularly known as Dali monastery standing adjacent to the fire station of Darjeeling. The monastery is newly founded in the year 1971 on the principles of Kagyu-pa. 

Kagyu sect is one among the three “Red-hat sects” of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is derived from the colour of hats that the monks wear during any occasion. The famous 300 years old Rumtek monastery in Sikkim is also from the same sect which is presently headed by Ogyen Trinley Dorje .

Hostel inside the monastery .

The monastery is home to more than 200 monks and a couple of nuns. The campus has a nunnery and an elementary school for young monks. It also has a cafeteria “Kunga Palijor Coffe Shop” that serves delicious dumplings and coffee. 

  3. Chitre Monastery

View of the monastery during sunset. 

The monastery of Chitre village is at an elevation of more than 8300ft. The village serves as the first resting point for the trekkers of Singilila National Park. It is about 3 kilometers uphill from Manebhanjang . Like Dali, this monastery also belongs to Kagyu sect and even attracts visitors from Ladakh. The famous monastery of Alchi in Ladakh follow the same line of teachings of Tibetan Buddhism.

Vertical Darchor prayer flags in Chitre. 

The monastery has a small research center for students studying Buddhism. It has antique statues of Buddha made of precious and semi-precious metal from South East Asian countries like Thailand and Cambodia.

Chortens of Chitre. 

   4. Samten Choling Monastery

View of the monastery from its terrace.

Samten Choling Monastery is popularly known as New Ghoom Monastery to the tourists. The Monastery is in Ghoom and is a new establishment if compared to Yiga Choeling ( Old Ghoom) Monastery which is located within a kilometer from Samten Choling. 

  Inside the monastery.

The 26 feet statue of Maitreya Buddha, here is in Bhiksu (monk) avatar. Like Old Ghoom Monastery it follows principles of “Gelug-pa”. This sect is also known as “Yellow-hat "sect. The terrace of the monastery gives an enchanting view of Darjeeling town. The railway track of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway  runs adjacent to its entrance. 

Je Tsongkhapa , founder of Gelug-pa sect in Yellow-hat.