My Photography Page completes two years

So, I am back again after a gap of around one month. November is a special month for me for two days or maybe reasons. I was born on the 10th and on the 13th, my photography page Susmit Bharadwaj Photography was created two years ago. So, it has completed two years this year. In the meantime, it is noteworthy that I have also created another photography page from my Google+ account and it is also called Susmit Bharadwaj Photography. This page was created on September 19, 2015. I have started uploading my photos regularly on this page as well. It is worth mentioning that I received remarkable support from both my friends and acquaintances for my photographic endeavors. Hats off to them!

Over the last year, I took photos on different subjects such as Puja Parikrama, street lights and beautification of our area (Baishnabghata Patuli Township), Trip to Snake Park, Madhyamgram, Trip to Diamond Harbour, Trip to Kolkata Book Fair 2015, Trip to Patuli Nursery, Trip to Hridaypur (Barasat), trip to various photography group meets, flowers, birds and insects. I shared them on various photography groups and forums and garnered considerable applause from the members. All these photos are available in the form of albums on my Facebook photography page and individually on my Google+ photography page. Given below are the links of these two pages. Next blog coming up soon! See you till then.

Photography page links:
1) https://www.facebook.com/susmitbphotography/
2) https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/117028018452633282574/117028018452633282574/posts

Durga Puja Parikrama 2015

As I mentioned earlier in my posts that I am a resident of Baishnabghata Patuli Township, which of late has witnessed a number of changes over the past few years. Lying in the southern suburbs of Kolkata, Patuli has seen development in the areas of electrification, provision of water, maintenance of roads and lanes and sewage. All these developments have benefited the inhabitants of the area in a number of ways. As far as festivities and celebrations are concerned, Patuli is not lagging behind either. Durga Puja is observed here with the same pomp and glory as in other parts of Kolkata and West Bengal.

Durga Pujas celebrated in our area have garnered noteworthy recognition and awards in different categories including pratima or idol, pandal decoration, illumination, theme and others. I have been sincerely covering the Durga pujas celebrated in Baishnabghata Patuli Township and the adjacent areas for the last three years (2012, 2013 and 2014), and this year was no different. I picked up my camera to catch some of the moments of this famous Bengali festival.

The following pujas were covered by me: Baishnabghata Patuli Upanagari Sporting Club Sarbojonin Durgotsab, Baishnabghata Patuli Sarbojonin Durgotsab (H Block), Uttar Purba Baishnabghata Patuli Sarbojonin Durgotsab, Patuli Central Club Sarbojonin Durgotsab, Jatrashuru Sangha Sarbojonin Durgotsab, Kendua Shanti Sangha Sarbojonin Durgotsab, Rabindrapally Jubak Sangha Sarbojonin Durgotsab, Patuli Ghoshpara Sarbojonin Durgotsab, Briji Kalyan Samiti Sarbojonin Durgotsab, Srirampur Kalyan Samiti Sarbojonin Durgotsab, Garia Park Sarbojonin Durgotsab and Chaitali Club YMCA Sarbojonin Durgotsab. Besides, I went to SIRSA, the place where I lived from 1985-1995, to take few snaps. It is always a pleasant experience to go out during the Durga Pujas along with your reliable camera. I was surprised to see the zeal of people of all age groups to go out and catch the glimpses of this vibrant festival. I mostly used Canon EOS 1100D, Canon PowerShot SX500 IS, Micromax Canvas Doodle 3 and Nokia X mobile to take these snaps. Next blog coming up soon! See
you till then.

Photo album link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1059903314042026.1073741894.672990912733270&type=3

Why I chose Nikon Coolpix P600 as my next camera

As I mentioned earlier in my previous blogs that I have three cameras - Sony CyberShot DSC-S3000, Canon PowerShot SX500 IS, and Canon EOS 1100D, the last one being an entry-level DSLR camera. However, I was looking for an ultrazoom bridge camera and some of my photography enthusiast friends told me to go for Nikon. After browsing some of the latest products by Nikon, I decided to go for Nikon Coolpix P600.

So, I went to Harmony House, a well-known consumer electronics showroom near our house in Baishnabghata Patuli Township area. Cameras are available on the first floor. I went there on 12th October, 2015 and it was the auspicious day of Mahalaya. The salesman present there told me that there was a wonderful offer which would help me get a fabulous discount of around INR 3,000 on the price of Nikon Coolpix P600 and it was available for that particular day only. I went for it and bought it on finance. Given below is a sample image captured by this camera.

About Nikon Coolpix P600

Nikon Coolpix P600 is an ultrazoom bridge camera which was launched by Nikon about one and a half years ago. It has a number of similarities with an entry level DSLR camera, which help it put itself in a very high bracket as far as quality and efficiency are concerned. When it comes to the maximum equivalent focal length, P600 was the leader before Sony CyberShot DSC-H400 with 1550 mm MEFL was launched. P600 has a maximum equivalent focal length of 1440 mm. Given below are some other salient features of this outstanding camera:

• Type of image sensor: BSI-CMOS
• Maximum resolution: 16 megapixels (4608 x 3456)
• Image sensor size: 1/2.3 inch type (6.17 x 4.55 mm) 
• Lens: 24-1440 mm equivalent
• Recording medium: SD/SDXC/SDHC
• Shutter speeds: 1/4000s to 15s
• Focus-numbers: f/3.3-f/6.5 at the widest
• Custom White Balance: Yes
• Continuous shooting: Seven frames per second
• Rear LCD monitor: Three inches with 921,000 dots
• Weight: 565 gm inclusive of battery (quite heavy)
• Dimensions: 4.92 x 3.35 x 4.21 inches (125 x 85 x 107 mm)

Excellent image quality, 60x optical zoom, Wi-Fi and ease of use make it one of the most sought-after contemporary bridge cameras. In addition, it features an electronic viewfinder so users have the option to use the EVF or the LCD as per their convenience. You will find the viewfinder button just towards the right of the electronic viewfinder and this enables you to switch to and fro between EVF and LCD. An ideal choice for avid photographers who are looking for a very wide zoom range. Next blog coming up very soon! See you till then.

House sparrow captured at my friend's residence

Nowadays, house sparrows are a rare sight, thanks to the electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones and various other factors. Drastic reduction in the number of house sparrows also resulted from predation, lack of nesting places and illnesses. However, very few birds are still found in Kolkata and adjacent areas.

The scientific name of house sparrow is passer domesticus and it is a tiny bird, living in a large number of countries in the world. It is an indigenous bird to Europe, Asia as well as the Mediterranean area. This bird loves to stay close to human beings and has the ability to inhabit in both city and countryside areas. The bird typically feeds on insects, food grains and seeds but it also eats other varieties of foods. It has many predators such as domestic cats, squirrels, birds of prey including owls, hawks, and other birds.  

House sparrow, also known as চড়াই পাখি. has a strong cultural presence in India. A considerable portion of the Indian population keep it as a pet. The chirping of this bird is short and ceaseless and it is a contact call. As far as its social behavior is concerned, it is quite gregarious in nature.

On July 22, 2015, I went to a friend's house in nearby Patuli J block. He has built a nest box for housing sparrows and regularly feeds them with puffed rice and biscuits. As a consequence, flocking of house sparrows has become a regular affair. I had the opportunity there to click some snaps of this bird. The photo album link is given below. Next blog coming up soon! See you till then.

Photo album link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1012477248784633.1073741888.672990912733270&type=3 

The various natural wonders of our co-operative society garden

I live in Baishnabghata Patuli Township in the southern suburbs of Kolkata and similar to most other citizens of this picturesque township, I live in a multistoried co-operative housing society. The name of our society is Keramik and it is situated in Patuli J block. There is a garden bordering our co-operative society and it is full of various plants like Rangan (Ixora coccinea), Jaba (Hibiscus, both yellow and red), Telakucha (Coccinia indica or Coccinia grandis), Lily, Nayantara (Catharanthus roseus), Karola (bitter gourd) and so on.

Various birds also visit this garden such as sparrows, Common mynah, Red-vented bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer), Spotted dove (Spilopelia chinensis), and Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis) or Doel.  

Insects and other animals like shield bugs, snails, butterflies, moths, garden lizards, and dragonflies are regular visitors of this garden. On two occasions (August 13 and September 9, 2015), I had the opportunity to take some lovely clicks of butterflies and dragonflies perching on the leaves of the plants of this garden. The photo album links are given below. Next blog coming up very soon! See you for now.

Photo album links: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1041014505930907.1073741891.672990912733270&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.814907748541585.1073741863.672990912733270&type=3

Beautification of our area - Baishnabghata Patuli Township

Baishnabghata Patuli Township, lying in the southern suburbs of Kolkata, is a comparatively new area. Development started late in the nineties under the erstwhile Left Front Government. Since then, the place has undergone a number of changes in terms of electrification, construction and upkeep of roads and streets, water purification and supply, sewerage system and other areas. The development process is unceasing and the residents of the township are witnessing that quite well.

As far as lighting in Baishnabghata Patuli Township is concerned. sodium vapor lamps were already there to illuminate the roads. However, on 9th September, 2015, under the patronage and initiative of the newly elected councilor of our ward (Ward no 101 of KMC), Sri. Bappaditya Dasgupta, a number of trident lights were installed beside the water bodies in I and J blocks respectively. The trident lights contain three CFL lamps that are quite energy-efficient in nature. The idea was not only to beautify the area but also to enhance the illumination of the place so that pedestrian and vehicle movement could be made more convenient. These lights bring calmness to the ambience and the safety factor is also there. The entire environment of the place looks drastically different and we are thankful to the local people's representative for doing such a wonderful job. The link of the photo album clicked by me is given below. Next blog coming up very soon! Bye for now.

Photo album link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1042039892495035.1073741892.672990912733270&type=3

Why Chicken Biryani is my all time favorite fast food.....

To be very frank, my love for chicken biryani started from a very early age, say 16-17 years. If a survey is conducted, it will be found that the majority of Indians who love non-vegetarian food are biryani lovers and I am no exception. Different types of biryani are there, for example veg biryani, egg biryani, chicken biryani, fish biryani and mutton biryani. Known in different names, biryani is usually prepared with vegetables or seasoned meat with rice and spices are added to give it a zesty taste. 

Biryani is a popular dish in all over the Indian subcontinent. Of course, it is a main course dish since it is sufficient to fill the appetite of an adult individual. International varieties and styles of cooking are also there.

Origin of Biryani

There is no definite origin from where biryani was introduced in India. In the northern part of India, it is traditionally related to the Awadhi culinary art of Lucknow and the Mughlai culinary art of Delhi. On the other hand, biryani forms a part of the Hyderabadi cuisine in Southern India. There is a belief that the word 'biryani' was derived from the Persian word 'birinj', which stands for rice. People also say that this popular cuisine was brought to India by the Mughal rulers. However, some believe that biryani existed in Indian kitchens prior to Zahir-ud-din Babur's arrival to the country. Some people confuse biryani with pilaf or pulao, however these two are different dishes altogether. The amount of spices used in biryani is more than that of pulao. Moreover, biryani consists of two layers of rice and the vegetables or meat are placed in between these layers. The meat and rice are prepared separately in case of pulao, and subsequently are combined for the dum preparation. In contrary, rice is soaked first, then it is fried, and subsequently prepared with the spices and meat when it comes to biryani cooking.

Ingredients of Biryani

The ingredients of this popular mixed rice dish are rice, base (meat, vegetables, or egg), Indian spices, other ingredients as per choice such as dried fruits and yoghurt. Basmati rice is mostly used to prepare it. Seasonings and spices include but not limited to nutmeg, ghee (purified butter), pepper, mace, cardamom, cloves, bay leaves, cinnamon, mint leaves, coriander, onions, ginger, as well as garlic. On certain occasions, saffron is also used to enhance taste further. Biryani is best served with raita (a chutney prepared with yoghurt). chicken/mutton chap or kasha, korma or salad.  

How I love to have Biryani

I usually prefer to have biryani with a chicken chap or raita. Even if these two are unavailable, I don't mind. 

In conclusion, I must say that even if biryani is a very tasty dish, it is not good to eat too frequently. It contains high calorie, is a heavy food (difficult to digest), has high saturated fat and is known to add weight. So, eating it once or twice a month is okay. :-) 

Shield bug in my room (30/06/2015)

Yesterday evening, when I was browsing Facebook and other sites on my personal computer, I noticed an uncommon type of bug on the floor of my room. When I observed it closely, I found that it was a shield bug. The size is not bigger than a conventional 50 paise coin (quite rare nowadays) but it is quite different from the ants and insects that we see on a daily basis. It spurred my curiosity.

About shield bug

The shield bug belongs to the Pentatomoidea superfamily of insects of which the stink bugs and chust bugs are also a part. The shield bug is a part of Acanthosomatidae family (order - Hemiptera) and there are 54 genera in this family, comprising approximately 200 species. The Acanthosomatidae family is one of the least varied families of the Pentatomoidea superfamily. All bugs of this superfamily are characterized by their sucking mouthparts.

The scutellum or the toughened elongation of the thorax above the abdomen is quite well developed in these bugs. The shape varies from semi-elliptical to triangular and there are normally five sections of the antennae. There are two or sometimes three parts of the tarsi.

There is a gland in the thorax of the shield bug within the 1st and 2nd pair of legs which they use to emit a stinking liquid. They use this liquid as a means for protection from probable predators and also when they are treated incautiously.

The nymphs, like the adult bugs other than tinier and minus wings, have stink glands as well.

Some of these bugs feed on other insects and most of them (both adults and nymphs) make use of their sharp mouthparts for absorbing sap from plants. When these bugs create big groups, they can turn into substantial pests. The photo album link is given below.

Photo album link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1001731619859196.1073741886.672990912733270&type=3

Photogenic Group Meet and Discussion on Photography (Held at Abanindra Sabhagriha on June 6, 2015)

So, the members of Photogenic photography community gathered at Abanindra Sabhagriha near Nandan on Saturday, June 6, 2015. The occasion was the 2nd meet of Photogenic group and it was scheduled to discuss photography compositions and viewing and discussion of some selected photographs clicked by the members of the group.

The meet started sharp at 5 pm in the evening. The inaugural speech was delivered by Mr. Asok Samaddar, one of the admins of the group. He talked about the significance of organizing such meets and photography workshops for our group. Subsequently, some selected snaps of renowned photographers like Steve McCurry were shown on slide show. I had the opportunity to see the photograph which made McCurry famous and it is none other than the "Afghan Girl", originally shot in 1984. This photo was featured in the National Geographic magazine and has remained an icon since then. Mr. Samaddar also stressed on viewing photos from famous websites besides clicking them and increased participation in various photo contests.

Two mentors of our group, Mr. Goutam Mitra and Mr. Sanat Kumar Das, both members of prestigious photography associations of Eastern India, were present and they discussed about some of the exquisite photographs they captured during different periods. After this, the members were given the opportunity to showcase their works and talk a few words about their creations. Photographs of 20 participants were shown via projector. Both the mentors adeptly pointed out the positives and negatives of each photo and discussed how they could have been represented in a better way. We also enjoyed the snacks break in between the slide show of the members' photographs. At around 8 pm in the evening, the meet came to an end with the concluding speech by Mr. Samaddar regarding the forthcoming events organized by the group. I really enjoyed this meet and would look forward to more such meets by Photogenic in the future which would give me the real opportunity to learn the nuances of digital photography.

The photo album link of the meet is given below.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.986980324667659.1073741884.672990912733270&type=1

Red Hibiscus Flower in Yellow Hibiscus Plant (A rare phenomenon)

Hibiscus is a flower which is integral to the rituals and customs of Hinduism, especially Kali puja. Worshiping Goddess Kali remains incomplete if we don't offer red hibiscus flower to venerate her. There is a devotional Bengali song "Mayer payer jaba hoye othna phute mon", sung by many popular singers including Pannalal Bhattacharya. In the garden of our co-operative society (Keramik Co-Operative Housing Society in Baishnabghata Patuli Township), there are few hibiscus plants, which include both red and yellow hibiscus. One day, I noticed that the yellow hibiscus plant near the boundary wall of our premises has blossomed a red hibiscus flower and this is quite an uncommon sight for me.

The day before the same thing had occurred but I did not have the opportunity to see that or photograph that since someone plucked the flowers very early in the morning. This day, I did not let off the chance and entered the garden with my Canon PowerShot SX500 IS point and shoot camera. I took two snaps of the flower from the side because it was difficult for me to get a view from the front as there was not much space. The link of the two photos is given below. Next blog coming up soon!

Photo album link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.971206442911714.1073741883.672990912733270&type=3

Freedom of a Sandpiper (A lifetime experience)

When I went to Purbasthali, Chupi Char in Burdwan, last year, I had a wonderful experience and I would like to share this with everyone I know. I went there on 30th January 2014 along with my friends Bimalendu and Soumyadip and spent around four hours in the famous oxbow lake, clicking pictures of various indigenous and migratory birds. Birds from the distant Siberia can also be seen here during the winter months.

During our exciting boat ride, at around 12 o'clock, we noticed something odd in a particular area of the lake. A common sandpiper was trapped in a fishing net and it was in such a bad condition that it was impossible for itself to come out of the trap on its own. We immediately felt bad and tried to push our boat as close to the tangled bird as possible. It was in the middle of a ditch and due to shallow waters and other hindrances in it like branches of trees, weeds, and leaves, our boatman (majhibhai) faced tremendous difficulties to reach the spot. At last, we could reach there and free the bird from its predicament. I could not resist the temptation of taking a few shots of this bird of rare species and the link of the photos is given below.

About Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)

The common sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) is a tiny Palearctic wader bird. It belongs to the genus Actitis and hybridization also takes place between the green sandpiper and common sandpiper. Its wingspread is 32-35 cm and its length is around 18-20 cm for adults. It has some similarities with the spotted sandpiper but the latter is somewhat bigger in size. Common sandpiper usually feeds on insects, is gregarious in nature and prefers to live in flocks.
 
Photo album link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.718000324898995.1073741857.672990912733270&type=1

Trip to Hridaypur, Barasat (29/04/2015)

I often love to set out for small trips in and around Kolkata and click photos. 29th April (Wednesday) was one such day and I boarded the Barasat Garia bus at around 10:30 am in the morning. The destination was Hridaypur, an area in the municipal jurisdiction of Barasat. Parijat Bhattacharya, one of my friends whom I met on the Photogenic group meet, had invited me to his house. He is like my younger brother. It took me exactly two hours from Patuli to reach Dak Bungalow crossing. from where Petrapole (Bangladesh border) is 59.6 km and Krishnanagar (Nadia) is around 89 km. There is no specified limit of Hridaypur and Kora Badamtala joins it with Madhyamgram.

About Hridaypur

If you go by local train, the distance of Hridaypur railway station from Sealdah is around 21 km or 13 miles. You can also go there by bus and it would take around 2 hours to 2 hours 15 minutes from Garia, Hridaypur railway station forms a part of the Sealdah-Bongaon railway track. The railway track of Hridaypur railway station divides the whole locality into two - East and West Hridaypur. The closest bus stop is Dak Bungalow more. You can also get down at Hridaypur more, which lies at the intersection of Jessore Road and Hridaypur Station Road.

Hridaypur is not a very big place but the eastern segment stretches to NH (National Highway) 34. On the other hand, if you want to see the countryside areas, then you have to visit the western portion of the place, which is bigger than the eastern portion as well.

What makes Hridaypur famous

Hridaypur is mostly famous for Pranavananda Matri Ashram. This ashram serves as a public institution for caring for the orphan girls, set up with the concepts and doctrines of Swami Pranavananda, who established the Bharat Sevashram Sangha. There is a school inside the ashram, set up with the objective of educating the kids of the locality.

I was overwhelmed by the welcoming attitude at Parijat's home. They treated me like their family member. Some photos I clicked there are available in the following link.

Photo album link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.963877023644656.1073741881.672990912733270&type=1  

Photogenic Group Meet on April 19, 2015

April 19, 2015 is another day which will be etched into my mind forever. On this day, I attended the group meet of Photogenic, a photography group on Facebook with around 1,130 members. This was their second meet and I attended it for the first time. I only joined the group few days back and was overwhelmed by its warm, friendly and welcoming attitude towards the members.

19th was a Sunday and it was an idle afternoon for me. So, I decided to walk out and join the meet with my trusted companion 1100D. The venue was fixed at Rabindra Sadan and I reached there at around 4:15 pm.

Everything evolves with time and photography is no exception. Previously, photography was mostly meant for documenting some crucial events. However, the meaning of photography has changed. Photography is not only a means of documenting events, but also one of the most popular hobbies in the world. However, it still has to go a long way to get the status of other forms of art such as films, painting and sculpture. However, avid photographers like us can make a huge contribution towards turning photography into one of the best prevailing art forms in the world. In fact, we can work as indispensable elements in this noble endeavor.

As time passes by, we are gradually becoming inhabitants of a virtual world. With the advent of mobile photography and Internet, the trend of capturing photos has somewhat changed. We can't swim against the tide. However, our objective is to see photos, take photos, and discuss about photos. A number of practical aspects associated with photography were discussed at the meet and the outline of the discussion is given below:

1) Bi-monthly meetups: The group has the plan of arranging meetups after every two months at a venue convenient to all the members. Experienced photographers will be invited to share their valuable thoughts.

2) Photo-walks: Members are independent to go for photo walks. They just have to mention it on the group wall. No specific permission is required for this outing.

3) Photography exhibition: Photogenic also intends to organize a photography exhibition in January/February 2016 at The Academy of Fine Arts or Gaganendra Chitra Pradarshanshala. The idea is to get a sponsor. If no sponsor is found, members will make small personal contributions to make it successful.

4) Awarding members/photographers: Photogenic has the idea of awarding the best photographers of the group. Authors of the three best photos of the year will get this award. The award will be something which will help them advance into their domain of work.

5) World Photography Day: We all know that World Photography Day is on 19th August. The group has the plan of celebrating the day in a special manner, if possible.

6) Book publication in 2017 Kolkata Book Fair: If all these efforts become successful, the group also has the plan of bringing out a book with a compilation of photos clicked by all the members in Kolkata Book Fair 2017. People who are interested in photography will know more about our group through this initiative.

7) Registering the group: If everything goes fine, the group can also be registered in 2017. There are multiple advantages of this, especially in areas where special permission is required for photography.

Photo album link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.958160767549615.1073741880.672990912733270&type=1

Trip to Mohor Kunja (12/04/2015)

The 12th day of April 2015 will always remain a memorable day in my life. This is the first time I went for a meeting of a photography group of which I am a member. The venue of this trip was Mohor Kunja, lying just opposite to Rabindra Sadan and it was organized by the members and Admins of the photography group - Exposure - A Happy Family. The objective of this gathering was to hold a general meeting of the members of this group and discuss the long-term objectives of the group. Besides this, an executive committee was also elected. The meeting started at around 3:30 pm in the afternoon and broke up at around 6 pm. I had the chance to communicate with a number of experienced photographers who were mostly senior to me.

After this, we had some tea and refreshments and visited a photography exhibition organized by Light and Shadow at Gaganendra Shilpa Pradarshanshala or Kolkata Information Center. It was a memorable experience for me and I am looking forward to more such trips.

A brief history of Mohor Kunja

Mohor Kunja, erstwhile Citizen's Park, is a popular urban park in the city. It is situated just opposite Rabindra Sadan, on Cathedral Road. It was first opened for the public in 2005 and then its name was Citizen's Park. The name of the park was changed to Mohor Kunja in 2007 in order to pay tribute to Kanika Bandyopadhyay, eminent Rabindrasangeet singer, who is famous among all Bengalis as Mohordi. Mohor Kunja is a top tourist draw in Kolkata not only for its musical fountains or lush green lawns, but also for its outdoor stage for organizing various cultural programs. There is no entry fee for this park.

Photo album link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.954142464618112.1073741879.672990912733270&type=1 

Trip To Patuli Nursery (11/02/2015)

There are a number of nurseries in Baishnabghata Patuli Township. They are closely located to Dhalai Bridge, just before Shahid Khudiram Metro Station. They draw a considerable number of onlookers and customers on a daily basis. People who love flowers throng these places and look for their favorite choices. Starting from Patuli four-point crossing, these flower vending shops are scattered along both sides of the Eastern Metropolitan Bye-pass.

Types of flowers displayed in these nurseries

Flowers displayed here in these nurseries include but not limited to orchids, petunia, rose, sunflower, hibiscus, ornamental cabbage, nayantara (Catharanthus roseus), marigold, strawberry and so on. These plants are regularly watered and tended by a number of people who work for the owners of these nurseries. There are many nurseries across Kolkata but these nurseries are quite big in comparison to them, displaying a wide array of known and unknown flowers.

I went there along with my photography enthusiast friend Kunalda on 11th February, 2015 and clicked around 120 photos with my Canon EOS 1100D. The photo album link is given below. This might help those who are keen to buy flowers to decorate their balcony or lawn.

Photo album link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.921679677864391.1073741876.672990912733270&type=3

Trip To Kolkata Book Fair 2015

I am a bookworm and I don't miss the Kolkata Book Fair at any cost unless there is something extremely urgent in my work schedule. This year was no different. I went there along with my friend Kunalda on Fourth February.

About the Kolkata Book Fair

Kolkata Book Fair, also known as the International Kolkata Book Fair in English and কলকাতা বইমেলা বা কলকাতা পুস্তকমেলা in Bengali, is a fair which is held during the winter months in Kolkata. The fair is famous for a number of reasons, for example it is the book fair attracting highest number of visitors in the world and also the biggest book fair in Asia. Kolkata Book Fair has attained the position of the biggest non-commercial book fair in the world, as well. We Bengalis should feel proud to know that Kolkata Book Fair features the third largest yearly collection of books only next to the Frankfurt Book Fair and the London Book Fair. We the residents of Kolkata regard this fair as an integral part of our cultural heritage. This fair opens up an opportunity for a multifaceted display of books, culture, and art under a single roof and is visited by around 2-2.5 million people every year. Previously, the venue was Kolkata Maidan. However, nowadays it is held at the Milan Mela ground, just opposite Science City Auditorium. The organizer of this fair is Book Sellers and Publishers Guild.

Kolkata Book Fair 2015   

Every year, there is a central theme for this fair and this year, the focal theme for the fair was Great Britain. This was the 39th edition of the fair (the first one being held in 1976) and it continued from 27 January to 8 February. Though I did not take my camera with me, some mobile clicks are available in the link given below.

Photo album link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.917100098322349.1073741875.672990912733270&type=3 

Puja Parikrama (Patuli and adjoining areas)

I live in Baishnabghata Patuli Township, which is a comparatively new area in the southern suburbs of the city. A number of Durga Pujas are held in my area some of which earn notable rewards and recognition in various criteria such as pandal decoration, idol, lighting and so on. So, in three consecutive years (2012, 2013, and 2014), I went out with my camera to capture some of the views of this popular festival.

I mostly covered Patuli Central Club, Baishnabghata Patuli Sarbojonin Durgotsab, Uttar Purba Baishnabghata Patuli Durgotsab, Kendua Shanti Sangha, Jatrashuru Sangha, Patuli Ghoshpara Sarbojonin Durgotsab, Rabindrapally Sarbojonin Durgotsab, and Chaitali Club. Going out during the festive season with your trusted camera is fun, especially when it comes to Durga Puja. The enthusiasm among people visiting pandals till the wee hours of the morning is noteworthy. I mostly used Sony Cybershot DSC-S3000 and Canon PowerShot SX500 IS to capture these shots.

Photo album links: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.844957318869961.1073741867.672990912733270&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/susmitbharadwaj/media_set?set=a.600673493322704.1073741828.100001401776652&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/susmitbharadwaj/media_set?set=a.436919276364794.101272.100001401776652&type=3

Trips To Victoria Memorial (1 and 2)

I went to Victoria Memorial, one of the most famous architectural landmarks in Kolkata, on two occasions. The first trip was a solo trip and on the second one, I was accompanied by Kaushikda, who is also a photography enthusiast like me. The first trip took place on February 8, 2014 and the latter on September 18, 2014.

A Brief History of Victoria Memorial

Victoria Memorial, also known as the Victoria Memorial Hall, is a museum situated on the Maidan, by the riverbanks of the Hooghly river. This Indo-Saracenic revivalist style architectural wonder was constructed by William Emerson, a famous British architect. The construction activities began in 1906 and completed in 1921. So, it took almost 15 years to finish the construction work of this architectural marvel. It was built to pay homage to Queen Victoria and recently has been transformed into a tourist draw and museum and is under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. David Prain and Lord Redesdale planned the lawns of this place and when you visit this, you will see a blend of Egyptian, Venetian, Islamic and Deccani pattern architecture in this masterpiece. The entire building was constructed with marble.

Location

The closest metro station is Maidan and the address is Queen's Way, Kolkata, WB, India. It is just within walking distance from the metro station and Jawaharlal Nehru Road. A number of BBD Bag< Howrah and Esplanade bound buses also ply near this area.

Things To See

The Angel of Victory, a statue, lies over the central dome of the memorial. In addition, there are other attractions like the Royal Gallery, the Calcutta Gallery, the National Leaders Gallery, central hall, the Portrait Gallery, the Arms and Armory Gallery, the Sculpture Gallery, the lakes and the gardens. King Edward VII memorial arch is another aspect to be seen here and there are statues of governor generals such as Cornwallis, Hastings, Wellesley, Clive, Bentinck, Ripon, Curzon and Dalhousie.

Photo album links: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.719089784790049.1073741858.672990912733270&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.838911719474521.1073741866.672990912733270&type=3

Trip to Rabindra Sarobar on 21/07/2014

Rabindra Sarobar. also known as Dhakuria Lake, is a must visit among all the tourist draws in Kolkata My City. It is a man-made lake, situated in the southern part of the city. This huge water body is surrounded by Rashbehari Avenue to the west, Southern Avenue to the north, Suburban Kolkata railway tracks to the south, and Dhakuria to the east. Morning walk, jogging, picnic, sports, and offering prayers to the sun are some of the common activities noticed here.

A brief history of Rabindra Sarobar (Dhakuria Lake)

This lake was created in the early 1920s by the Calcutta Improvement Trust (CIT). Formerly, it was known as Dhakuria Lake due to its proximity to the Dhakuria area. However, in 1958, the name was changed to Rabindra Sarovar to pay homage to the world famous Bengali author and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

Gardens, children's parks, and an auditorium (Nazrul Mancha) are some prime features of this area. People mostly visit the place for recreation. There are a range of migratory birds that visit this place during the winter months. However, the count is falling most probably due to the increasing extent of pollution. Fishing is stringently banned in this lake and the water body contains different types of fishes.

Landmarks

The landmarks in and around Rabindra Sarobar lake are Mukta Mancha, the sole Japanese Buddhist Temple of Kolkata, Rabindra Sarobar Stadium (a football stadium), a mosque, and a number of swimming and rowing clubs, namely Calcutta Sports, Anderson, and Lake Friends. The lake lies within walking distance from the Ramakrishna Mission, Golpark. It can be easily reached from both Rabindra Sarobar Metro Station and Tollygunge Railway Station.

Photo album link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.808250155874011.1073741862.672990912733270&type=3

Trip to Purbasthali (Chupi Char) on January 30, 2014

Purbasthali is a tiny village lying in the Kalna subdivision of Burdwan district. The distance from Sealdah is almost 125 km. The most convenient means of going to Purbasthali is boarding the Sealdah-Katwa local. It will take around three and half hours to reach there. Purbasthali is mostly famous for its oxbow lake, also known as Chupi Char. The oxbow lake is huge in size and was the creation of the Ganges river. The distance from the famous pilgrimage site of Nabadwip is just eight kilometers. The length of the lake is around 2-3 km and is home to a range of migratory birds, especially in the winters.

My companions in this tour were Bimalendu whom I met in CKBS and his friend Soumyadip. We boarded the Sealdah Katwa local from Bidhannagar Road station at around 8 am in the morning and reached Purbasthali at around 11 am. Auto rickshaws and vans are available at the station for visiting the oxbow lake, a prime attraction during the winter months. Boats and canoes are available on hire for touring the lake because one cannot get a close view of the migrant birds if they don't go for a boat ride on this lake. The rates differ depending on the time for which you are hiring a boat. We had the opportunity to view a number of birds coming from as far as Siberia. Asian Openbill Stork, Bronzed Drongo, Common Sandpiper, Little-ringed Plover, Red-crested Pochard, Common Greenshank, Common Teals, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Indian Pond Heron, Little Cormorant, Northern Pintails, Pheasant-tailed Jacanas, and Small Pratincole are some of the commonly found bird species in this place.

Photo album link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.714551041910590.1073741855.672990912733270&type=3

Trip to Chintamoni Kar Bird Sanctuary (Narendrapur) on January 21, 2014

There are a number of bird and wildlife sanctuaries in West Bengal and Chintamoni Kar Bird Sanctuary, also known as CKBS, is one of them. Closely located to Ramkrishna Mission Narendrapur, the sanctuary is also called as Kayaler Bagan. Visitors come here to see a wide assortment of birds which is often a rare spectacle in the city or metropolitan areas. Those who want to visit this bird sanctuary can avail the metro rail and get down at Kavi Nazrul metro station. Plenty of buses and auto rickshaws are available from this place to CKBS. The nearest railhead is Narendrapur, 15 km from Sealdah.

My visit to Chintamoni Kar Bird Sanctuary is also memorable for another reason. This was the occasion when I met another photography enthusiast Bimalendu Hazra, a medical student from the Midnapur district. Though he was much younger to me, I mingled with him quite easily and clicked a number of shots together.

CKBS is mostly known for its collection of avifauna, ferns, orchids and butterflies. It was set up in the year 1982 and has emerged as a popular destination for birdwatching. The place usually remains crowded during the weekends. The name of this reserve forest was changed from Narendrapur Wildlife Sanctuary to Chintamoni Kar Bird Sanctuary in order to pay homage to the well-known sculptor Chintamoni Kar. If you visit there, you will mostly see birds like Asian Koel, Indian Pond Heron, Cattle Egret, Scaly-breasted Munia, Jungle Babbler, Long-tailed Nightjar, Green Bee-eater, Kingfisher (both White-throated and Stork-billed), Dove (Common Emerald and Spotted) and Woodpecker (Rufous and Streak-throated).

The link to some more photos is given here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.709378279094533.1073741853.672990912733270&type=3

Visit Susmit's profile on Pinterest.

Trip to Snake Park, Badu, Madhyamgram

January 5, 2015 (Monday) was a wintry day. However, that did not stop me from going out for a trip to Snake Park at Badu, Madhyamgram. I have been contemplating to visit that place for a considerable period of time but was not getting the time due to my busy schedule. I got it on Monday and did not miss the opportunity. So, I picked up my trusted mid-range DSLR Canon EOS 1100D and set off for Madhyamgram. My companion on this tour was Kunal Putatunda da, a man who is also interested in photography like me. At around 9 am in the morning, we boarded the Garia-Barasat long route bus from Garia bus stand. We reached Madhyamgram Chowmatha at around 11 am and took an auto rickshaw from there to reach Badu, our destination. Calcutta Snake Park was established in 1977 and its distance from Madhyamgram Railway Station is around 5 km and from Dumdum Airport, it is 10 km. Bus no 93 from Bagbazar can also take you there.

The Snake Park houses a number of venomous and non-venomous snakes. The ornamental snake or Kalnagini is a top draw of this zoo. We also saw a number of monitor lizards in the zoo such as the yellow monitor (Varanus flavescens), the water monitor (Varanus salvator) and the land monitor (Varanus bengalensis). Crocodiles are a major attraction of this zoo and park. There are a number of marsh crocodiles (crocodilus palustris), drawing a significant number of visitors. In addition, there are some rare species of birds (avifauna) which include both Indian and foreign birds that you can see. We kept on clicking the shutters till the time we really got exhausted. After eating lunch at a streetside hotel in Madhyamgram Chowmatha, we returned home by 4 pm that day.

Photo album link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.900200173345675.1073741873.672990912733270&type=3

Trip To Diamond Harbour on January 12, 2015

On Monday (12/01/2015) morning, I along with my friend Mr. Kunal Putatunda went to Diamond Harbour. We boarded the Diamond Harbour local from Baghajatin Railway Station at 9:15 am in the morning and reached there at around 10:40 am. Diamond Harbour is approximately 50 km from Baghajatin and a popular weekend tourist destination in the South 24 Parganas. However, the importance of Diamond Harbour as a tourist spot has waned over the years, especially due to emergence of other popular weekend spots like Mandarmoni, Bakkhali, Tajpur, Garchumuk and so on.

Lying in the southern suburbs of Kolkata, Diamond Harbour is a small town forming a part of the South 24 Parganas district. It is close to the Mohona or the meeting point of the Hooghly River with the Bay of Bengal. This place was previously called Hajipur and you will also see the remnants of a fort, probably set up by the Portuguese. Local people call it the fort of Chingrikhali or Purono Kella. There is also a lighthouse. If you want to see the 32 Kopat or lock-gate, you need to go for a launch ride from Diamond Harbour jetty to Kukrahati (Purba Medinipur). Diamond Harbour serves as the gateway to many other nearby places such as Kakdwip, Gangasagar, Bakkhali and Namkhana. There are many small hotels where you can stay for the day.

Now, back to our trip. Obviously, we had our cameras with us and they never remained silent. I carried my Canon PowerShot SX500 IS since it has a good zoom lens. Besides natural beauty and seaside shots, we also took snaps of two huge container ships. After capturing around 65-70 snaps, we ate lunch at a local hotel and boarded Diamond Harbour local at 2 pm. By 3:30 pm in the afternoon, we were back home.

Photo album link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.905286732837019.1073741874.672990912733270&type=3

The Free Bird Post....: Some Fiction, Some Truth; A series (Short Stories)...

The Free Bird Post....: Some Fiction, Some Truth; A series (Short Stories)...: The Thatched Roof And the roof turned ready...Straw, water reed, sedge, heather all headed together, all layered upon one another and t...