Lifestyle

The Durga Pujo food guide in Kolkata (Binge Alert!)

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on October 14, 2018

Durga Pujo for Bengali’s is not just a religious festival .It’s also a socio-cultural melting pot.Even if you are not a Bengali ,if you are in Kolkata, the pujo fervor is contagious.

You can go anywhere in the world, but there’s nothing like Durga pujo in West Bengal. If you ever want to see a festival which everyone enjoys,you must visit West Bengal this time of the year. If you can handle the crowds, come visit me in Kolkata and I will show you how glorious the pujo spirit actually is.

Take a flight from anywhere and come to Kolkata .But you will need to be openminded because it is overwhelming. Having an enriching experience will depend on you.If Kolkata during Durga Pujo is not on your bucket list, put it there now.

I got married while studying for postgrads in Delhi.The first pujo after my marriage,we rushed from Delhi to Kolkata on Shasthi morning. The flights meant we could do our duties till early morning on Shashti, catch a flight and be in Kolkata in no time.

Once in Kolkata first the exchange of gifts, oohs and aahs of sarees, Kurtis and my haul of the handcrafted bangles, necklaces and rings I bought from Dilli Haat.

Then we would all go to our favorite Saree shop for last moment buys. The quick beauty parlor visit, very helpful with Lakme salon nearby, got me pujo ready in a hurry. Hair,pedicure, manicure and a detan facial is the basic minimum.

After the planning of the pujo outfit,came the pandal hopping plans. During those days before we had the baby in tow, we did the entire thing. From north, central to south Kolkata. Walking and hiring taxis in between. The most important thing was comfortable shoes and drinking water.

Food option are everywhere.The tremendous amount of walking needed for a pujo parikrama, is not for the faint-hearted .The best way to exercise,all the while eating your way through Kolkata’s gastronomic offering.Navratri in the rest of India means a lot of fasting and people write a lot about fasting food .In West Bengal, we actually feast, be it vegetarian options or non-veg.Simple explanation.It’s complicated!

Durga Pujo celebration in West Bengal with Healthwealthbrige

The Durga Pujo Bhoj

If you are visiting friends or family with a good community pujo in the Apartment complex or para, try to taste a fresh Bhog platter.The khichudi will be what 5-star chefs dream of making. The smell of flowers, burning lamps and incense sticks mixed with ginger and dried spices, makes a delicious bhog.The taste is sublime and can only be understood, by those who have had it.

Together with this, there’s often an assortment of bhaji or vegetable fritters and mixed veggies, which specializes in being a little mashed up, spicy and delicious . The bhog cooking is not a child’s play and the thakur(cook), is much sought after.

The community will judge the pujo,on the face of Maa Durga and taste of its bhog .All the rest come into the picture after these two are ticked. This taste typically comes form the fragrance of the many dried spices and the agarbaati or Dhup.

The Durga Pujo food guide in Kolkata

Bengali’s enjoy their food and except for Aashtami,its nonvegeterian all the way.But if you are vegeterian don’t worry,most of the Bengali food places also have an extensive vegetarian thaali too.

If it’s the casual food joints you must visit

Biriyani from Arsalan
Newmarket Aminia

Triangular Park

Hatari’s chowmein and sweet and sour roast duck at Krystal chopsticks.

For the best phuchka in town

You can visit the ones around Vivekananda Park, near Southern Avenue. They also have the best doi phuchka.
The traditional phuchka, made by the phuchkawala at the Lake road and Sarat Bose Road crossing, is amazing too. His churmur, tangy mashed potatoes with boiled semi-mashed chickpeas, spice blends, and tamarind water is spot on.You can opt for lemon water, if you are not sure your tummy can handle the tamarind. But sour and spicy it must be .

Chai/Tea

Try the aadrak waali chai at Maharaani or Maharaaja.

Paratha Shop

Paratha waali galli at Lake View Road, after the famous haunt.

Bengali Cuisine to die for

Visit 6 Ballygunj place near Ballygunj Phaari or Salt lake.Both great for family outings.

Always a favorite for their authentic Bengali cuisine and deliciously cooked bhaapa ilish .

Oh Calcutta! for the Bengali lunch buffet
Bijoli Grill on Southern Avenue if budget is a concern and you still want the authentic Bengali taste.
Want to Bengali,with a twist visit Marco Polo.They also have continental cuisine on offer.
Aaheli at The Peerless Inn.

Continental

The Corner Courtyard at Landsdown.
Mocambo Park street.
Flurys Park street.
Peter Cat for Chelo kabab platters. Park Street.

Chinese

Mainland China in South City Mall.
Visit Tangra,for authentic Chinese food.

Thai

Benjarong South City Mall.The appetisers are interesting.

Japanese cuisine

The Wall.

Seafood

Ecstasy Lake Road.

Sweet stuff

Other than the famous rosogolla Kolkata sweet shops, have a range of delicious sweets.Mentioning a few of my favorites like chanar jilipi, chaana pora ,jol bhora, makha sandesh ,kaancha golla ,mihidana,sita bhog,cham cham.

Extra special Jivey ganja at Bancharaam.
Radharam Mallick & Balaram Mallick’s chocolate mishtI.
Mishti Doi at Jugal’s :my favorite.
Putiram :mihidaana.

Interesting cooling drinks

Paramount near College Square

Coco Malai and Daab shorbot

Gelato

Mamma Mia

Baked goodies

Cakes

Musings for the socially conscious

Durga pujo festival,budgets go sky high, with sponsorship and the mandatory pujo chanda ,But this is an opportunity for many artisans and creative artists, to showcase their work world over .Pujo pandals and idols are constantly covered by live TV and social media.Many artisans get booked for overseas work, after many probashi see their work beamed.

Durga Pujo has a lot of excesses and may seem commercialized in many aspects.But once you stand in front of Maa Durga with folded hands, everything drops away.You close your eyes ,pray for peace and love to fill everyone’s heart. She is a strict mommy.A mommy who can kill evil forces,but she is a mother after all.

A very Happy Durga pujo to all of you. Pray and may Maa Durga’s blessings reach you.

If you #SayYesToTheWorld you will have some amazing experience. Self-exploration can be enriching . Participate in #TheBlindlist Contest and win a chance to travel to your Bucket list destination!

This is also a part of the #BloggersDurgaPujo series.

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DURGA PUJO & Saree shopping:Secret tips from a Bengali #BloggersDurgaPujo

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on October 11, 2018 22

Durga Pujo and saree shopping go hand in hand for women.

There are many famous shops in Kolkata, but I am a South Kolkata girl and can honestly tell you about the ones I love and adore.

If you are in Kolkata for the Durga Puja festival and haven’t done your saree shopping yet, I have you covered. I love sarees and how pretty they make women look. Wearing it and carrying it gracefully, needs a lot of practice and technique. But the good thing is anyone can learn.

Growing up for special occasions at schools and colleges insisting on traditional wear, meant raiding moms wardrobe. My mom was working at a Central Government Department and liked her office wear saris comfortable for summers, easy to wear and pretty. But for Pujo and other occasions we shared a love for silk sarees. I still love silk sarees.

From the traditional printed pure silk, Tussar, Kanjeevaram, Bomkai, Katan, chiffon, I cherish wearing them. Durga Puja in Kolkata is not just a festival. It’s a ray of hope. It’s an experience.
Durga puja does make things better. It’s good for the tourism industry and retail. It’s wonderful for the hospitality industry and for standalone restaurants, the pujo organizers and sponsors, the shop owners, family, friends and everyone in between.

Memories of Pujo past

Childhood memories of shopping meant, going with mom to Newmarket for all day window shopping and judicious buying. New Market back then, was not this crowded and after the shopping, I looked forward to a lunch ofRumali rooti and doi chicken at Sabitri’s.On the way back we used to snack on cakes at Nahoum’s Cake shop and pack for home too!

Secret tips to pick the saree perfect for you

Now you have a lot of shopping malls to get all your pujo gifts, makeup, clothes, and knick-knack. But sarees you need to be careful. While buying a good sari, hold it and see whether it’s soft and comfortable against your skin. The Kolkata weather can be humid, even in autumn and the saree needs to keep you cool.

With a beautiful silk saree which is not too heavy, you are dressed in the festive spirit and stay comfortable too. Since often its difficult to know a real from a fake silk saree, it’s important you buy from a good shop and feel the fabric.

You can ask the attendant to drape it on you. Most saree shops worth their label, have an expert saree draper. Getting the saree draped even casually will help you quickly get the feel, color, and fall of the saree. Its the look test and highly recommended. Go shopping with someone who loves you and you will have a wonderful time shopping.

What about the perfect blouse or petticoat?

Can you get one tailored quickly?This one is tricky. Most exclusive shops have a good range of blouses. Both designer, traditional and eclectic and can be made to fit depending on the rush and availability of their in-house tailor.

You can also wear the saree with a tight tee-shirt, kurti, crop top. While this may not be traditional, it looks stylish and very chic. It’s also comfortable and you can go crazy with the pallu(the part which is generally pinned to the shoulder).

Wear a pair of leggings with a good waist tie, for the perfect mermaid drape or go for a lycra petticoat with a slit. In case you want a traditional petticoat, there are plenty of choices available in shops around Deshapriya Park, Triangular park, Gariahat. Use pins generously,(but be careful ), to get the look right. Avoid making it too tight. With a saree draped just right, you will walk and sit comfortably. Saree is a very graceful and versatile piece of unstitched fabric. Do pick up a few if you visit Kolkata any time.

This year linen sarees are the rage and many shops have a good collection. But for a traditional buy, you can get a pretty tant from Tantuja and you will look like a breath of fresh air. In case you want something easy and gorgeous to wear and this is your first time saree shopping, I have a few suggestions. The first one is my all time favorite!

Famous saree shops in South Kolkata from where you can also buy online

Indian Silk House Exclusives on Lake Road for some trendy silks as well unique one of a kind traditional weaves. Buy Kanjeevaram with jute details or linen with embroidery, you will have it all here.The best part ,the designs are exclusiv and you will not find anyone else anywhere wearing the same design.That does come with a good price tag ,but they also keep it affordable.

P-92 Lake Road (Near Samaj Sebi and Ballygunj Cultural Pujo).Watsapp: 9830436334

The best part is the service and the hassle-free atmosphere. If you are hungry after all that shopping, visit Oudh, just next to Vivekananda park for some delicious food.

B.K Fashions near Triangular Park has a nice collection of traditional sarees too. Best thing to do is start strolling from Deshapriya Park towards the Triangular park. Plenty of snacking places .If you go a little more towards Gariahat, you will find my favorite Campari roll shop. Great to munch on, while window shopping.
Jayalakshmi sarees modern and traditional silk, designer pieces and exclusive silk.(Triangular Park)
Tantuja emporium in Rashbehari Avenue, Triangular Park(Tant sarees)
Orissa emporium in Dakshinapan
Sabyasachi Label on Lake RaodP-545, Lake Road, Near Vivekananda Park, Ballygunge, Kolkata Phone:913340648239 .If you cant buy here just visit to see the gorgeous collection and the decor.
Manashi’ s boutique (opposite Life Line Dental clinic ) has some stunning Dhakai jamdani.T he price is steep and you better come prepared.

Other places to buy saree in Kolkata

Adi Mohini Mohan Kanjilalal
Banarasi Niketan

One shop with all range of sarees including mixed silks which look great and will fit all budgets

P Majumdar near Deshapriya Park

Hope you enjoyed this quick Kolkata saree shopping guide. This Durga Pujo series is a look down memory lane about all the things I enjoyed during pujo and still look forward too.I am also sharing this year’s favorite pandals,, eating out, travel and what you must not miss!

#BloggersDurgapujo is off to a great start where 19 bloggers will share their Durga pujo stories memories and tips for a blessed pujo.

Durga Pujo & Mahalaya

Durga pujo memories

Thankful for Durga Pujo

Mama Earth Mosquito Repellant Review & 5 Facts About Dengue

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on October 10, 2018 15

The best thing about Mama Earth is its safety factor. If it’s Mama Earth you know it has gone through many checks before it was launched. You can also be sure of its efficacy. That’s why this Mama Earth Mosquito Repellant review comes after two months of using it. The better news is that other well-known brands have come up with alternatives too!

Pros: It smells fine. No weirdly strong citronella odor. My daughter has no problem when I apply to her.
It’s easy to apply. The protection lasts quite long and so does the smell. I apply twice once Rai goes to school and in the evening when she goes to play. Mosquito bites outside the home and at school are the biggest worry and now I can rest easy.

Affiliate Disclaimer: There are affiliate links in this post. That means if you click on the link and buy anything I will receive a percentage of the product price. This in no way affects the price you buy at. I only recommend products I personally like and use. My relationship with you is more important than any money I may receive from these transactions. If you do buy something using my link, you are helping me in making this website better.My heartfelt appreciation for that.

What Mama earth Mosquito Repellant contains

It is a blend of essential oils like Citronella, Peppermint, Lemon, Eucalyptus in a base of Soya and Castrol oil. These natural oils are mosquito repellents
It is free from DEET.

It is safe for application on the skin(best to do a patch test on baby’s forearm, before you use any skin or hair care products).

Size of product: 100ml

Recommended age :0 to 5 years

Application type: Spray

Is it baby safe?

Yes, the Mama Earth product is MadeSafe certified and clinically tested as per Bureau of International Standards.

Where should you apply it?

Skin application is safe and recommended.

Cons:

It may appear expensive. But its great value for money. If you compare with the price of the one below its a steal
It’s not available offline easily.

[wp-review id=”112580″]

Is there an alternative when you can’t get Mama Earth quickly?

Alternative available: Godrej Fabric Roll-on Review

What does Godrej Fabric roll on contain?

Citronella oil
Eucalyptus oil
The base oils are not mentioned(that’s a strike-off !)

How to use Godrej Fabric Roll-on?

The famous 4 dots

4 coin-sized dots on the shoulders and legs away from the nose.
Not recommended for skin
Lasts for 8 hours.

Is it safe?

It is pediatrician certified as dermatologically safe(as mentioned on the product).

How does the price compare? Mama Earth wins hands down on this one.

Pros for me:

Available easily offline too.
It’s a roll-on application and less wastage.
Since age is not mentioned on the product, I assume it works on adults too. The picture shows an adult woman and a child with 4 dots each. So we use it as a family at home, at work and while traveling.

Cons

The base oil is not mentioned. I would definitely like to know.
I the smell of Mama earth I like better
Very expensive

Odomos natural:

Cream-based and needs to be applied to the exposed part. They have introduced Fabric roll on too , a price comparable with Goodknight Fabric roll-on.

5 Facts about Dengue which you must know(if you click on the link Dengue use code HWBVIP )

There are 4 types of Dengue virus and you can have Dengue fever up to four times. Its the concurrent or simultaneous infection with the Dengue virus which is dangerous.
Cleanliness is next to Godliness when it comes to mosquito-borne diseases. Keep your home and the area around your home clean. Don’t let garbage pile up. Don’t allow open containers with water to stand.

Talk to your local counselor and community members to make a plan for regular fumigation, spraying, and bleaching powder application. Make a hedge of citronella grass all around your building complex. Keep it in planters around the house. Citronella is a natural insect repellent and is the main component in the above two products.

In the case of Dengue fever, do not panic. Uncomplicated Dengue fever is the most common variant. Visit your doctor at the earliest.

The test, however, takes some time to be confirmed.

Do use a mosquito net for yourself and the affected person if he is suspected to be suffering from a mosquito-borne infection. You don’t want him bitten by another mosquito with a different strain of dengue virus. Also, you don’t want to be bitten by a mosquito who has bitten him.
Mosquitoes for Dengue fever bite during the daytime.

Visit your doctor if you have a high-grade fever and there is Dengue fever reported in your locality and you have any of the danger signs.

Read about other mama earth baby products here .

5 Best Wipes for Baby: Everything you want to Know!

6 Best Baby Oil for Baby massage in India

10 Best Natural Baby Lotion for Babies in India

Best Baby Laundry detergent

Baby face creams I love

Baby bottle cleaners

Update 2022 September:

Virulent strains of the Dengue virus can be dangerous for kids and the elderly and those who have pre-existing diseases like Diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney diseases. Early and judicious fluid therapy in an ICU setup is the mainstay of therapy in Dengue. Platelet transfusion acts as an adjunct. Cleanliness and preventive measures in neighborhoods, schools, and in all public and private places have no replacement.

Disclaimer: The information provided is for awareness. Visit your doctor in case of fever Any use of products on babies should be started after proper skin testing and consultation with a pediatrician. This is not meant as professional medical consultation.

Top post on IndiBlogger, the biggest community of Indian Bloggers

#SayYesToTheWorld Magical Roadtrip to Nainital #TheBlindlist

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on October 7, 2018 20

Magical road trips were always on my bucket list. I grew up with a hunger to see the world. When I was a kid, three of my favorite books were Enchanted woods, the Wishing chair and the Famous Five. The three series had two things in common.

Children going to unknown destinations and having adventures.
Magic helping them find those places, rescue them and bringing them back.

As a child, I traveled occasionally. But when I got married, my husband and I grew wings. We were earning a stipend, while doing our postgraduate studies in Delhi. After keeping aside money for sending back home, household expenses, study stuff for both of us and insurances we managed to save for travel. We also made two of our close friends scrimp money, because I had plans.

Plans of road trips!

Blindlist Magical Roadtrip: Looking back

Once upon a time, we hired a car and started on a road trip from Delhi towards Nainital. That was my first Blindlist experience. At nightfall when we were looking for suitable hotels, we found haunted mansions, creaking doors. scary caretakers and lovely family cottages. It was an amazing experience. Nainital was on my Bucketlist, but Khurpa Taal was not. You have to be openminded for enriching experiences. To find small hamlets, on the way to bigger destinations, you need to stop being afraid of getting lost!

I have plans to go on another such road trip in Uttarakhand. Where I will have friends and family with me,food in our car and find little known hilly nooks to explore. I want to live in tiny fairytale cottages with front gardens. My daughter and I will chase the butterflies and play in the gurgling stream.

I want to watch the sunrise and set over the snow-capped mountains in the distance. I want to go horse riding in the afternoon sun, with a picnic hamper. I also want plenty of chicken pakoras, cups of masala chai and simple home-cooked meals when I read my books, soaking in the afternoon sun. I would love to learn how to start a fire using sticks and stones, build a raft, go hiking and pebble picking by the streams.

I plan to try my hand at tree climbing, without fear of an audience laughing. I also want to try building a small makeshift cottage, with planks and stone. I want to soak in the sun, give rest to my ears, lungs, and eyes and remember how beautiful the world is, if only I say yes to the world

When you travel on a #Blindlist you travel to explore, it’s a journey into self-exploration. Can you survive? Do you have it in you? Share your Bucketlist and win . Participate here #SayYesToTheWorld

My other post in the #SayYesToTheWorld series

Mahabalipuram

Iceland

Durga pujo Kolkata food trip

Startling secrets about travel

Invest Karein Tarakki ke Liye: Invest for Health & Wealth (#Tarakkikarein with #BluechipBig)

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on October 5, 2018 22

Invest karein tarakki ke liye,invest for health and wealth is my life mantra.

When I cleared my pre-medical entrance exams, my mom opened my PPF account. She deposited the money required for it and I contributed from the earnings I made through my tuitions. When I passed MBBS and started getting my first internship stipend I started my first mutual fund. Interestingly my mom’s saving habits always influenced me. She used the envelope system, to separate spending and savings. She encouraged me to save for the future as well as enjoy having my own spending money from what I earned.

Every week or sometimes twice a week we went out to celebrate surviving internship. The treat was simple and tasty, mutton Biriyani from Beau, a little-known restaurant tucked away in a corner of Central Avenue in Kolkata. But I still saved. Back then none of my friends had a PPF or any savings plan. I was determined to have an investing plan from the very first. Then I cleared my post-grad medical entrance went to Delhi, bought my life insurance, medical insurance and started investing in mutual funds.

I have not looked back since.

I believe in the early savings habits. While daily health habits make you healthy, daily investing habits will make you wealthy. But before you start to invest, you must do some reading and research to decide where to invest, depending on your risk capacity. I was interested in moderate to high risks and hence had my eye on bluechip mutual funds. What are they? Oh, they are a secret way of growing your money, the way wealthy companies do!

[bctt tweet=”#BluechipBig helps you invest the way wealthy companies do!#Tarakkikarein the smart way !” username=”misra_amrita”]

Invest karein tarakki ke liye: Invest for health and wealth:Source ICICI Prudential

A blue-chip fund has stocks from large, well-established and financially sound companies who have operated for many years. A blue-chip stock will have a market capitalization in billions. And since they have a turnover in billions, are paying stable or rising dividends to their shareholders.

ICICI Prudential Blue chip fund is a market leader in this category, holding position 2 in the large-cap fund’s category by Crisil (for the quarter which ended in June 2018). The best thing about this fund is they are one of the biggest players in the market and they mean business. Their focus is no longer breaking even; they are growing and maintaining that growth. Even with slow markets, this fund always maintains or recovers their market leads.

ikarein with #BluechipBig:Invest for health and wealth

Why should you invest?

If my friends laugh at me for my conservative risk appetite, I am happy to tell them my mutual funds are for long-term planning and not short-term. This is the advantage that the ICICI Prudential Bluechip fund provides.

I have plans for my daughter to inherit them, as it’s one of our nest eggs. I am patient and don’t believe in quick rich schemes. When it comes to choosing between one major growth spurt and funds that constantly perform, I will always choose the latter.

What’s your opinion about saving money and investing it to grow? Let me know in the comments below.

Disclosure: This is an associated post as a Public Awareness initiative. I am not a qualified Financial Advisor and this is my personal experience and not to be taken as professional financial advice. Mutual funds are subject to market risk, read all scheme related documents carefully. All investment should be done after consultation with a suitable expert, according to own financial risk appetite. Read full disclosure here

References:

https://www.valueresearchonline.com/funds/newsnapshot.asp?schemecode=7517&utm_medium=vro.in
https://www.moneycontrol.com/mutual-funds/nav/icici-prudential-bluechip-fund/MPI392

Tula Pahate Re:TV Romances Surpassing Age Barrier (musings)

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on October 3, 2018 29

As a young adult reading Mills and Boon, an interesting thing had caught my eye.
The female protagonists were mostly younger and less worldly wise than the hero. I briefly wondered about this issue. It was almost always the prince rescuing a damsel in distress. The odds of a young women, finding a well-settled experienced older man to love, seems good. Marathi soaps are doing very well among television series exploring romances transcending the age barriers and other challenges.

Some of these popular shows include:

Tula Pahate Re a trendsetting popular romance surpassing age barrier. The hero falls in love with a young girl almost half his age. This has Subodh Bhave in the lead and his presence makes all the difference. The female lead is a fresh face and is a surprise factor. What’s interesting is how Subodh Bhave makes every scene look special and the magic in the air is obvious. Will age be a challenge in the blossoming romance? Can there be love? You have to watch the show to know more.

Radha Prem Ragi Rangali

Prem, a businessman, meets Radha, a teacher. They have different worldviews but love finds a way to enter their hearts and bring them together.

Kahe Diya Pardes

Gauri and Shiv are neighbors. Gauri is from South India and Shiv is a North Indian. They fall in love in Mumbai, and against all odds get married. They then shift to north India. Will their love survive these cultural differences?

Amruta Ghadge and family

The eternal struggle between the views of a mother- in law and daughter in law. This would have been a typical story of kitchen politics,

Wonder why these serials gain popularity? I have wondered the same. Romance with age and socio-economic or cultural differences are not new in reel life or reality. They bring forward an interesting viewpoint…Life after marriage is challenging enough even without additional hiccups. But If these TV serials are so popular, the audience must be identifying with the storyline to some extent.

My thoughts on love surpassing age barrier

Whatever the reason, I know one thing.
Love is special. You need to grab it when you find it. True love makes you feel happy and smiling from inside. It gives a feeling of coming home, wherever you are. It lets you live, grow and blossom in your own space.I t gives you insight. Love is difficult to define and can only be felt. You will know it’s life, only when you have felt it.

Life is meant to give you meaning. Love helps you find that. Sometimes options are limited and can be tricky. But love does come in different shape size and age.

When the world over celebrates love across race, gender, religion, and color it’s no wonder age is now just a number between consenting adults. The keyword is always consenting. Yes or no?
Let me know in the comments below.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. The views expressed are personal. Kindly read my full Disclosure.

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