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Culture
Kolkata is the cultural capital of the country. The people of the city
are known for their aesthetic sensibilities. Their appreciation of art
and literature is a well known fact. Like the rest of India Kolkata has
not only conserved its rich heritage but has assimilated and enriched
its culture through centuries.
 Being basically an agricultural region, it has a rich
tradition of folk music, dance, art and craft. Nobel laureate
Rabindranath Tagore had created his own style of music and dance which
had a profound influence on the Bengali psyche and still continues to do
so today. The cultural scene of Kolkata will not be complete if western
music is not mentioned. This city was already rocking to jazz, blues,
country, rock and roll and pop western music when the rest of the
country wasn’t even aware of their existence. This city appreciates
Indian classical music as much as it appreciates the works of western
classical maestros. Every musician worth his salt acknowledges the fact
that Kolkata knows its music and has the most knowledgeable audience.
 The Kolkata Book fair is an annual event which is
observed like a ritual. The Bengalis are avid book lovers and read both
Bengali and English books with equal enthusiasm. Poetry reading,
theatre, book reading sessions, seminars, debates are a part of the
literary circle in Kolkata.
Many prominent artists of the country come from this
part of the country. The Bengal School of Art founded by Abanindranath
Tagore has a distinct and unique style. Jamini Roy, Ganesh Pyne, Bikash
Bhattacharya, Nanda Lal Bose and Ramanada Bandopadhay, to mention a few,
belong to this genre.
The art of burnt clay or terracotta belongs to this
region and so does the embroidery of kantha which never fails to amaze
one with its intricate designs and craftsmanship.
The Bengal cotton sari has draped the Bengali woman
and now the rest of India down the ages. The handloom fabric is most
sought after textile for its quality, durability and price.
The European influence is evident in its old
buildings. However the architecture of the temples in West Bengal is
different in style and character from the north and south Indian
temples.
The people of Kolkata like the rest of India believe
in the belief that a guest is a representative of God and therefore
hospitality is observed like a religion. However every other Indian
agrees that Kolkata exudes warmth and is the friendliest city in India.
People will run to the aid of absolute strangers and go out of their way
to make visitors feel at home. The city is otherwise safe and has a low
crime rate when compared to other metro cities. |
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