Kaushik Sengupta

The most significant architectural structure in the area is the ‘Mangalchandi’ Temple, which has remarkably remained intact for over two centuries…

The history of Durga Puja is like an ocean. In the ancient world, we find the worship of the earth as a mother, that is, she gave birth to this world.

The ancient civilizations of the world were developed around rivers. The Harappan civilization in the Indus Valley, the Egyptian civilization on the banks of the Nile, the Mesopotamian and Babylonian civilizations on the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and the Chinese civilization on the banks of the Yangtze…

One such major folk festival of Bengalis during this spring season is "Gajan". This mainly occurs at the end of the month of “Chaitra”  when the weather becomes very dry due to the heat of the sun. Shiva is the main deity of  Gajan.

The idol of Goddess Basanti inside the courtyard of Bali “Arya Dharma Sanrakshini Sabha” which is locally known Bally Harisabha. This Bally “Harisabha” was established in 1886 (Bengali year 1293). This Bali region of Howrah district was once a prominent area for the study of Sanskrit language. Bally, Howrah, West…

Chitpur Road (now Rabindra Sarani) was once a tram route. Now the tram service has stopped permanently. But the tram stop sign is still there. The house on the left of the picture with the clock visible on top is known as “Ghariwalla Mullickbari” (clock house). Pathuriaghata area is along…

There are countless terracotta temples spread across the villages of Bengal. Some are famous and some are not. Although these temples are small in size like other temples in India. This terracotta art is a unique style of Bengal. These temples are a specific archaeological document of the time. At…

The entrance of St John’s Church which stands witness to almost 200 years of British political rise in Bengal. Today many tourists, architectural researchers, photographers, history lovers come and spend time here. Its courtyard, which are decorated with numerous mausoleums, war memorials, stone tablets, graves, paintings and other historical monuments.…

Shola art is one of the folk arts of Bengal. They are made from shola(sponge wood) or shola -like plants. The shola plant grows in water bodies. Shola is a white soft core extracted from the stem of a spongy plant and then used in art to make beautiful things.…

The presiding deity of the temple is Goddess Gandheswari. On the right side of the picture, the demon is seen under the feet of the goddess. The Bengali Gandhabaniks community(Bengali Hindu merchant caste) still worships him for the betterment of business. The Gandhabaniks community was primarily associated with the trade…

A feeling rose from my heart while photographing the Buddha’s birthday celebration at the Maha Bodhi Society in Kolkata.

Durga Puja is an annual festival of Bengal which pays homage to the Hindu goddess Durga. It is a five days festival in West Bengal, India.

Alpona is a folk art which subtly evokes a prayer for our well-being. Practiced mainly by rural and partly urban women of Bengal it is done in a rich assortment of ornamental line drawings on the floors of home and temple. Integrated with Indian cultural heritage, it is drawn on…