more on durga puja 2005

sadhuji

For those who love to pamper the taste buds, the following should make mouths water –

‘Tamarind’ on Sarat Bose Road offers Hyderabadi food festival during the festivities: sample dishes – ‘dawat-e-nizam’ which is nothing but the leg of a sheep cooked with Hyderabadi masala in traditional style priced at Rs 500.00 for a full plate! Then there is the Coorg Chicken, Karnataki recipe at Rs 135.00 followed by dum-chicken (whole roasted chickens with gravy) at Rs 190.00. For dessert, you can taste fried bread slices soaked in rabri and sprinkled with finely chopped almonds, cashew nuts and kish-mish.
Another joint crying for attention is ‘Orks’ located in the City Center of Salt Lake. Here special Puja thali are the craze – the menu consists of prawns prepared in tender coconut (daab-chingri), rich preparation of rohu fish (rui-machher kalia), date+mango chutney, dhokar dalna, pataler dolma etc. The rates are Rs 365 and 255 respectively for the non-veg and veg types. In addition, there is a menu comprising four types of kebabs – price Rs 500.00. The kebab platter comes for Rs 350.00!!
If you are a fan of Chinese cuisine, you have to drop in on ‘Mainland China’ on Gurusaday Road. They have arranged for buffet lunch and dinner for Rs 350.00. Prawns cooked in hot garlic sauce or spiced oysters will transport you to another dimension.
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In order to maintain law and order and control traffic, additional police booths will be set up. There will be more than 10,000 policemen on duty. Combat Forces and RAF will be on standby. http://telegraphindia.com/1051008/as...ry_5333160.asp
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A Minister of the West Bengal Government will be presenting an adivasi dance program on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of the Pujas of the National Airport Authority of India, Mumbai at Santa Cruz. The Minister with his troupe of 21 members will leave for Mumbai on 9th October by train.
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The names Tantuja, Tantusree and Manjusha used to be popular brand names in the fashion world even a few years back. These once profit centers are today loss making enterprises of the West Bengal Government. They used to be the major outlets for sarees manufactured by the weavers of Bengal but were unable to cope up with the tremendous competition from others. As a result, whatever stocks they hold today are all outdated old designs that no one wants.
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The fashion craze this year is the ‘mix-and-match’ sarees. Light color background with deep borders: batik, block and embroidery work - all on the same saree. Other variations are painted tribal motifs or spray painted abstract arts. Hand painted sarees are usually on tasar silk – black tasar silk with Mexican civilization motifs in silver grey.
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Despite taking precautions, there are a number of Pujas where the same theme has surfaced – for example, the idols made of shellac: as many as four have used this medium. Predictions are that at least one of them will feature in this year’s top 20.
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One mandap is made out of 80,000 wooden Ganesh idols. Another is presenting wood carvings on rejected railway wooden sleepers. The terracotta theme is there in as many as ten mandaps. As an artist remarked – ‘originality is taking a beating, the same theme keeps coming back.’
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And, a particular Puja is conducted by non Brahmins. It is in the Bashoa Dakshinpara village of Birbhum district. They have been performing this Puja for the past 32 years. The idol here is not the traditional one of Durga with her children Kartik, Ganesh, Lakshmi and Saraswati but of Devi Durga in front of whom sits Lord Ram with folded hands. Alongside him are Lakshman and Hanuman.

another interesting link –

http://freewebs.com/prabirghose/

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