West Bengal Cuisine

The city of joy, is what they call Kolkata, the capital of West bengal. A place where you will find everyone always on the run, with a population of over four million, people here are fond of food over anything else in general.

This region of India is famous for its sweets and seafood cuisine, situated in the bay of Bengal, every single house in this region is always abundant with rich food, ensuring a sumptuous meal for everyone.

Try any one of these dishes today and comment below of your delectable experience, the best entry will win an all-expense paid trip for you and your loved one.

1. Sandesh

Made with curdled milk and sugar, this a sweet which is tossed in heat for sometime, while it is crafted into different shapes and sizes. This sweet dish can be added with colour and nuts of different choices. Sandesh is blended with coconut or kheer. This sweet dish was made out of solidified kheer in them olden days, which provides the sweet with a soft texture. It is also filled with syrup. It is famous across the country for its golden colour. This colour comes from the addition of jaggery. The simplest form of sandesh is chenna mixed with sugar.

2. Chingri Fish

Chingri fish is a prawn curry mixed with coconut, for it is best served with rice. The spices are absorbed into the fish, while it is made out of mustard oil for added flavour. Otherwise an oil of high cooking point is used. When a person feels like eating royally, Chingri fish has enough flavour to quench all delicacies, and ideal to be served. The ingredients have to be sauted for a while before they absorb in the flavors from them spices, keeping the dish aside for a bit before serving. Malai (fresh cream) is also added to this dish for an added flavour.

3. Eleesh Fish

This fish can be cooked in very little oil for it is oily in nature, and rich in omega fatty acids, which lowers cholesterol and has unique health benefits. The fish is cooked in a variety of ways, while it is preferred to cook this dish in mustard oil. The fish can be smoked for a good flavour. Its smoked form with mustard seeds has been an important part of the Bengali diet. It is a marine fish, so it has very sharp bones making it hard for some to eat this mouthwatering delicacy. The fish should be consumed hot for it is oily which will make the fish both moist and soft. A satisfying meal for sure. A common tradition is to have eleesh with fermented rice for breakfast because that represents the Bengali new year.

West Bengal Handicraft

A state famous for its delectable delicacies, but have you ever wondered what makes Bengalis so creative? Maybe creativity is just a part and parcel of their tradition. Immerse yourself into the age old tradition of this beautiful state by purchasing a part of their cultural heritance at baazkart, the Indian online emporium.

1. Kantha embroidery

Kantha Embroidery is the most popular form of embroidery practiced by them rural women of West Bengal. The traditional form of Kantha embroidery was performed on soft dhotis, saris and dress materials. It is a simple continuous stitch made on them edges. When five to six layers of the cloth are embroidered together to form a quilt. Fewer layers of the cloth are used to make accessories for other purposes. The entire cloth is covered with running stitches of beautiful folk designs, and floral patterns, animal figures etched in geometrical shapes. Themes from day to day activities are commonplace for the embroidery, for these fabrics and dresses, the base fabric used is cotton and silk.

2. Sholapith craft

The people engaged in making sholapith craft are known as Malakar, otherwise known as “garland maker”, probably because they make wreaths out of shola for idols and nobility. Shola grows wild in marshy waterlogged areas. Sholapith is the core of a plant and is about 1.5 inches across. Traditionally sholapith products were used to decorate Hindu idols and create the headgears of brides and grooms for a traditional Bengali wedding.

3. Scroll paintings

Scroll paintings are one of the most famous and unique art forms of West Bengal. Popularly known as Pat Chitra in the state, it is a unique style of painting, very traditional, adhering to the local folklore. Artisans who specialize in this art form are known as ‘Patidars.’ A scroll painting is segregated into vertical compartments of different sizes, where each block comprises of a distinct episode from the story being narrated.

While making these scroll paintings, a thick cloth is treated with cow dung and lac. Outlines of the figures are sketched and drawn onto the fabric, with naturally-obtained color. Vegetable colors are then filled inside the outlines, adding brightness and longevity to the painting. Modern Patidars depict natural disasters, like storms, floods, and comment on social matters in their paintings.

Buy these authentically handcrafted items today, and realize that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, for these handicrafts come with a readymade tag which says ‘Truly India’. Buy these Bengali handicrafts today, and stand a chance to win yourself some exciting prizes.