Christmas in Kolkata | Deepayan Khatua

You see, when it comes to celebrations, Indians never disappoint. It’s Christmas in Kolkata!

Every inch of the Anglo-Indian Barracks neighborhood of Kolkata is smothered in Christmas. Strands of lights weave a web above my head, and the appropriately red walls of the brick houses are lined with Christmas banners and décor. Jingle Bell Rock, Rocking Around the Christmas Tree, an upbeat remix of Silent Night; the soundtrack blasting from the very tired speakers could rival any American shopping mall during the holiday season. I watch a mother and son examine a street vendor’s selection of plastic toys and masks.

The holiday originated in a religious and more family-oriented form. Thanks to its history as the capital of the British Raj and concerted efforts by Christian missionaries—Mother Theresa being the most famous example—Kolkata is home to a notable Bengali Christian population. In 2011 there were around 40,000 Christians living in Kolkata, and many are quite active in their communities. A Parsi woman haggles with a man over some hair accessories under the glow of neon strobe lights and the all-seeing looks of the two idols. Roaming through the knickknack and party favors shops on Mirza Ghalib street, an explosion of glittering Christmas decorations overwhelm my retinas as Top 40 Christmas Hits lists besiege my eardrums. Looking into one of the shops, I notice an old man in kurta pyjama and prayer cap peddling tinsel garlands.

Some Places :

1. Park Street

2. St. Paul's Cathdral

3. Bow Barrack

4. Victoria Memorial

5. New Market

ᴅᴇᴠɪᴄᴇ : Nikon D5100

©DK Cᴀᴍᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜʏ

Trip to Tajpur | Deepayan Khatua

There are several famous sea beaches in West Bengal, but with fame comes the crowd. The sellers and shops waste the natural beauty of the places like Digha or Mandarmani. If you prefer to relax your tired soul, Tajpur is the perfect place for this need. It is a well-connected but relatively less explored beach in the East Medinipur district, not very far from Digha. One September weekend, my short holiday began with my friends. One early morning, we board the Tamralipta Express at Howrah station. The train stops its onward journey to its destination, Digha. The rest of our journey was finished through auto.

The beach in Tajpur is famous as one of the virgin beaches near Kolkata. It is a yellow-sand beach, which is not affected by the pollution. The beach is very beautiful to relax own sole. If you don't want to go to the sea, simply sit on the beach in a chair and enjoy the Nature, along with the magnificent sunrise and sunset.

You can enjoy beach games and bathe in the sea with friends and family without any interruption on this secluded beach. This is a small place and upon heavy tourist arrival, the stocks tend to run out soon. A walk on the beach reveals the vast horizon stretching far in the distance and a view of Mandarmoni across the bay. A few casuarina trees stand in the distance. The beach is with dotted with shacks and sea shells on the sand. The beach fills our senses with a cool breeze and a clear sky.

You can enjoy the delicious beach food. There are a number of small shops and shacks on the beach who provide delicious and fresh seafood dishes, generally made from the early morning fish. Relax on the beach in noon or the late afternoon with a chilled can of beer in your hand, which is available in the small shops.

On the morning of our departure, we make a quick dash for the beach, one last time, before we head back. As we begin our return journey, our driver wants us to soak in as much of the sea we can and takes us by a road that parallels the sea.

ᴅᴇᴠɪᴄᴇ : Nikon D5100

©DK Cᴀᴍᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜʏ

One Day in Nakhoda Masjid | Deepayan Khatua

Well, let me talk to you today about one of the most recognized monuments of Kolkata – Nakhoda Masjid. I recently visited the landmark with my some of my friends and captured some of the fascinating photographs in place.

It was 12:30 pm when we reached in front of Nakhoda Masjid. We kept the shoes outside and stepped inside the beautiful premise. The red buildings inside the mosque premise are alluring, to say the least. I have never visited the area during Ramadan but I wish to do so someday. The famed street food of Zakaria Street has eluded me to date. This blog is also an effect of it. I was supposed to go to Zakaria today but some hindrance once again has stopped me from trying out the kebabs and sheermals from the line of stalls set up during Ramadan. Although I have had Haleem from big-name places like Aminia and Arsalan, I want to taste the Haleem from Zakaria Street as I have heard a lot about it.

In Nakhoda, the premise is really peaceful and you can see people spread here and there offering their prayers. A small pool of water is located inside the mosque. People sit around it and wash their faces. A quick internet search revealed to me that this is called an ablutions pool, a place for the Muslims to wash themselves before they proceed to do any religious activities. The water is very clean and you can tell that the pool is maintained quite well.

A small boy, maybe five or six year old with his father was praying inside the mosque. This shows the pure culture. The light and shadow inside of the masjid is just amazing to see and capture. When one pray towards the window and the ray comes to his face such a scenic beauty you will see.

The mosque is filled with intricate designs and you can see history almost come alive.

As this blog is not about the history of Nakhoda and only about my experience of visiting the place, I will not explain further about the history of the area. A future blog maybe? Who knows!

𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬

Mahatma Gandhi Rd & Rabindra Sarani, Chowringhee North, Bow Barracks, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700073, India

ᴅᴇᴠɪᴄᴇ : Nikon D5100

©DK Cᴀᴍᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜʏ