ABOUT:
West Bengal, state of India,located in the eastern part of the country. It is bounded to the north by the state of Sikkim and the country of Bhutan, to the northeast by the state of Assam, to the east by the country of Bangladesh, to the south by the Bay of Bengal, to the southwest by the state of Odisha, to the west by the states of Jharkhand and Bihar, and to the northwest by the country of Nepal. In area West Bengal ranks as one of the smaller states of India, it is one of the largest in population. The capital is Kolkata.
Area:
The total area of West Bengal is 88,752 sq km. The area of West Bengal can be divided into broad physiographic divisions. The foothills of the Himalaya are known as the Terai region. This area is famous for the tea plantation. Then onwards, starts the plain land formed by river Ganga. The main distributary of Ganga is the Hoogly River that flows over the area of Kolkata. The Sunderbans or the delta region is an 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.
The total area of West Bengal is 88,752 sq km. The area of West Bengal can be divided into broad physiographic divisions. The foothills of the Himalaya are known as the Terai region. This area is famous for the tea plantation. Then onwards, starts the plain land formed by river Ganga. The main distributary of Ganga is the Hoogly River that flows over the area of Kolkata. The Sunderbans or the delta region is an 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.
Culture:
The culture of Bengal encompasses the Bengal region in South Asia, including Bangladesh and the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura and Assam (Barak Valley), where the Bengali language is the official and primary language. Bengal has a recorded history of 4,000 years. The Bengali people are its dominant ethnolinguistic community. The region has been a historical melting pot, blending indigenous traditions with cosmopolitan influences from pan-Indian subcontinental empires. Bengal was the richest part of Medieval India and hosted the subcontinent’s most advanced political and cultural centers during the British Raj.
The partition of Bengal left its own cultural legacy. Bangladesh is the scene of a dominant Bengali Muslim culture, whereas Indian Bengali-speaking regions have a Bengali Hindu majority. It must be noted that Muslim-majority Bangladesh is home to a significant Hindu minority, whereas West Bengal has a large Muslim minority. Apart from these, there are also numerous ethnic and religious minorities. Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, is a cosmopolitan city which houses sizeable number of ethnic communities. Bengal is an important hub of classical South Asian arts. Festivals on the secular Bengali calendar are widely celebrated.
The culture of Bengal encompasses the Bengal region in South Asia, including Bangladesh and the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura and Assam (Barak Valley), where the Bengali language is the official and primary language. Bengal has a recorded history of 4,000 years. The Bengali people are its dominant ethnolinguistic community. The region has been a historical melting pot, blending indigenous traditions with cosmopolitan influences from pan-Indian subcontinental empires. Bengal was the richest part of Medieval India and hosted the subcontinent’s most advanced political and cultural centers during the British Raj.
The partition of Bengal left its own cultural legacy. Bangladesh is the scene of a dominant Bengali Muslim culture, whereas Indian Bengali-speaking regions have a Bengali Hindu majority. It must be noted that Muslim-majority Bangladesh is home to a significant Hindu minority, whereas West Bengal has a large Muslim minority. Apart from these, there are also numerous ethnic and religious minorities. Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, is a cosmopolitan city which houses sizeable number of ethnic communities. Bengal is an important hub of classical South Asian arts. Festivals on the secular Bengali calendar are widely celebrated.
Music & Dances:
The culture of West Bengal is renowned worldwide for its richness and variety. Dance and music are essential parts of Bengali culture which reflects the rich cultural heritage of the state. Dance and music of West Bengal are known across the globe for their beauty and fervor. 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 are Classical Bangla Music, Rabindra Sangeet, Baul Music. Some of the popular dances are Brita Dance, Gambhira Dance, Tusu Dance, Santhal Dance, Lathi Dance.
The culture of West Bengal is renowned worldwide for its richness and variety. Dance and music are essential parts of Bengali culture which reflects the rich cultural heritage of the state. Dance and music of West Bengal are known across the globe for their beauty and fervor. 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 are Classical Bangla Music, Rabindra Sangeet, Baul Music. Some of the popular dances are Brita Dance, Gambhira Dance, Tusu Dance, Santhal Dance, Lathi Dance.
Festivals
Festivals in the state of West Bengal is always celebrated with great pomp and show, be it a big event or a small one. The Bengali year starts with the first Baisakh that is the Naba Barsho which is in mid April. It is the beginning of a new year for this state. The day is celebrated throughout the state especially by the Bengalis. The day is marked with news clothes, flowers, and offerings at temples and visiting shops that have been decorated for this day. Durga Puja is the most important and famous festival which is celebrated in West Bengal. Besides this, Ganga Sagar Mela, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Jayanti, Basanta Panchami, Birthday of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Bengali New Year, Buddha Jayanti, Id, Rabindra Jayanti, Mahesh Yatra, Jhapan, Christmas, Paush Mela, Vishnupur Festival and Teesta & Tourism Festival.
Festivals in the state of West Bengal is always celebrated with great pomp and show, be it a big event or a small one. The Bengali year starts with the first Baisakh that is the Naba Barsho which is in mid April. It is the beginning of a new year for this state. The day is celebrated throughout the state especially by the Bengalis. The day is marked with news clothes, flowers, and offerings at temples and visiting shops that have been decorated for this day. Durga Puja is the most important and famous festival which is celebrated in West Bengal. Besides this, Ganga Sagar Mela, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Jayanti, Basanta Panchami, Birthday of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Bengali New Year, Buddha Jayanti, Id, Rabindra Jayanti, Mahesh Yatra, Jhapan, Christmas, Paush Mela, Vishnupur Festival and Teesta & Tourism Festival.
ARTS & CRAFTS:
Kantha Embroidery
Kantha is a very beautiful form of embroidery that originated in West Bengal. It is basically the art of outlining decorative images with running stitch, on clothes, with colorful threads. It is used on saris, dhotis, kurtas, ethnic-wear for men and women, bed-linen, cushion covers, quilts and other such items. A craze amongst foreign tourists, Kantha stitch is best used on cotton and silk.
Kantha is a very beautiful form of embroidery that originated in West Bengal. It is basically the art of outlining decorative images with running stitch, on clothes, with colorful threads. It is used on saris, dhotis, kurtas, ethnic-wear for men and women, bed-linen, cushion covers, quilts and other such items. A craze amongst foreign tourists, Kantha stitch is best used on cotton and silk.
Terracotta Craft
The terracotta craft of West Bengal is famous throughout the world, for its pastoral and rustic charm. The clay-modeled items that form a part of this craft, made with natural colors, are a viewer’s delight. They were a craze in Bengal during the reign of Malla rulers, in the 16th-17th century. The temple of Vishnupur stands as marvelous example of the terracotta craft of Bengal.
The terracotta craft of West Bengal is famous throughout the world, for its pastoral and rustic charm. The clay-modeled items that form a part of this craft, made with natural colors, are a viewer’s delight. They were a craze in Bengal during the reign of Malla rulers, in the 16th-17th century. The temple of Vishnupur stands as marvelous example of the terracotta craft of Bengal.
Scroll Painting
Scroll Painting is done on thick fabrics, with the help of natural colors. Popularly called Pat Chitra in Bengal, they vary in length and height. However an average scroll painting is about 15 ft long. It is divided into a number of compartments, with each compartment carrying an episode of the story being narrated through Pat Chitra.
Scroll Painting is done on thick fabrics, with the help of natural colors. Popularly called Pat Chitra in Bengal, they vary in length and height. However an average scroll painting is about 15 ft long. It is divided into a number of compartments, with each compartment carrying an episode of the story being narrated through Pat Chitra.
Conch Shell Crafts
Conch shell craft is one of the most unique and most beautiful forms of handicrafts practiced in West Bengal. It is actually the art of engraving decorative motifs on the natural shells obtained from the ocean. Conchshell crafts are beautiful and delicate, apart from being considered to be extremely auspicious in the Hindu mythology.
Conch shell craft is one of the most unique and most beautiful forms of handicrafts practiced in West Bengal. It is actually the art of engraving decorative motifs on the natural shells obtained from the ocean. Conchshell crafts are beautiful and delicate, apart from being considered to be extremely auspicious in the Hindu mythology.
Dokra Metal Craft
It is one of the most popular forms of art practiced in Bengal, named after the people who practiced it. It is actually the art of creating statues, jewelries, idols and many other decorative pieces, with the help of clay, wax and molten metal. The best part about Dokra metal crafts is that they are completely original and no replica of any item can ever be made.
It is one of the most popular forms of art practiced in Bengal, named after the people who practiced it. It is actually the art of creating statues, jewelries, idols and many other decorative pieces, with the help of clay, wax and molten metal. The best part about Dokra metal crafts is that they are completely original and no replica of any item can ever be made.
Pottery
One of the oldest crafts of Bengal is pottery. It is practiced in the state with beautiful variations, in exquisite styles. Different kinds of pots, like Mangal Ghat, Lakshmi Ghat, Manasha Ghata and Tulsimancha, are designed here. All of them have their own significance and distinctive style. Apart from being practiced for individual purposes, it is also designed and sold on a commercial scale.
One of the oldest crafts of Bengal is pottery. It is practiced in the state with beautiful variations, in exquisite styles. Different kinds of pots, like Mangal Ghat, Lakshmi Ghat, Manasha Ghata and Tulsimancha, are designed here. All of them have their own significance and distinctive style. Apart from being practiced for individual purposes, it is also designed and sold on a commercial scale.
Bankura Horses
Bankura horses made from terracotta and considered to be auspicious in West Bengal. They are found adorning one or the other corner, in almost all the Bengali households. They are also used in traditional Bengali rituals, as they are considered to represent the holy horses in Sun God’s chariot. When in the state, make sure to buy a sample of this craft, as a souvenir.
Bankura horses made from terracotta and considered to be auspicious in West Bengal. They are found adorning one or the other corner, in almost all the Bengali households. They are also used in traditional Bengali rituals, as they are considered to represent the holy horses in Sun God’s chariot. When in the state, make sure to buy a sample of this craft, as a souvenir.
Clay Dolls
Putul, as the Bengali dolls are popularly called, are a craze in the European market. Shaped out of clay, painted in vibrant colors and baked in a kiln, they represent the rural Bengal. Out of several varieties of clay dolls in Bengal, the real-life dolls of Krishna Nagar, depicting various social scenes like Collector’s court, tea garden, pandit sabha and Charak festival, are the most popular.
Putul, as the Bengali dolls are popularly called, are a craze in the European market. Shaped out of clay, painted in vibrant colors and baked in a kiln, they represent the rural Bengal. Out of several varieties of clay dolls in Bengal, the real-life dolls of Krishna Nagar, depicting various social scenes like Collector’s court, tea garden, pandit sabha and Charak festival, are the most popular.
Sholapith Craft
Sholapith is a milky-white sponge-wood, used for crafting beautiful decorative pieces. It is also known as ‘herbal ivory’, as it seems to look like the milky-white items made from ivory. Sholapith is popularly used to craft head-wears of bridal couples, garlands, decorative fans, animals, birds, dolls, Images of gods and Goddesses, elephant-howdahs, peacock-boats, palanquins, flowers various kinds of crowns and backdrop of Durga Pooja stages.
Sholapith is a milky-white sponge-wood, used for crafting beautiful decorative pieces. It is also known as ‘herbal ivory’, as it seems to look like the milky-white items made from ivory. Sholapith is popularly used to craft head-wears of bridal couples, garlands, decorative fans, animals, birds, dolls, Images of gods and Goddesses, elephant-howdahs, peacock-boats, palanquins, flowers various kinds of crowns and backdrop of Durga Pooja stages.
Tourism:
Situated in eastern India, is a land with a rich diversity. Home to different civilizations and known for its cultural diversity Bengal is mentioned in the epic Mahabharata. Thanks to its geographical location stretching from the great Himalayas to Bay of Bengal, the state has spectacular landscapes to captivate your souls. The top 15 destinations in West Bengal are Kolkata, Darjeeling, Bankura, Midnapore, Siliguri, Murshidabad, Hooghly, Kalimpong, Kamarpukur, Bishnupur, Jalpaiguri, Malda, Cooch Behar, Birbhum, Barrackpore.
Situated in eastern India, is a land with a rich diversity. Home to different civilizations and known for its cultural diversity Bengal is mentioned in the epic Mahabharata. Thanks to its geographical location stretching from the great Himalayas to Bay of Bengal, the state has spectacular landscapes to captivate your souls. The top 15 destinations in West Bengal are Kolkata, Darjeeling, Bankura, Midnapore, Siliguri, Murshidabad, Hooghly, Kalimpong, Kamarpukur, Bishnupur, Jalpaiguri, Malda, Cooch Behar, Birbhum, Barrackpore.
Economy
West Bengal is primarily dependent on agriculture and medium-sized industry, although services and heavy industries play an increasingly significant role in the economy of the state. A significant part of the state is economically backward, namely, large parts of six northern districts of Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Malda, North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur; three western districts of Purulia, Bankura, Birbhum; and the Sundarbans area. Years after independence, West Bengal was still dependent on the central government for meeting its demands for food; food production remained stagnant and the Green Revolution bypassed the state. However, there has been a significant spurt in food production since the 1980s, and the state is now one of the few Indian states with a surplus in food production. It is one of the most important food producing states in India, producing nearly 20% of the rice and 33% of the potato yield, although accounting for only 15% of the population of India.
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