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Snack it up with Kolkata's Jhalmuri #BlogchatterFoodFest

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Kolkata's evening snack game is incomplete without Jhalmuri – the spicy puffed rice that's still a steal at Rs. 10 a packet (because who needs expensive snacks when you can have a flavor explosion?). This magical mix of puffed rice, boiled potatoes, onions, cucumber, boiled chickpeas, roasted peanuts, slices of chillies, a slash of pickle, a dash of black salt and a pinch of Kolkata's magic spice has a rich history. Born in rural Bengal, Jhalmuri was initially a humble snack of puffed rice, but it got a colonial makeover in Kolkata when the British said, "Hey, let's add some spice to our lives!" During World War 2, Bihari migrants sold this spicy version to British soldiers and American officials, and voilà! Jhalmuri became a hit.  Now, it's a Kolkata mandate – try it with puchka, egg roll, fish fry, and the city's culinary squad. Your taste buds will do the tango (or cry for mercy, depending on the spice level). Either way, you'll be hooked! This ...

Translating Banalata Sen by Jibananda Das #EveryConversationMatters #VerseWaveBlogHop

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I attempted again,  Last time it was Tagore , This time it is  Jibanananda's Banalata Sen. My attempts to translate will never die, What's the harm if I try? I am choosing every classic poem, Surely, all have heard of them. Bangla, English, Hindi or Gujarati Nothing can ever beat a good poetry.           Banalata Sen   Walking this earth for thousand of years, From the seas of Ceylon to that in the Malay, through the dark nightly spheres. From the dusted ages of Bimbisara and Ashoka, Moving further to the darkening times in Vidarbha  I had been there. Surrounded by the foamy sea of life, My tired soul's  only moments of hope  Were those with Banalata Sen from Natore. The dark nights of Bidisha was her hair,  Her features as intricate as Sravasti's sculpture; Far away in the sea  With a broken sail, a lost sailor When, in the cinnamon-island he sees the green pasture Like that,  amidst the darkness I saw her. Asking me...

The Call of the Fish Fry #BlogchatterFoodFest

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"Hello, am I speaking to Ms. Reubenna?" a soft, melodious voice asked, with a hint of curiosity. "Yes, that's me," I replied, wondering who was on the other end. There was a brief pause, followed by a gentle sigh and a playful giggle. "This is Ms. Kolkata Fish Fry. I hope I'm not interrupting your dinner plans – or should I say, your fish plans?" I chuckled at the bad pun. "You're Ms. Fish Fry? As in, the dish?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral. "The one and only authentic Kolkata Fish Fry, dear," she replied, with a chuckle. "Or the Batter Fish Fry, as the Englishmen used to call me – probably because they couldn't pronounce 'Bengali cuisine' correctly." I raised an eyebrow, amused. "How may I assist you today, Ms. Fish Batter Fry?" I asked politely. The voice on the other end seemed to swell with pride. "Reubenna, dear, I was wondering if you could tell me something. Does Kolkata...

The Eken: Benaras E Bibhishika Movie Review

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The heat and a few good movies, that's what current Kolkata is about. As a Bengali film enthusiast, my inquisitive mind searched all the nearby theatres and I discovered 3 films that are running successfully, Amar Boss, Sonar Kellay Joker Dhan and The Eken-Benaras e Bibhishika. Amar Boss is a serious film, with some adult content, so I did not even consider watching it with my family. My daughter likes Koel Mullick because of her portrayal of Mitin Masi, and she wanted to watch Sonar Kellay Joker Dhan but when she learnt everyone's favourite Eken Babu is back to solve another thrilling mystery, she jumped to the idea of going to the theatre to watch it.  So last Saturday one stormy evening we went out to Priya Cinema Hall, to watch Eken Babu's latest adventure.  Ekendra Sen, known as Eken babu is a miserly quirky foody, but little would one assume that he is a gifted detective, who has cracked some high profile cases. This time as he accompanies his 2 friends Bapi and Prama...

Sustainability, Birthday Fashion and World Environment Day #BlogchatterBlogHop

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I am happy that my birthday falls on 5th June, celebrated for a very special occasion, that of World Environment Day. So as the title suggests, I decided to add some sustainable fashion on my birthday to celebrate World Environment Day. So, right now I am in Kolkata, and I have all of my old things lying around the house and inside every cupboard. I thought of going through those and found out some timeless things that both I and my mother in law have kept with care. The first piece is this striped tee that goes back a very long way. A tri-coloured tee with 3 shades of turquoise, if noticed carefully, along with a deep turquoise bow at the right side, that gives a illusion of a tied side. The balloon sleeves go well with the style. I remember pairing it with dhoti pants, as was the style back then but today I paired it with a black plazzo.  I had to go out in the morning, and I picked a parrot green salwar suit with chikankari work, the best part of the entire outfit was the white ...

Shakti Club Golden Jubilee Day Celebration #Blogaberrycc

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The importance of being a part of a strong and tied community is undeniable. Just as I am grateful and fortunate to be a part of a powerful blogging community online, my social life bonding has found meaning with my ties with Shakti Club- an incredibly active Women's Club for the talented women of IIT Bombay ( non-students ). In 2025 Shakti Club completed its 50 glorious years of fabulous work, including various fund raising activities for destitute and underpivileged children. Amidst these social activitities we, at Shakti Club also make sure to celebrate various cultural activities and social get-togethers. Our motto of "Work hard and party harder" has taken us a long way and the 50th Anniversary day marked the celebratory landmark of our achievements through various cultural activities. Today I will elaborate on the Fashion shows that I was proud to be a part of, on that particular day. India, a land of Unity in Diversity is the biggest democracy, a harmony of varied c...

7 Moods & 7 Songs of Rain #BlogchatterBlogHop

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I love listening to songs most of the time, specially during doing household chores. It depends upon my mood as to what song should be on my playlist at that time.  This monsoon my playlist is going to be filled with songs of rain, one for every mood. Let' s find out: 1. Barso Re Megha Megha : The mood it captures is that of the first drops of rain, cooling the hot weather, drenching every bit of dryness with fresh droplets and the very first brush of it on the skin. A. R. Rehman's enchanting music and Gulzar's poetry makes one connect to the simplicity of nature during the rains, and the cherry on top is Shreya Ghoshal's magical voice. 2. Sawan Barse Tarse Dil : This song is the reminiscent of a rain filled day awaiting for the beloved. The feel of the rain drops makes one long for their lover. This wait is that bitter sweet feel we all have gone through in our lives. The music by Anand-Milind and Majrooh Sultanpuri's lyrics give that nostalgic feel of college roma...