1. Bengal and Bengali culture
Bengal is situated in northeast part region of Indian
subcontinent at the apex of Bay of Bengal. The
majority of Bengal is inhabited by Bengali
people who speak Bengali language. Today, it is
mainly divided between the sovereign land of

2. peoples Republic of Bangladesh (previously East
Bengal / East Pakistan) and the state of west
Bengal. The region of Bengal is one of the most
densely populated regions on earth, with a
population density exceeding 900/km. Most of the
Bengal region lies in the low-lying Ganges–
Brahmaputra River delta or Ganges delta, the
world's largest delta. In the southern part of the delta
lies the Sundarbon —the world's largest mangrove
forest and home of the Bengal Tiger, though the
population of the region is mostly rural and agrarian.
Two mega cites, Kolkata (previously Calcutta)
and DHAKA (previously Dacca), are located in
Bengal. The Bengal region is renowned for its rich
literary and cultural heritage as well as its immense
contribution to the socio-cultural uplift of Indian
society in the form of the Bengal Renaissance, and
revolutionary activities during the Independence
movement. West Bengal also (proposed new
English name: Paschimbanga) is a state in the
eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-
most populous region. It is also the seventh-most
populous sub-national entity in the world, with over
91 million inhabitants covering a total area of 34,267
sq mi (88,750 km2), which is bordered by the
countries of Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, and
the Indian states of Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar,
Sikkim, and Assam. The state capital is Kolkata

3. (formerly Calcutta). West Bengal encompasses two
broad natural regions: the Gangetic Plain in the
south and the sub-Himalayan and Himalayan area in
the north. Bengal was divided in 1947 on religious
lines into two separate entities: West Bengal – a
state of India – and East Bengal, which initially
joined the new nation of Pakistan, before becoming
part of modern-day Bangladesh in 1971.Bengal was
divided on religious and language lines. Bengali
language movement has played a very important
role for its separate entity which catalyzed the
assertion of Bengali national identity in East Bengal
and later East Pakistan, and became a forerunner to
Bengali nationalist movements, and subsequently
the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. In
Bangladesh, 21 February is observed as language
movement day, a national holiday. The shaheed
miner monument was constructed near Dhaka
Medical College in memory of the movement and its
victims.
The saliency of Twenty First February has made the
historic movement for establishing Bengali as one of
the State languages of Pakistan synonymous with
the 1952 phase of the Bengali language movement.
However, the movement for making Bengali as one
of the State languages of the then Pakistan was
known as Bangla vasha andolon.

4. Bangla vasha andolon.
That spirit of 21th February (ekushey) has not
diminished. Rather, the radiant spirit of the twenty
first February has remained ingrained in the core of
our hearts and souls even after the elapse of almost
half of a century of the historic Bengali language
movement. People from all walks of life still come
out in thousands in the early hours of February
twenty first and mournfully trod the streets of Dhaka,
and throng the Central Shaheed Miner (Marty s
Monument) for offering their heartfelt tributes to the
fallen language martyrs. Before depicting the
cultures of Bengal, we must go to the historical
roots.
Bengali Renaissance
The Bengal Renaissance refers to a social reform
movement during the nineteenth and early twentieth
century’s in the region of Bengal in Undivided India
during the period of British rule. The Bengal
renaissance can be said to have started with Raja
Ram Mohan Roy (1775–1833) and ended with
Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941), although there
have been many stalwarts thereafter embodying
particular aspects of the unique intellectual and
creative output Nineteenth century Bengal was a

5. unique blend of religious and social reformers,
scholars, literary giants, journalists, patriotic orators
and scientists, all merging to form the image of a
renaissance, and marked the transition from the
'medieval' to the 'modern Bengal.
During this period, Bengal witnessed an intellectual
awakening that is in some way similar to the
European Renaissance during the 16th century,
although Europeans of that age were not confronted
with the challenge and influence of alien colonialism.
This movement questioned existing orthodoxies,
particularly with respect to women, marriage, the
dowry system, the caste system and religion. One of
the earliest social movements that emerged during
this time was the Young Bengal movement that
espoused rationalism and atheism as the common
denominators of civil conduct among upper caste
educated Hindus.
The parallel socio-religious movement, the Brahmo
Samaj, developed during this time period and
counted many of the leaders of the Bengal
Renaissance among its followers In the earlier years
the Brahmo Samaj, like the rest of society, could not
however, conceptualize, in that feudal-colonial era, a
free India as it was influenced by the European
Enlightenment (and its bearers in India, the British
Raj) although it traced its intellectual roots to the

6. Upanishads. Their version of Hinduism, or rather
Universal Religion, although devoid of practices like
sati and polygamy that had crept into the social
aspects of Hindu life, was ultimately a rigid
impersonal monotheistic faith, which actually was
quite distinct from the pluralistic and multifaceted
nature of the way the Hindu religion was practiced.
Future leaders like Keshub Chunder Sen were as
much devotees of Christ, as they were of Brahma,
Krishna or the Buddha. It has been argued by some
scholars that the Brahmo Samaj movement never
gained the support of the masses and remained
restricted to the elite, although Hindu society has
accepted most of the social reform programs of the
Brahmo Samaj. It must also be acknowledged that
many of the later Brahmas were also leaders of the
freedom movement.
The renaissance period after the Indian Rebellion of
1857 saw a magnificent outburst of Bengali
literature. While Ram Mohan Roy and Iswar
Chandra Vidyasagar were the pioneers, others like
Bankim Chandra Chatterjee widened it and built
upon it .The first significant nationalist detour to the
Bengal Renaissance was given by the brilliant
writings of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. Later writers
of the period who introduced broad discussion of
social problems and more colloquial forms of

7. Bengali into mainstream literature included the great
Saratchandra Chatterjee.
The Tagore family, including Rabindranath Tagore,
were leaders of this period and had a particular
interest in educational reform however their
contribution to the Bengal Renaissance was multi-
faceted. Indeed, Tagore's 1901 Bengali novella,
Nastanirh was written as a critique of men who
professed to follow the ideals of the Renaissance,
but failed to do so within their own families. In many
ways Rabindranath Tagore's writings (especially
poems and songs) can be seen as imbued with the
spirit of the Upanishads. His works repeatedly allude
to Upanishadic ideas regarding soul, liberation,
transmigration and—perhaps most essentially—
about a spirit that imbues all creation not unlike the
Upanishadic Brahman. Tagore's English translation
of a set of poems titled the Gitanjali won him the
Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. He was the first
Asian to win this award. That was the only example
at the time but the contribution of the Tagore family
is enormous. The Bengal Renaissance saw the
emergence of pioneering Bengali scientists such as
Jagadish Chandra Bose, Satyendra Nath Bose,
Upendranath Brahmachari and Meghnad Saha.

8. Etymology of Bengal/Bengali
The exact origin of the word Bangla or Bengal is
unknown, though it is believed to be derived from
the Dravidian-speaking tribe Bang that settled in the
area around the year 1000 BC
Vanga (Greater Bengal) was a kingdom during the
times of Mahabharata.
Other accounts speculate that the name is derived
from Banga which came from the Austric word
"Bonga" meaning the Sun-god. The word Banga and
other words speculated to refer to Bengal (such as
Anga) found in ancient Indian texts including the
Vedas, Jaina texts, the Mahabharata and Puranas.
The earliest reference to "Bangala" has been traced
in the Nesari plates (805 AD) of Rashtrakuta
Govinda III which speak of Dharmapala as the king
of Vangala
Some accounts claim that the word may derive from
bhang, a preparation of cannabis which is used in
some religious ceremonies in Bengal. Dravidians
migrated to Bengal from the south, while Tibeto-
Burman peoples migrated from the Himalayas
followed by the Indo-Aryans from north-western
India. The modern Bengali people are a blend of
these people. Smaller numbers of Pathans,

9. Persians, Arabs and Turks also migrated to the
region in the late middle Ages while spreading Islam.
The age and history of Bengal and Bengali culture is
near about 1000 years old. Since the end of
Magadha Empire the Bengal religious-socio-cultural
ceremonies held great importance’s among the
Bengalis. Ceremonies play the symbolic role of
every tradition handed over to the decedent’s
generation after generation. Some important
ceremonies of Bengal.
Annaprashan is a social ritual among the Hindus,
an occasion when the baby breaks its baby food
pattern to welcome home made food. It is as well as
a social introduction of the new
member.'Annaprashan' is a social ritual among the
Hindus, an occasion when the baby breaks its baby
food pattern to welcome home-made food.
It is as well as a social introduction of the new
member of the family in the community.
Annaprashan literally means feeding the baby rice
for the first time. "Anna" means food, especially rice
while "prashan" means to feed. Annaprashan
gathers the importance of a religious ceremony.
Arranged for the Hindu child generally before

10. teething, this ritual is separate for both boys and
girls.
Upanayana is a Vedic ritual of Hinduism. It is an
important religious ritual in our society. Upanayana
is performed only for Brahmin boys. According to
Vedic culture it is a second birth for
them..Upanayana is a Vedic ritual of Hinduism. It is
an important religious ritual in our society.
Upanayana is performed only for Brahmin boys.
According to Vedic culture it is a second birth for
them. Upanayana marks the beginning of
Bramhacharya.
Marriages are made in heaven, goes the proverb.
Two people start of a new journey towards future,
hand in hand, sharing at each step new outlooks,
responsibilities and love. Marriage is an auspicious
occasion among us. Arranged marriage is still a
common
Bengali marriages are a mixture of pure custom,
tradition and religious beliefs. It is an occasion
where the entire family gather, take part in the
typical Bengali ‘Adda’, regale in fanfare and remain
busy in making the necessary arrangements for the
invitees. Bengali culture must be searched and seen
from the aspect of festivals, literature, drama,
music/dance, cousins, and dress.
Literature

11. The Bengali language boasts a rich literary heritage,
shared with neighboring Bangladesh. West Bengal
has a long tradition in folk literature, evidenced by
the Charyapada, Mangalkavya, Shreekrishna
Kirtana, Thakurmar Jhuli, and stories related to
Gopal Bhar. In the nineteenth and twentieth century,
Bengali literature was modernized in the works of
authors such as Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay,
Michael Madhusudan Dutt, Rabindranath Tagore,
Kazi Nazrul Islam, and Sharat Chandra
Chattopadhyay. Coupled with social reforms led by
Ram Mohan Roy, Swami Vivekananda, and others,
this constituted a major part of the Bengal
Renaissance The middle and latter parts of the 20th
century witnessed the arrival of post-modernism, as
well as literary movements such as those espoused
by the Kallol movement, hungry lists and the little
magazines Jibanananda Das, Bibhutibhushan
Bandopadhyay, Tarashankar Bandopadhyay, Manik
Bandopadhyay, Ashapurna Devi, Shirshendu
Mukhopadhyay, Buddhadeb Guha, Mahashweta
Devi, Samaresh Majumdar, Sanjeev Chattopadhyay
and Sunil Gangopadhyay among others are well-
known writers of the 20th century.
Theater and films
Among other types of theater, West Bengal has a
tradition of folk drama known as jatra Kolkata is the

12. home of the Bengali cinema industry, dubbed "Toll
wood" for Tollygong, where most of the state's film
studios are located. Its long tradition of art
films includes globally acclaimed film directors such
as academy award -winning director Satyajit Roy,
Ritwik ghatak, Mrinal sen, tapan sinha, and
contemporary directors such as Aparna Sen,
Buddhadeb Dasgupta, and Rituparna ghosh.
Cuisine
West Bengal shares its distinctive culinary tradition
with neighboring Bangladesh, and also borrows from
other Indian states. Boiled rice constitutes the staple
food, and is served with a variety of vegetables, fried
as well with curry, thick lentil soups, and fish and
meat preparations of mutton and chicken, and more
rarely pork and beef by certain groups. Sweetmeats
are mostly milk based, and consist of several
delights including roshgulla, sandesh, rasamalai,
gulap jamun, kalo jamun, and chom-chom. Several
other sweet preparations are also available. Bengali
cuisine is rich and varied with the use of many
specialized spices and flavors. Fish is the dominant
source of protein, cultivated in ponds and fished with
nets in the fresh-water Rivers of the Ganges delta.
More than 40 types of mostly freshwater fish are
common, including carp, varieties like rui (rohu),
katla, magur (catfish), chingŗi (prawn or shrimp), as

13. well as shuţki (dried sea fish) are popular. Salt water
fish (not sea fish though) and Ilish (hilsa ilisha) is
very popular among Bengalis, can be called an icon
of Bengali cuisine.
DRESS
Bengali women traditionally wear the sari, the
shalwar kameez and Western attire is gaining
acceptance among younger women. Western-style
dress has greater acceptance among men, although
the traditional dhoti and kurta of men are seen
during festivals. Like any other metropolis, Kolkata
also has an eclectic mix of western wears with a
tinge of ethnic wears. People are found dressed in
jeans along with kurtas, or sari along with an
overcoat.
Festivals of West Bengal
West Bengal is a land of festivals. There is a popular
saying in Bengali ‘‘Baro Mase Tero Parban’: it
literally means thirteen festivals in twelve months.
Almost all festivals of all religions are celebrated
here with equal religious sentiment and fervor. The

14. people of West Bengal strive hard to maintain the
tradition and culture of its land in the festivals they
celebrate. A great number of fairs are also
organized. The most popular festival celebrated in
West Bengal is Durga Puja where all the people
come out in the streets and celebrate this four day
festival. Other festivals celebrated in West Bengal
are Kaali Puja, Basant Panchami, Dushera, Bahi
Dooj, Holi, Mahavir Jayanti, Buddha Jayanti,
Rathyatra and Christmas. Other events which have
almost taken the form of festivals are Rabindra
Jayanti (birthday of Rabindranath Tagore), Birthday
of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Birthday of
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
List of Festivals in West Bengal:
Holi
Birthday of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
Birthday of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
Rabindra Jayanti
Durga Puja
Basant Panchami
Dushera
Bhai Dooj
Holi
Mahavir Jayanti
Buddha Jayanti

15. Rathyatra
Rakhi
Christmas
Bera Utsav
Kolkata Festival
IST may
Folk culture of Bengal
West Bengal
Bengal, a land of fecundity and prosperity embraces
all within her fold. The varied hues of her rich culture
color her songs, music and literature. The numerous
tribes and ethnic groups of Bengal have their own
distinctive folk arts, as varied and beautiful as the
tribes themselves. Bengal’s repertoire of folk songs
with its lyrical appeal and richness, its thematic
diversity and range is a reflection of rural Bengals
creativity and imagination. As a traditional art form,
folk dances of Bengal have gained immense
popularity and recognition over the years. The
dances contain themes that range from ritualistic to
satirical and from allegorical to social. They involve
prayers, offerings, celebrations and odes. Usually
performed during festive seasons, or to mark a
happy occasion, these dances ingrained in folk
culture, reflect local faith, tradition and custom.
These dances encompass a broad spectrum, from

16. invoking the rain Gods for a good harvest to
depicting mythological events. In fact, some religious
festivals are celebrated through songs and dances
that characterize devotion, prayer and worship. The
dance forms that have evolved from the martial arts
depict events from the great Indian epics, the
Ramayana and the Mahabharata. These vocal
musical dances are performed round the year on
various occasions, at fairs and festivals and religious
conglomerations.
Some of the well known folk songs and dance of
west Bengal include:
Baul
Bengal, during the post medieval period, was a
divided and closed society. Ruled by religious
strictures, Hindus and Muslims led cloistered lives,
against which grew a protest that took on the
character of a cult. The community of protesters
could be identified by the robes they wore (a long
saffron-colored cloak called the alkhalla with a
turban of the same color), the one-stringed
instrument or Ektara they always carried and the
bells they tied to their perpetually dancing feet.
Sometimes the alkhalla would be made of different
pieces of cloth patched together. They were the
Bauls, the creators of a phenomenal music tradition
that has survived and grown despite the ravages of

17. time. Apart from the expected bamboo flute, they
developed a variety of musical instruments like the
Premjuri and Dotara, the Khamak and Goopi Jantro,
the Kartal and Dubki among others.
The Bauls are free wanderers. They are detached
from the bondage of society and family. They move
from place to place, making a meager living from the
alms given to them by those who can plumb the
profound depths of their frugality. The Bauls belong
to a sect with a distinctive mystic ideology of their
own and their songs spread the message of peace
and universal brotherhood. The word ‘Baul’ means
mad, the madness that comes out of an
overwhelming love for the Infinite Self. The singers
describe the transience of mundane existence and
the simple means to spiritual upliftment, though the
root of their philosophical theory rests in a deeper
complex psychological consciousness. Bauls are
basically philanthropists, though sometimes satire
from day to day life finds a place in their songs. The
Bauls have played a major role in India’s freedom
struggle when they moved from village to village in
rural Bengal with their songs stirring up a feeling of
nationalism and pride in our motherland among the
illiterate village folk.
Both men and women (Bauls and Baulanis) are a
part of this great music tradition. For a long time, the

18. Baulanis performed with the Bauls and they did not
have any separate identity. But in recent years
Baulanis have carved out their own foothold. The
music of the Bauls had a significant influence on
Rabindranath Tagore. Today the Bauls’ songs can
be heard in many districts of West Bengal as their
footsteps dot the muddy village lanes of Bankura,
Birbhum, Burddhaman, Nadia, Dinajpur and
Murshidabad. Baul Sangeet has always held a
special place. It is basically a folk dialect of Bengali
music and highly spiritual in nature, but far away
from religious dilution. This form of music was
developed by a group of mystic minstrels from
Bengal who are considered to be a syncretism group
with music in their blood. In 2005 they were declared
as the 'Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible
Heritage of Humanity' by UNESCO. Joydeb kenduli
annual fair is considered to be the biggest fair of
Bauls at Birbhum district of west Bengal.
Purulia Chhou dance
The Chhau dance of Purulia district is one of the
most vibrant and colorful art forms. Emerging from
martial practice, the Purulia Chhau is a vigorous
form of dance drama that draws its themes from the
two great Indian epics, The Ramayana and The
Mahabharata.
Masks and elaborate headgear are the ornamental

19. apparels of the Chhau dancers. The dance is
believed to date back to over a century, though the
specific date of its origin cannot be definitely
ascertained. The dance was patronized by the
royalty and landlords of the region. Since its
inception, the members of the Mahato, Kurmi,
Bhumija, Deowa, Bhuama and Dom communities
have sustained this dance form. The dance is an
essential part of the Gajan Festival, a festival that
celebrates the glories of Lord Shiva. Today, the
dance is no longer restricted to one particular time of
the year. The Purulia Chhau dance has been
influenced by many dances of the district, like the
Nata Jawaid Dance, the Mahi Dance and the Nachni
Dance. Even two relatively sophisticated dance
forms like the Jhumur and Bhadra Jhumur have
influenced the Chhau Dance in its tune and rhythm.
The accompanying musical instruments include the
Dhol, Dhamsa and Shenai.
The dance commences with an invocation to Lord
Ganesh. Then the movements follow the nuances of
the story. In a Chhau Dance the fight between good
and evil always culminates in the triumph of good
over destructive evil. The elaborate masks, the
dazzling costumes, the rhythmic drum beatings and
shenai, characterize the Chhau Dance. A distinctive
feature of this dance is the acrobatic use of the body

20. and the intricately crafted masks worn by the
dancers. Powerful movements, immense
concentration and release of energy are the other
features of this dance.
In the villages the performance usually starts
between 9.00 and 10.00 o’clock in the evening. As
the night grows and the dance gains momentum,
there is an air of excitement all around.
Communication between the performers and the
audience is a significant feature of this dance form.
In the olden days, the performance area used to be
illuminated by torches that burnt throughout the
night. Over the years the dance has undergone
evolutions in form, stage craft, lighting and use of
musical instruments.
The masks help the dancers to portray different
characters. There are masks depicting particular
Gods and Goddesses, demons and monsters. There
are also interesting masks for different animals like
the lion, tiger, bear, monkey and so on. These finely-
crafted masks are made by the painter artistes of the
district. With the face covered by a mask, it is left to
the dancers to emote using their bodies. Movements
and postures therefore serve both to portray
emotions and make the dance lively.
One of the most popular presentations of the Purulia
Chhau Dance is Mahisasur Mardini. Oppressed by

21. the tyranny of the Mahisasura, the Gods pray to
Goddess Adyashakti Mahamaya who takes the form
of Goddess Durga, Durga tinashini and after a fierce
battle with Asura, finally slays him.
Santhali Dance
The Santhalis are an integral part of the folklore of
Bengal. The Santhali dance form is seen in the
districts of Birbhum, Bakura, Malda and
Burddhaman. The Santhalis are born dancers.
Dance is an integral part of all festivities of the
Santhali community. Musical accompaniment is
provided by instruments like the Madol, Flute,
Dhamsa, Jhanj, Kartal and occasionally the Shenai.
The songs are typically based on Taal Madol
Chhanda. Dances are usually performed on a full
moon night and are connected with the celebration
of certain rituals. A notable feature of the Santhali
dances is the unison in movement. The dancers
stand in a line holding hands and move to the
rhythm of the madol. Usually the women take part in
the dance and the men provide the musical
accompaniment. This is reflected in the words of a
song, which accompany the Dang Dance, a dance
performed as a part of marriage rituals. The boys
carry two types of drums, the Madal and the Lagra.
They sing to the girls telling them: “Though the
drums are heavy, we carry them around dancing all

22. the time”. The girls reply, “As we hear the beat of
drums, we cannot stand still. We lift our feet and
begin to dance”.
Simplicity of theme and language is what makes the
Santhali dances so endearing. Nowadays, Santhali
men also take part in the dances, most of which are
seasonal and reflect the ritualistic life of the Santhali
community. Each dance form has its own distinctive
rhythm and dance style. Some of the popular
dances include the Sohrai, which is a harvest dance,
inviting all the village folk to come out of their homes
and join in the festivities, and the Dasai, a dance
performed just before the Durga Puja, when the
Santhali men go out to the neighboring villages,
where they sing and dance to collect donations of
rice and alms.
The Santhali dance reflects the beauty of rural
Bengal and adds color to the palette of the folk
culture of the state.
Mundari dance
The members of the Mundari community perform
these dances on different festive occasions, most of
which are related to agriculture. The main festival of
the Mundari community is the Karam Puja. The
dances of the Santhali and Mundari communities are
very close in style and form. The musical

23. instruments used by the two communities are also
common.
Gambhira
Gambhira, a popular annual festival of Malda District
comprises songs and dances closely related to
agriculture and mythology. Performances depict on
one hand, the success, failure or annual production
of crops, and on the other tell stories about
mythological figures. Depending on the theme,
dancers perform solo, duets or in groups, stepping in
tune with the beat of dhaks. Colorful masks
representing Gods and Goddesses like Kalika,
Chamunda, Rama, Hanuman, Shiva and even
animals and birds, make the performances both
charming and entertaining, while retaining the
authenticity of this primitive dance form.
The word Gambhira means ‘Devalaya’ or House of
God. This festival is very closely associated with
Shiva Puja. In the different rituals associated with
Gambhira Puja we find an amalgamation of different
religious thoughts like Shaivism, Vaishnavism,
Buddhism and Shaktiism. In Malda district, where
this festival is immensely popular, Shiva is also
known as Gambhir, and hence the festival
associated with Shiv Puja is known as Gambhira.
The Bengal Drum or Dhak and the Gong or Kanshi
are main musical instruments accompanying this

24. dance. Dancers tune their steps to the different
beats of the Dhak, the intricate patterns of their
dance blending into the pulsating rhythm of festivity
and celebration. Over the years, poverty and social
changes are forcing this dance, which was once
synonymous with grandeur, into oblivion. The
Gambhira festival begins with Agamani songs. The
second day of the festival is called the Choto
Tamasha and the third day the Boro Tamasha.
These days are devoted to Shiva and Gouri Puja.
Other popular dances of the Gambhira tradition
include the Baan Nritya (Arrow Dance) Bak Nritya
(Stork Dance) Tapa Nritya (a dance performed by
the fishermen and fisherwomen using a special kind
of bamboo basket known as the Tapa which is used
for catching the fish) and Kali Nritya (the dance of
Goddess Kalika).
Gajan
Gajan is a very popular festival in some parts of
Bengal. Gajan songs are sung in praise of Lord
Shiva and Goddess Parvati in the Bengali month of
Chaitra. Singing and dancing is an integral part of
this celebration. The dance is performed with great
devotion and austerity. The dancers sometimes
dress up as Hara Parvati and move around the
village, dancing to the accompaniment of the Dhol,
Kanshi and Flute. In Malda and Murshidabad, the

25. celebration is known as Bolan. The dancers undergo
penance with a view to attaining salvation and
becoming free of worldly sufferings. This celebration
is observed during the latter part of the month of
Chaitra. Being a festival of austerity, the dancers
often fast before a performance. The performance of
this Puja involves some harrowing rituals and is
usually performed by the lower castes. The
involvement of the upper castes is limited to bowing
down before the lower castes for just this one time in
the year.
Durga Puja Dhak
Utsav is synonymous with Durga Puja. The Bengali
waits all year round for the arrival of Devi Ma. It is a
time for celebration and festivity, and it is the sound
of the Bengali Drum or the Dhak that joyously
announces her eagerly awaited arrival. It is the
sound of the Dhak that captures the many moods of
the Devi, frenzied, calm, plaintive and nostalgic, and
it is the sound of the Dhak that also tells us it is time
for her to return to her heavenly abode. Every beat
of the dhak is different and each of them holds a
special place in every Bengalis heart.
Dhol Badan
The Dhol (a variation of the Bengali Drum) is an
indispensable musical instrument of the different

26. festivals of Bengal. The musicians dance and play
the Dhol simultaneously.
Bratachari – Raibense
The Raibense dance which is performed by a group
of male dancers is a part of the repertoire of the
‘Bratachari’ tradition of West Bengal. The Raibense
dance of ancient Bengal is a significant and
authentic reminder that the Bengalis were once
renowned for their military prowess. The dance
belongs to a living tradition of the war dances of
ancient Bengal. Rai means royal, kingly and bansh
or bansha means bamboo. This was used by the
infantry soldiers in the middle ages. This vigorous
dance form includes mock fighting and acrobatics. It
speaks volumes about the valor of the people of
ancient Bengal. The Dhol and Kanshi are the main
instruments used. The strident rhythmic notes of the
Dhol and the clanging of the Kanshi generate
courage and daring in the hearts of the dancers. No
songs are sung or verses recited during this martial
dance. Instead, vigorous yells mark the various
sectional movements. The simplest costume, a dhoti
(which is the traditional dress of Bengali men) is
worn with a strip of red cloth signifying spirit and
valor. Shri Gursasaday Dutt, ICS, was responsible
was resurrecting this ancient group dance and
modifying it to its present form.

27. The Bagdi, Bauri and Dom communities of
Burddhaman, Birbhum & Murshidabad districts,
perform the dance.
Stick Dance or Laghur Nritya
The Stick Dance or Laghur Nritya is another
interesting martial folk art form of West Bengal. The
stick, which has from time immemorial been used as
a weapon of self-defense, is used in this dance. The
long sticks not only keep the beat of the dance, but
are also used for the acrobatic feats, which are an
integral part of this dance form.
Ranapa Dance
The Ranapa is another martial form of dance, where
the artistes walk and dance on stilts. As the dancers
display mock fights, they exhibit their skills of
balancing on stilts.
Dhali & Paika Nritya
These two dances are heroic war dances and are
performed by a group of dancers. The dances are
evocative of the valor and prowess of the people
who took part in the wars.
The Dhali Dance, as the name implies, is the Shield
Dance. It was the war dance of the Dhali (Shield
man) troupes in the armies of the ancient potentates
of Bengal. In the Dhali Dance, the spectacular

28. movements are formal and are more in the nature of
athletic exercises. It is a dance of high aesthetic
value by virtue of its intricate maneuvers and
ordered formations. Being a war dance, it is not
accompanied by any songs. This dance form
originated and flowered during the reign of Raja
Pratapaditya of Jossore. After winning a battle, the
fatigued and exhausted solders starting dancing with
swords and shields in the cantonment to inspire
them for the next war. It is believed that Raja
Pratapaditya maintained an army of highly skilled
Dhali soldiers. Over the years, the dance form has
been modified extending to women dancers as well.
Natua Dance
Natua, an ancient dance form, features in the Shiv
Puranas. The word Natua may have been derived
from the name of Lord Nataraj. It is believed that
Nandi and Vringi, the associates of Lord Shiva were
the first to perform this dance during the time of
Shiva’s marriage with Durga. This highly acrobatic
dance form involves many tricks with fire and is
usually accompanied by the beats of a Jai Dhak, the
instrument which is said to have been created by
Lord Shiva. The dance is performed during the
Charak Puja and occasionally during marriages.
Kirtan Dance songs

29. The Kirtan music is the most widely practiced folk
music (vocal and dance) form of Bengal. The
democratic nature of the dance, which unites people
of the whole village, irrespective of their caste or
social standing is its most striking feature. The
dance is performed to the accompaniment of the
Dhol and Mridanga. The great spiritual leader, Shri
Chaitanya Dev gave the dance a national character.
Rabha Dances
The women of the Rabha Community perform the
Rabha Dances, popular in the Northern part of
Bengal. The men provide the musical
accompaniment, playing the Barangshi (a bamboo
flute), Hem (a drum with two faces), Dandi &
Barding, (idiophones made from bamboo) and
Karnal (a rare tribal instrument made of bamboo and
buffalo horn). The Rabha women have different
dances for different occasions, like the “Fai Nang
Ning Mein” or Welcome Dance, the “Braisar Pridan”
or New Year’s Dance and “Larai Lunge” or War
Dance. The dancers depict the daily life of the
community and embody the merriment that enlivens
all their festivals.
Chaibari Nritya
The Chaibari Nritya, as the name suggests, is a
dance mastered by the tea garden workers of

30. Northern Bengal. The dancers, with their intricate
costumes and jewelers make for a picture perfect
sight in the breathtaking backdrop of the verdant tea
gardens. The melodious music adds to the charm
and beauty of the dance..
Domphu Nritya
The Domphu is a musical instrument used by the
Nepali community settled in North Bengal. The
Domphu Nritya takes its name from this traditional
instrument. The dances give expression to the joys,
hopes and aspirations of the community through this
colorful folk dance.
Kukri Nritya
TheKukri Nritya, also from North Bengal, is
performed by the girls of the community, as they
ceremoniously hand over their traditional weapon,
the Kukri, to their brothers, before they set off for the
war.
Mech Dance
The Mech Dance is another popular dance form of
North Bengal, the land of forests, mountains and
turbulent rivers. In this dance form, which originated
in Jalpaiguri district, we see and feel the inner
rhythm which pervades the simple life of the tribal
people living in harmony with nature. There are

31. several variations of the Mech Dance.
Bagroomba is performed by the Mech women at
spring festivals, the colorful costumes used by the
dancers are evocative of butterflies.
Chal Jhumgre Gele Nai is a war dance which is
rhythmic and martial in character.
In the Mesa Glang Nai dance, performed by the
Mech women, the youth of the community is
exhorted to be industrious and hardworking. The
young members of the community are reminded that
they must always retain the purity of their minds and
bodies. This dance is performed as the women pluck
flowers for the ‘Kherai Puja’. They carry small bowls
in their hand to collect the flowers.
Rajbanshi Dance
The Rajbanshi is one of the many tribes of North
Bengal. The lives of the people belonging to the
Rajbanshi tribe revolve around the Teesta River,
which they worship as a Goddess. The Teesta flows
down the snow-capped peaks of Darjeeling, through
the dense forests of Jalpaiguri. It then charts a
turbulent course through the lush scenery of
Coochbehar, finally meeting the Brahmaputra River
in Bangladesh. This graceful dance is performed to
invoke the blessings of the River Goddess. The
Dhol, Kanshi, Kartal and Mukhabanshi are the

32. instruments that accompany this invocatory dance.
Jhumur Dance
The Jhumur songs and dance is one of the liveliest
musical forms of Purulia district of west Bengal, this
is an elaborate dance, choreographed and
performed by professional artistes. Here lies its
essential difference with forms like the Santhali
Dance. The dance is performed by girls while the
boys play the Dhol and Madol. This entertaining
dance is performed on stage and during road shows.
Heavy make-up and ornate jewelers form part of the
costume of the Jhumur dancers. This secular dance
form is accompanied by fast-paced and cheerful
Jhumur songs.
The sensuous Nachni is an offshoot of the Jhumur
Dance, depicting the love of Radha (Nachni) and
Krishna (Rasik).
Bhadu
As the rains pour down on the red earth of Bengal,
voices rise in praise of Bhadreswari Ma, invoking her
blessings for a good harvest. Originating from the
districts of Bakura, Purulia, West Burddhaman and
Birbhum, the Bhadu Dance is performed mainly
during the Monsoon. The dance draws its name
from the Bengali month of Bhadra, when the
monsoon showers drench the earth. During the

33. festival, Bhadreswari or Bhadu (goddess of crops) is
invoked by the villagers, seeking her blessings for
an abundant harvest. The women of the community,
both married and unmarried perform the Bhadu
Dance. The unmarried girls pray for a loving
husband while the married women pray to Mother
Earth to be blessed with children.
The Bhadu festival is also celebrated in Chota
Nagpur, where it is known as ‘Karam Parab’.
Tushu
When we think of harvest songs in Bengali folk
culture, we think of Tushu. Tushu songs, originating
from the districts of Bakura, Purulia & Midnapore
have similar features. The daily lives and
relationships of the villagers form the theme of this
genre of songs. Family rows between rival co-wives
and between wives and their sisters-in-law find a
place in Tushu songs.
Tushu songs being associated with harvesting
always refer to the householder’s wealth – ‘ghee of
32 cows’, ‘rice of fine paddy’, ‘pots of ghee and gur’
are some of the expressions used. The villagers
pray to the Folk Goddess Tushu for prosperity. They
ask for the Goddess’s blessings so that their homes
and the homes of their sons may overflow with
wealth.

34. Dhamail
Dhamail is a folk dance performed by the married
women of rural Bengal. The women arrange
themselves in a circle, around a certain object of
prayer, clapping to the beats of the song. While
praying to the Sun God, a lit diya, symbolizing the
sun, is kept at the centre. The clapping brings a
rhythmic element into the otherwise slow-paced
dance.
Nabanna
Nabanna is a ritualistic dance performed after the
autumn harvest. It is part of a religious ceremony
associated with cultivation and harvesting. The
dance is an expression of the happiness of the
farmers’ families after a successful harvest. A
special religious ceremony is held on the day the
new rice is eaten.
Noila Broto
Farming is an integral part of the lives of villagers in
rural Bengal. After a day’s toil, the villagers often
sing and dance as a welcome break from their daily
routine of labor and hard work. In most parts of rural
India, agriculture is still dependant on the rains.
Noila Broto is a traditional ode to the Rain Goddess,
“Megh Kanya”. This prayer dance, involving rituals
and offerings, celebrates the arrival of the first

35. monsoon clouds. The farmers and their wives pray
for a good monsoon that will bring forth an abundant
harvest of crop, ushering in prosperity and
happiness.
Baromashya
The Bengali community is known for the warm
hospitality it extends to visitors. When a guest
arrives unannounced at a Bengali home, he is
greeted warmly and made to feel welcome, while the
host makes every effort to ensure a comfortable
stay. The Baromashya songs and dances describe
this endearing quality of the simple folk of rural
Bengal.
Bou Nritya
This is a part of the traditional Badhubaran
ceremony of Srihatta. Bou Nritya enacts the custom
of asking a new bride to dance; a process of helping
her shed her inhibitions. The dancers wear
ornaments typical of this region and drape the sari in
a different way. The distinguishing feature of this
dance is that the dancers never lift their feet off the
ground during the entire performance. Through this
dance of initiation, the new bride is welcomed into
her new family.
Ganga Baidya

36. Ganga Baidya is a dance of the snake charmers or
Bedes of Bengal. The dance gives expression to the
daily lives, customs, hopes and aspirations as well
as the pains and tribulations of this sect of people of
rural Bengal. The Bedes were a nomadic tribe who
moved from place to place, earning their living by
singing their songs and displaying acrobatic tricks –
with fire, knives, sticks and ropes. These
worshippers of Ma Manasha use snakes for a variety
of tricks. Through their songs and dances, the
fearless Bedes sold snake venom and talismans to
the villagers, promising them that these would keep
evil away.
Lathi Dance
This is another notable form of folk dance which has
a different art of expression. This dance is
performed to express different situations of human
life like remorse, celebration, anger, pain or love.
The dance is performed in the first ten days of the
Muslim festival of Muharram.
Music of West Bengal
The richness of Bengali culture also reflects in the
music that expresses the feeling of love, sadness,
anxiety, motivation, devotion or spirituality. The
music of West Bengal also refers as Bangla
Sangeet. Some of the popular Music of Bengal are:

37. Classical Bangla Music
The classical music of West Bengal is highly inspired
by the other forms of Indian classical music. The
influence of Karnataka music has significant
influence on the classical music of Bengal. Like
other classical forms of music of this place also
based on the musical modes called ‘Ragas’.
Themes of classical music have its root in Jaydev's
Gitagovindam, Rabindra-Sangeet, Shyama-
Sangeet, Mangalgiti and Padavali kirtan.
Rabindra Sangeet
This is one of the most popular kinds of Bangla
music which was created by the great poet and the
Noble Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. These songs
are regarded as cultural treasures of Bengal
Artists/painters of West Bengal
The Bengal School of Art commonly referred
as Bengal School was an influential art movement
and a style of painting that originated in Bengal,
primarily Kolkata and Shantiniketan, and flourished
throughout India during the British Raj in the early
20th century. Also known as 'Indian style of painting'
in its early days, it was associated with Indian
nationalism (swadeshi) and led by Abanindranath
Tagore (1871-1951), but was also promoted and
supported by British arts administrators like E.B

38. Havell the principal of the Government Collage of
arts Kolkata from 1896; eventually it led to the
development of the modern Indian painting.
However Bengal continues to produce some of the
best artists of modern India. Among them the best
known artists of present day Bengal are Ganesh
Pyne, Manishi Dey, Nirmal Dutta, Nilima Dutta,
Jahar Dasgupta, Bikash Bhattacharya Sudip Roy,
Devajyoti Ray and Paresh Maiti
Architecture of Bengal
The Bengal region, which includes the Republic of
Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal,
has many architectural relics and
monuments/temples dating back thousands of
years.
Bengal, a land of natural and cultural heritage.
Temples of West Bengal an amazing
architectures;
1 Bakranath Temple at Bakreswar near Siuri in
West Bengal: Built in the Oriyan style, the large
temple is the most important of the several shrines in
Bakreswar. Hot springs are another feature of
interest in this town.
2 Balrampur Jain Temple at Balrampur near
Purulia in West Bengal

39. 3 Bansuli Temple at Nannur near Bolpur in West
Bengal: The temple site is like a mound, and the
lowest level dates back to the Gupta period.
4 Barakar Temples at Barakar near Asansol in
West Bengal: Four stone temples in the North Indian
Rekha style built in the 8th through the 15th century.
5 Bargabhima Temple at Tamluk near Medinipur in
West Bengal: Large Temple to Shakti influenced by
the Oriyan architecture style displaying interesting
engineering and architectural features.
6 Bhagwati Temple at Gourangpur near Asansol
in West Bengal: A beautiful brick temple over 150
years old now deserted.
7 Brindabanchandra Temple at Guptipara near
Calcutta (Hooghly) in West Bengal: The biggest in
the group of temples in Guptipara.
8 Chaitanyadev Temple at Guptipara near
Calcutta (Hooghly) in West Bengal: 17th century
temple in the Bengali style of architecture.
9 Chinese Temple at Achipur near Calcutta in
West Bengal: Chinese temple with inscriptions
dating back to the 18th century.
10 Dakshineswar Kali Temple at Calcutta in West
Bengal: Famous 19th century Kali temple associated
with Ramakrishna.

40. 11 Dhirdham Temple at Darjeeling in West Bengal:
Built along the lines of the Pasupathinath temple in
Nepal.
12 Dugdheshwar Shiva Temple at Amaragarh near
Burddhaman in West Bengal
13 Ekteswara Temple at Ekteswara near Bakura in
West Bengal: Famous Shiva temple that looks like a
massive solid pillar near the river Dwarkeshwar.
14 Hanseswari Temple at Bansberia near Calcutta
in West Bengal: Dates back to the 19th century with
ornate arches.
15 Jagannath Temple at Serampore near Calcutta
in West Bengal: Large and ancient Jagannath
temple famous for its rath yatra second only to Puri.
16 Jain remains at Pakbira near Bara Bazar
(Purulia) in West Bengal: Remains of numerous
temples and images some about 2000 years old.
17 Jain Temple Ruins at Boram near Jaipur in
West Bengal: Ruins of three identical Jain temples
18 Jain Temples at Dulmi near Purulia in West
Bengal
19 Jain Temples at Deoli near Purulia in West
Bengal: Group of Jain temples, the largest of which
has an image of Arhanath worshipped by Hindus as
well.

41. 20 Jain temples and ruins at Chharra near Purulia
in West Bengal: Old temples and ruins of Jain origin.
21 Jateshwarnath Temple at Mahanad near
Calcutta (Hooghly) in West Bengal: A center for
Shiva and Shakti worship.
22 Jaya Deva Temple at Kenduli near Bolpur in
West Bengal: Well known temple to Radha and
Krishna dating back to the 12th century - current
structure over 200 years old.
23 Jor Bangala Temple at Bishnupur near Bakura
in West Bengal: Specimen of remarkable sculpture
and architecture.
24 Kalighat Temple at Calcutta in West Bengal:
200 year old temple from which Calcutta is said to
take its name.
25 Kalna Shiva Temples at Kalna in West Bengal:
A group of 108 Shiva temples in concentric circles.
26 Kalyaneshwari Temple at Barakar near
Asansol in West Bengal: This is a 500 year old
temple a great center for Shakti worship.
27 Kanak Durga Temple at Chikligarh near
Medinipur in West Bengal
28 Kapil Muni Temple at Sagar Island near
Diamond Harbor in West Bengal: Associated with
the mythological descent of the Ganges from the

42. heavens (into the sea) and a site held in great
reverence.
29 Kiriteshwari Temple at Murhsidabad near
Murshidbad in West Bengal: Regarded as one of the
Shakthi Peeths this was once a center of great
importance.
30 Krishnachandra Temple at Guptipara near
Calcutta (Hooghly) in West Bengal: Located along
with the Chaitanyadev, Ramachandra and
Brindabanchandra temples.
31 Krishnarjun Temple at Tamluk near Medinipur
in West Bengal: Ancient temple - current structure
built 400 years ago.
32 Lalji Temple at Chandrakona near Medinipur in
West Bengal: 16th century temple built in Bengali
style, enclosed by a high wall with a gateway.
33 Malleswar Temple at Chandrakona near
Medinipur in West Bengal: 60 feet high temple
dating back to the 18th century, with an even older
shrine.
34 Mankeshwar Mahadev Temple at
Amaragarh near Burddhaman in West Bengal
35 Radha Kanta Jiu Temple at Rajbalhat near
Calcutta (Hooghly) in West Bengal: A fine specimen
of Bengali architecture dating back to the 18th

43. century.
36 Ramachandra Temple at Guptipara near
Calcutta (Hooghly) in West Bengal: Fine red colored
brick temple with a curved roof, with brick panels
carved with fine specimen of Bengali art.
37 Sarva Mangala Devi Temple at Garbeta near
Medinipur in West Bengal: 16th-17th century temple
in the Oriyan style dedicated to Devi along with other
temples within the fort.
38 Sheetalnath Jain Temple at Calcutta in West
Bengal: 19th century temple - an ornate mass of
mirrors, colored stones and glass mosaics.
39 Shivakhya Devi Temple at Amaragarh near
Burddhaman in West Bengal
40 Sidheswara Temple at Bahulara near Onda in
West Bengal: Ancient Shiva temple in the Oriyan
style with fine ornamentation depicting replicas of
the temple.
41 Suratheshwar Temple at Supur near Bolpur in
West Bengal
42 Swayambhava Kali Temple at Bansberia near
Calcutta (Hooghly) in West Bengal: Located near the
Vishnu temple, this temple dates back to the 18th
century.
43 Syamaleswar Temple at Dantan in West

44. Bengal: Ancient temple to Shiva in this town where
there are 2 large tanks - the Bidyadhar and
Sarasankha.
44 Tarakeshwar Temple at Tarakeshwar near
Calcutta (Hooghly) in West Bengal: A very well
known temple in the Bengali style of architecture
attracting scores of pilgrims.
45 Temple Ruins at Chandrakona at Chandrakon
near Medinipur in West Bengal: Ruins of several
Oriyan styled temples now abandoned.
West Bengal terra cotta temple architecture
Although there is plenty of evidence of human
settlement in Bengal from prehistoric times but there
are regrettable dearth of evidence. This is because
of the soil structure of Bengal The community being
spread on the alluvial plain of the mighty rivers of
Ganges, Brahmaputra the whole region is
susceptible to flood and its resulting unsettling
geographical pattern. The only somewhat undulated
regions being the western Chota Nagpur and the
Himalayan ridges of east and the north. This soil
structure is reflected in the building material chosen
by the Bengali temple designers. Mainly the terra
cotta temples with elaborate surface decorations
and lettering written in nagari alphabets. The roof

45. structure also has been the effect of the heavy
rainfall that the river delta and the Tarai experiences
throughout the monsoon, it has Ganges been curved
effectively in most cases to get rid of the huge
amount of water as soon as possible and thereby
increasing the lifetime of the structure. The
architectural evidence generally has been from the
Gupta Empire period onwards. There have been
recent discoveries of plaques from the times of
Chandraketugarh and mahasthangarh throwing
additional light on the architectural styles of sunga
and gupta periods. Apart from the Pahlavi and
Phamsana influence on the architectural style it is
also closely connected to the Bhanja style of
temples from mayurbhanj district of Orissa But the
temples of south Bengal is a distinction due to its
roofing style so unique and closely related to the
paddy roofed traditional building style of rural
Bengal. Bishnupur in the southern district Bakura of
West Bengal has a remarkable set of such temples
which being built from the Malla dynasty are
examples of this style. Most of these temples are
covered on the outer surface with terra cotta reliefs
which contains plenty of secular materials making
these important to reconstruct the social structure
from these times.
The temple structures contain gabled roofs which

46. are colloquially called the chala, For example a
gabled roof with an eight sided pyramid structured
roof with be called "ath chala" or literally the eight
faces of the roof. And frequently there is more than
one tower in the temple building. These are built of
laterite and brick bringing them at the mercy of
severe weather conditions of southern Bengal
.Dakshineswar Kali Temple is one example of the
Bhanja style while the additional small temples of
Shiva along the river bank are example of southern
Bengal roof style though in much smaller dimension.
Bankura district is a land of temples. There are more
historical temples inBishnupur than in any other pla
ce in West Bengal. There are several aspects oftem
ple art, architecture and construction that need to be
considered.
Almost all temples in Bishnupur town are Vaishnavit
e, but many of those scatteredin different areas of th
e district spread outside the town are Shaivite, with t
races ofJainism and Buddhism. While some of the ol
der temples were built of laterite, thearea has numer
ous brick built temples, some with exquisite terra cott
a carvings.Terra cotta carvings are also found in so
me temples outside the district, as forexample at joy
deb kenduli or Antpur, but the art of terra cotta carvi
ngs seems tohave flourished with the rise of the Raj
as of Bishnupurand virtually died out withthe fading

47. of their supremacy. Some of the earlier temples built
by the BardhamanRaj have terra cotta carvings, pos
sibly by artisans from Bankura district, but by thetime
Rani Rashmoni decided to construct the Dakhinswa
r kali temple, in the mid-
nineteenth century, the art of terra cotta carvings ha
d obviously faded out.
Terra
cotta Temples are the pride of Bishnupur, a small vill
age in Bankura Districtof West Bengal. The Malla kin
gs of the 16th-
18th centuries constructed thesetemples, about 30 i
n all, in their devotion to Lord Krishna. This architect
ure
betrays influences of various ancient Indian styles as
well as of Mughal andPersian designs. Ras-
Manch, Shyamrai, Jor-Bangla, and Radha-
Shyam are someof the most important of the Terrac
ota Temples. The basic building material of
these temples is tiles made from the local red soil. T
he terracota tiles aredecorated with filigreed carving
s that have Mughal, Persian or Indian lineage.
Attraction of Bakura bishnupur
Malleshwar Temple: Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it is
the oldest temple in Bishnupur.
Rasmancha: Built in the late 16th century by King

48. Bir Hambir, the temple has an unusual elongated
paramedical tower, surrounded by hut-shaped
turrets. Idols were kept here for public worship
during Ras-utsav.
Pancha Ratna Temple of Shyam Raya: Built in
1643 AD by King Raghunath Singha. The walls are
richly decorated with terracotta carvings featuring
different aspects of Lord Krishna’s life.
Jorebangla Temple of Keshta Raya: Built by King
Raghunath Singha Dev II in 1655 AD, the ornate
terracotta carvings are set off by the roof in the
classic chala style of typical Bengal architecture.
Madanmohan Temple: King Durjana Singh Deva
built the temple in 1694 AD in the ekaratna style. It is
a square flat-roofed building with carved cornices,
surmounted by a pinnacle. Impressive carvings on
the walls depict scenes from the Ramayana,
Mahabharata and the Puranas.
Kalachand Temple: It is of ekratna style and is on
the bank of Lal-bandh.
Mukutmonipur: Mukutmonipur is 55Km away from
Bakura (a 2 hours drive) District Head Quarters and
is situated at the confluence of river Kangsabati and
Kumari. Green forests and hillocks surround the vast
bluish tract of water. The undulating terrain along the
southern edge of the Kangsabati Water Reservoir

49. extends as a three-dimensional necklace of green
and terracotta color. Tourists flock here for its
stunning natural beauty.
Jhilimili: Jhilimili is situated 70 Km away from
Bakura Town. It is a beautiful, undisturbed dense
natural forest. The road from Ranibund to Jhilimili
offers a wonderful view of spectacular forests on
varying heights on both sides, finally reaching
Jhilimili, which is mounted on the top of a hillock..
The sparkle of micaceous soil adds to the beauty of
the environment.
Susunia: Susunia hill, 50 km from Bishnupur, is
quite popular as a trekking spot. It is also an
important tourist spot for people who visit the place
to see "Dhara" (a natural spring) and Silialipi.
Excavations have revealed inscriptions dating back
to the 4th century AD.
Joyrambati, 44 km from Bishnupur, the birthplace of
Sree Maa Sarada Devi, is a holy town. The famous
temple of Singha Bahani Devi is a special attraction.
Mayerepukur, in front of the residential house of Ma-
Sarada is also a sight worth visiting.
Sutan Forest: Bakura is also popular for beautiful
Tourist Spots like Sutan, Near Ranibandh & Eco-
Park, and Near Taldangra, covered with dense
forest, decorated with small lakes and thrilling with
wild animals. Biharinath Hill: Biharinath, situated in

50. the extreme northwest area of the district, 57 km
away from Bakura town, thought to be an ancient
centre of Jainism. The height of the hill is 448 m is
the highest hill in Bakura. Biharinath is very rich in
flora and fauna.
Hyena, Pangolin, Chameleon, Racaphorus, though
few in number, are still found here.
The place is known for its natural beauty.
Ganga
The fisherman community of rural Bengal prays to
Ganga Devi in the month of Chaitra. Through their
prayers and dances, they appease the Goddess, so
that she bestows blessings on them throughout the
year. According to great philosopher Aristotle all
source of great human
world knowledge and wisdom has come from the
banks of holy Ganges river of India.
Ganga Heritage Cruise West Bengal
The river Ganga passing through the state of West
Bengal in India has been an important trade route
from time immemorial. It is through this route trade
was conducted with the early civilizations. Later
when European colonial powers came through this

51. river they established trade posts along the river.
One can also find important places of pre colonial
times also. The aim of the Ganga Heritage Cruise,
West Bengal is to discover these historical places
along with natural historical sites. The whole Ganga
Heritage Cruise, West Bengal stretches 260 km from
Howrah to Murshidabad spanning seven districts
with picturesque rural Bengal. The cruise is
conducted by a number of cruise launches where
staying and fooding facilities are well provided for.
The starting point is the town of Murshidabad the
erstwhile capital of Bengal. The town was founded
by Nawab Murshid Quli Khan and its prosperity was
its silk center. With this silk trade came the
European traders but after the Battle of Plassey in
1757 the British founded the British colonial empire.
One of the important historical landmarks is Hazar
Duari named after the thousand doors of the palace
though not all are real. It is now a museum
displaying rare books, military weapons, paintings,
royal artifacts etc. Other places are Katra Mosque
housing the tomb of the founding Nawab,
Jorebangla a four terra-cotta temple complex and
other historic places.
Next place is Mayapur the birth place of Shri
Chaitanya who started Vaishnavism five centuries
ago and Nabadwip where Shri Chaitanya

52. propounded the Vaishnavism philosophy in 1485.
Then comes the town of Kalna with its famous 108
Shivlinga temples build by the Maharaja of Burdwan
in 1809. You can also visit the beautiful terracotta
temple of Pratapeswar temple built in 1849.Other
important sites are Shyamsunder Bati, Krishna
Chandraji temple, Amli Briksha and Pancha Bimsati
temple.
Next comes the city of Chinsura the former Dutch
trading post established in 1656. Discover the Dutch
colonial heritage. After that visiting the city of
Chandernagore, the erstwhile French settlement
feels like being transported to the 16th century with
its beautiful esplanade by the river with chairs. One
can visit the house of Dupleix, the French Governor,
the police headquarters and the French Institute.
And lastly the Ganga Heritage Cruise, West Bengal
stops at Belur the foundation of Ramkrishna Mission
and a site for an equally imposing temple.
Go onboard the Ganga Heritage Cruise, West
Bengal which takes you back in time and discover
each stages of cultural, historical heritage of Bengal
in a comfortable journey through the romantic river
Ganga. An unforgettable experience! An incredible
amazing Bengal.

53. Climate and geography of west Bengal
The eastern state of West Bengal experiences a
tropical type of climate due to its geographical
location. The state has diversity in physiographic as
it touches the Himalayas in the north and is
bordered by the Bay of Bengal in south. The
northern districts remain cold throughout the year
and for that reason, the hill stations are favored by
the tourists especially during the summer months.
The climate of West Bengal is full of variation. The
seasons in West Bengal can be broadly categorized
into summer, winter, autumn and rainy seasons. The
summer months in West Bengal span from mid of
March to mid of June. During this time, the average
temperature is 38 degree to 45 degree.
The monsoon season in West Bengal is much
awaited as the landscape turns lush green after the
monsoon showers. By the middle of June, monsoon
approaches the state and it is influenced by the
winds blowing from Bay of Bengal. The autumn
season in West Bengal is welcomed with a number
of festive occasions. From September the festive
mood commences and it is during this cool and
pleasant climate, the festival of Durga Puja is
celebrated in West Bengal.
During the winter season, the weather of West

54. Bengal remains very pleasant. The state
experiences a mild cold climate while the
temperature drops very low in the hilly region of
West Bengal. From about mid November, winter
approaches West Bengal and temperature rises not
before the middle of February. The temperature
varies around 15 degree in these cold months.
The Geography of West Bengal is varied. The
state of West Bengal is situated in the eastern part
of India. On the east lies Bangladesh. Sikkim and
Bhutan lie on the north of West Bengal. The state of
Assam is situated on the north east of West Bengal.
Bihar and Jharkhand is situated on the western side
of the state. The geographical location of the state is
23 degree North latitude and 88 degree East
longitude.
As per details from Census 2011, West Bengal has
population of 9.13 Crore, an increase from figure of
8.02 Crore in 2001 census. Total population of West
Bengal as per 2011 census is 91,347,736 of which
male and female are 46,927,389 and 44,420,347
respectively. In 2001, total population was
80,176,197 in which males were 41,465,985 while
females were 38,710,212. he total area of West
Bengal is 88,752 sq
The population density of West Bengal per square

55. kilometer is 904. Sex Ratio in West Bengal is 947
i.e. for each 1000 male, which is below national
average of 940 as per census 2011. In 2001, the sex
ratio of female was 934 per 1000 males in West
Bengal.. The population of West Bengal is
predominated by the Bengali population. But
immigration from different states of India has
enriched the population diversity of West Bengal.
The topography of the state also varies from region
to region. The northern part of West Bengal touches
the Himalayan range. The topography of West
Bengal alters as the Indo-Gangetic plain begins. The
Gangetic plain is rich in alluvial soil and thus is very
fertile. This kind of soil is suitable for agriculture.
Further south, the deltaic plain or the Sunderban
region is a very important spot for tourism in West
Bengal.
The climate of West Bengal is full of variation. The
state experiences a tropical type of climate. The
seasons in West Bengal can be broadly categorized
into summer, rainy, autumn and winter seasons.
Demography
According to the provisional results of 2011 national
census, West Bengal is the fourth most populous
state in India with a population of 91,347,736 (7.55%

56. of India's population). Majority of the population
comprises Bengali people. Marawaris, Behari and
Oriya minorities are scattered throughout the state.
Communities of Sherpa’s and ethnic Tibetans can
be found in
Darjeeling Himalayan hill region .Darjeeling district
has a large number of Gurkha people of Nepalese
origin. West Bengal is home to indigenous tribal
Adivasis such as Santhalis, Kol, Koch-Rajbonshi
and Toto tribe There are a small number of ethnic
minorities primarily in the state capital, including
Chinese, Tamils, Gujarati, Anglo Indians,
Armenians, punjabis,and parsis. India's sole chaina
town is in eastern Kolkata
Religions in West Bengal
Religion
Percent
Hindu
72.5%
Muslim
25.2%
Others

57. 2.3%
The official language is Bengali and English. Nepali
is the official language in three subdivisions of.
Darjeeling district .As of 2001, in descending order
of number of speakers, the languages of the state
are: Bengali, Hindi, Santali, Urdu Nepali, and .Oriya
Languages such as Rajbangsi and Ho are used in
some parts of the state.
As of 2001, Hinduism is the principal religion at
72.5% of the total population, while Muslims
comprise 25.2% of the total population, being the
second-largest community as also the largest
minority group; Sikhism Christianity and other
religions make up the remainder. The state
contributes 7.8% of India's population. The state's
2001–2011 decennial growth rates was 13.93%,
lower than 1991–2001 growth rate of 17.8%, and
also lower than the national rate of 17.64%. The
gender ratio is 947 females per 1000 males. As of
2011, West Bengal has a population density of
1,029 inhabitants per square kilometer (2,670 /sq
mi) making it the second-most densely populated
state in India, after Bihar.
The literacy rate is 77.08%, higher than the national
rate of 74.04%.Data of 1995–1999 showed the life
expectancy in the state was 63.4 years, higher than
the national value of 61.7 years. About 72% of

58. people live in rural areas. The proportion of people
living below the poverty line in 1999–2000 was
31.9% Scheduled Castes and Tribes form 28.6%
and 5.8% of the population respectively in rural
areas, and 19.9% and 1.5% respectively in urban
areas. A study conducted in three districts of West
Bengal found that accessing private health services
to treat illness had a catastrophic impact on
households. This indicates the value of public
provision of health services to mitigate against
poverty and the impact of illness on poor
households.
The crime rate in the state in 2004 was 82.6 per
100,000, which was half of the national average
.This is the fourth-lowest crime rate among the 32
India. However, the state reported the highest rate of
Special and Local Laws (SLL) crimes. In reported
crimes against women, the state showed a crime
rate of 7.1 compared to the national rate of 14.1.
Some estimates state that there are more than
60,000 brothel-based women and girls in prostitution
in Kolkata. The population of prostitutes in
sonagachi constitutes mainly of a Nepalese, Indians
and BANGLADESHI. Some sources estimate there
are 60,000 women in the brothels of Kolkata. The
largest prostitution area in city is SONAGACHI .West
Bengal was the first Indian state to constitute a

59. Human Rights Commission of its own
Flora and fauna
Flora and Fauna of West Bengal is rich in flora and
fauna and has diverse ecosystems because of its
varying terrain from the high altitudes to the sea
level plains. Protected forests cover 4% of the state
area. There are 15 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 5 National
Parks and 2 Tiger Reserves.
The Sunder ban, in south Bengal, is home to the
famous Tiger Project – a conservatory effort to save
the Bengal tigers from extinction. It is an UNESCO
world heritage site. Another similar project exists in
Buxa in north Bengal. Wildlife includes the Indian
one horned rhinoceros, Indian elephants, deer,
bison, leopards, gaur, crocodiles and others. The
state is also rich in bird life. Migratory birds come to
the state during the winter months.
Conclusion
; Bengali culture and its excellence
Historically Bengal has a very rich cultural heritage.
Bengal is, indeed, noted for its rich culture in songs,
music, drama, dances and language. Its indigenous
style of music, art, dance and drama is very rich.
Bengali is one of the oldest languages in the world.
According to statistics, jointly with Spanish, Bengali

60. is the fourth largest language group in the world,
only surpassed by Chinese, English and Hindi It is
the first of Indian languages to develop western style
secular fiction and drama. It originated from the
Indo-Aryan family of languages in the 7th century,
thus making it comparable to English, French and
German. Bengali language is much older than Hindi
Urdu and even Portuguese, Spanish and many other
established modern languages.
In the middle ages, Bengali was already a well-
established language with popular poets like
Bidyapati, Chandidas, Daulat Kazi and Alawol. It
was during this period of middle ages that the
famous Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata
were translated in lyric forms from Sanskrit into
Bengali by Krittibas and Kashiram Das respectively.
This period also saw a rich output of romantic songs,
poems and dance centering on the love of Radha
and Krishna. These were simply superb in their
wording, rhythm and style.
However, things started changing rapidly about 200
years ago. With the emergence of some great
personalities like Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar (1820-
91), Michael Madhusudan Datta (1824-73) and
Bankim Chatterjee (1838-94) Bengali language and
literature really got a new life. About one hundred
and forty years ago came the famous Bengali poet

61. Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)
and then rebel Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam appeared in
1899. These two great Bengali poets have actually
initiated a new era for Bengali language and culture.
Tagore represented this new era of cultural
modernization; others followed him almost as
disciples. Palli Kabi Jasimuddin was also one of
them. Tagore was urban, sophisticated and
universal; Nazrul exhibited his spirit of protest and
opposition to all social injustice, discrimination,
oppression and exploitation while Jasimuddin vastly
remained rural and provincial in his approach. Their
common bond was their liberal outlook for secular
Bengali culture.
Music, songs, drama and dances are also part of
rich Bengali culture and there are three mainstreams
of this Bengali Culture: folk, modern and classical.
Folk music mainly based is rural Bengal. It has been
nurtured by the village singers, musicians, actors
and dancers. With sweet melodies, touching words
of love, tragedy and devotion, folk music is the most
popular form of music in all over Bengal. The best
known forms of folk music are bhatiali, Baul,
bhawaia, jaari, marfati and murshidi. Lalan Fakir,
Hasan Raja, Nirmalendu Chowdhury, Abbasuddin
Ahmed, Shachin Dev Burman, Purnadas Baul,
Sadhan Bairagi and Abdul Halim are some of the

62. greatest names in Bengali folk music.
On the other hand, the pioneers of modern Bengali
music were, indeed, the world famous Nobel
Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore and the rebel
poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. Tagore initiated a blend of
East and West and Nazrul experimented with the
synthesis of folk and Middle Eastern strains.
Bengal also shares the rich tradition of classical
music of the subcontinent. Indeed, Bengal has
produced many musicians and maestros of
international repute like Ustad Alauddin Khan, Ustad
Ali Akbar Khan, Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty and Pandit
Ravi Shankar who have successfully made sitar and
sarode popular all over the world.
Before I conclude let me describe a few words about
the musical instruments which are also playing vital
roles to promote the rich Bengali culture and its
excellence. The typical Bengali folk musical
instruments are Ektara (one string), Dotara (two, but
actually four strings), Ghungur, Khol, Mandira,
Behala (violin) and Banshi (flute) and the classical
musical instruments are Sitar, Sarode, Tanpura,
Shenai, Eshraj, Pakhwaj, Tabla and Harmonium.
Even now a large number of people in the villages of
Bangladesh, West Bengal and Tripura regularly
listen to the folk drama called Jatra and the age old
melodic folk songs.

63. Bengali Performing Arts' aim is to promote this rich
Bengali cultural heritage and its excellence by
organizing cultural programs round the year
throughout the world.
.