Monday, 1 February 2016

Gorbhanga -The Land of the Baul Fakirs


Gorbhanga village in Nadia district, West Bengal is the home of more than 100 Fakirs – makers of soulful mellifluous music. 
           Gorbhanga, Nadia : The Land of the Baul Fakirs
The Bauls are minstrels whose song and dance reflect the joy, love and longing for mystical union with the Divine. The Bauls believe that one can free oneself from earthly attachments through their philosophy.  Murshid or Guru is the steersman who takes the devotee to God; respecting, following the path and total belief in Murshid does not have any other alternative. They propound detachment from earthly bonds or ties. They reject division of caste, creed, religion etc. Baul music has  different doctrines forming the basis of the songs. The theories which inspired the Baul philosophy are Atmatattwa, Dehatattwa, Gurutattwa, Paramtattwa, Prem, Bhaktitattwa, Sadhantattwa, Nabitattwa, Gourtattwa, Srishtitattwa. 

Akhra in full swing at the Fakiri Utsav
Gorbhanga village in Nadia district, West Bengal is the home of more than 100 Fakirs-makers of soulful mellifluous music. Every third weekend of January, the village Gorbhanga transforms to a Mecca for Baul, Fakiri & Qawwali music as it hosts the Fakiri Utsav. Here visitors can get immersed in soulful Baul & Fakiri songs and can experience tranquility, simplicity and warm hospitality of the villagers. The festival celebrates the Baul philosophy of the quest for the Divine through love for humanity. 

Be at Gorbhanga to live the Baul experience. Next festival date is on November 18-20, 2016.
  Musicians from Wales jamming with Gorbhanga artists at Fakiri Utsav
              

 

Kushmundi: The Village of the Dancing Masks

Along the banks of the Srimati River, the undulating ridges and long lines of mango-trees Uttar and Dakshin Dinajpur offers a landscape the beauty which is unique and ecstatic. The wooden masks of Kushmandi is associated with the Rajbangshi community of the area. Around 150 artists are into making wooden masks and 60 families into Bamboo based work. The wood is generally sourced from the Gamar trees. These masks are part of the costume of the traditional Gomira dancers who perform it during Chandi Puja. Themes of the masks are generally spiritual, historic and religious.

Kushmundi can be reached by train from Kolkata via Kaliyagunj and thereafter by road. Total travel time from Kolkata is around 14 hours. Nearest lodging facility is available in Raigunj. The place is also well connected by NBSTC buses. Kaliyaganj, the nearest railway station is 17 km from the resource centre. Take a car from the station to reach Mahishbathan, Kushmundi.  

Nearby places of interest
• Visit the lake Mahipal Dighi to see variety of migratory birds in winter. It is also a picnic spot.
• Tread into the past as you visit the ruins of ‘Neelkothi’ – bungalow of the infamous indigo (Neel) cultivator Thomas who was a close friend of William Kerry.
• Enjoy a promenade at Aira forest, 2 kms from Mahipal.
•Remember about the stories of Mahabharata while you visit the ‘Shami Brikshya’ where it is said that the Pandavas hid their arms.



Natungram...experience the serenity and heritage of the wooden doll making village


Natungram...experience the serenity 
 

Vibrant colours, intricate designs and ethnic style, these are the characteristic features of the wooden dolls made by 70 households of traditional rural artisans in Natungram village of Bardhaman district. The dolls are carved from one piece of cylindrical wood. While men do the carving, women paint and finish the products.The owl, with its unique design and colours, is the brand product of the village. On the white background of the owl is painted a distinctive design of red, green, yellow and black lines. Besides owls, Krishna-Radha and King-Queen dolls are traditionally made. 

 • Nearest railway station is Agradwip or Katwa. It is about 1.5 hours’ drive from Bardhaman or Santiniketan and takes 4 hours’ from Kolkata.

 • One can stay at artists’ houses or hotels at Katwa.
• A 3-day village fair along with a folk festival will be held at Natungram from January 13-15, 2017, promoting community led heritage tourism.


Nearby places of interest


• Stroll along the Bhagirathi river. 
 • Relax on the bank of Nimbarka Sarovar.
 • Meditate in the Ashram of Kathia Baba.

• Visit Agradwip known for Govinda Ghosh an eternal associate of Lord Chaitanya.