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 !

Oh Kolkata !

Ever wondered why of all places a City of sluggish trams and lazy hand pulled rickshaws and occasional “Cholchhe Na Cholbey Na”s, was blessed with the sweet-tag of “City of Joy”? For that matter is Delhi or any other city in India any less fun? I have spent an endearing childhood and a lovely adolescence in Delhi and it was all so much fun, but even then, I could never tag Delhi as the “City of joy”.  I couldn't do so primarily because:

1. In Delhi fish markets would be like specialty appendixes to the elaborate Subzi Markets. In Kolkata, Subzi Markets are ornamental appendixes to the elaborate Fish Markets. Essence of Kolkata’s philosophical existence.

2. Peace is Daal Bhaat. Happiness is Mangsho Bhaat. Thumb Rule. No City thrives on a thumb rule that is simpler.

3. It is almost unconstitutional in Kolkata to indulge in less than four winter picnics. Unlike in any other place.

4. As a Bengali settled in Delhi, I thought Durga Pujo flavor is something that would linger on your mind for 7 days. But my current stay in Kolkata has convinced me that a Year has two halves: One half when you wait anxiously for Pujo. Second half when you Plan and execute your Pujo. Simple.

5. You get to speak in a Language that has “Bhalobasha” in it: 24 X 7.

Victoria Memorial Hall from Maidan.

Devi Pakkho

 || Ya devi sarvabhooteshu vishnumayati shabdita,
Namastasyei namastasyei namastasyei namo namah ||

River Hoogly - West Bengal

Whether you take a lazy boat ride or a romantic walk , the banks of Hoogly will never disappoint you.

Kolkata

Every city has its own flavor. So do this city of joy. Being brought up in Delhi I know what does a plate of  rajma chawal means to me or those matching dupatta centers of Lajpat. From Matka peer to Dariba’s rabri kheer umpteen of such reminiscence still lingers.

Unlike Delhi, Kolkata’s autochthonic variety dominates the city. Therefore, where ever you roam in the city you would find that argumentive kosha mangsho (spicy meat curry) lover.

A Sunday afternoon walk

 After a sumptuous lunch at Chimpu da's place this weekend , we planned to walk down the Sarovar road to reach a theater near by. Rabindra Sarovar (Lake) which is adjacent to his apartment is a bliss to morning walkers and joggers in South Kolkata. Even we went there once , however, wasn't able take to the pain of  rising so early. Whenever I have been there always found it to be crowded but this Sunday it was left alone. Thanks to the culture of 'bhaat ghoom ' (siesta) in Bengal . Another reason ,could be cleaning treatment, undergoing in this piece of wetland these days.

City of Joy . 

Chronicle of 2012

In this post I tried to recapitulate the year that had rushed like a girl, waiting for the school bell to go ring in a summer afternoon.

January

| Har ki pauri |

EM Bypass , Kolkata

Traveling has been an integral part of any field sales profile, and being in the same profession has given me an opportunity to travel through my city and knowing its vivid nooks. Mostly my allotted areas fall inside the peripheries of Northern Kolkata . Sometime this stretches upto to North 24 Paraganas too.

I find this part of my job exciting as well as interesting. More so due to my knack of capturing vivid moments into frames.

  

I find travelling through EM Bypass road in Kolkata is an experience in it self. Be it clogged traffic jams, lakes (bheri), water logged roads, Dhaba, Maize seller,China Town gate etc. 

~~ A Mahalaya Morning | 2012 ~~

 We started at 5:30 in the morning from Ballygaunge and reached Maidan by another 20 minutes. Like the usual route we planned to cross the Netaji statue follwed by Strand road to reach Prinsep Ghat. Since all the left turns were closed we had to reach there from Kidderpore side.

~~ Draperied dusk amidst the Ganga ~~

It has been a month that we have settled in Kolkata , hunting tasks like job, apartment, budget food joints kept my mind choc o bloc. But soon things layered beautifully. Notched a job, my husband's office nominated residential apartment, now is our home, and importantly credible domestic help.

~~ Kumortuli 2012 | Part 1 ~~

~~ Initial few shots....Bengal welcomes here ~~