As Kolkatta begins the final countdown to Durga Puja next month, the entire city starts to rev up for this awe-inspiring festival. As you walk through the alleys and by-lanes of the city, you’ll find artists and craftsmen hard at work putting the finishing touches on gigantic idols of the warrior goddess. Each idol is crafted by hand, a labour of love. You’ll also find teams erecting palatial canopies across the city, where the goddess is welcomed with reverence and devotion, as people come from the surrounding neighborhoods to pay tribute to her with flowers and sweets. Dramatic drum beats fill the air, and firecrackers light up the sky. Life in Kolkatta as we know it, comes to a standstill, as everyone steps out to mingle with families and friends, distributing sweets and enjoying delicious festive feasts into the wee hours of the morning.
Shorshe Ilish is the favourite dish of the season – Ilish is Bengal’s prized fish, delicately cooked in a creamy mustard sauce, and melts in your mouth. Ilish is a culinary delicacy and only available at certain times of the year, making it much sought after. Known for their culinary prowess, the Bengalis can debate the perfect Ilish for hours, but we recommend that you try the rest of the cuisine that makes its debut during this festive season. Kosha Mangsho is a rich and delicious mutton curry while Chingri Malai (fat shrimp cooked in creamy coconut milk) will leave your taste buds tingling. Labra is a delicious curry made with seasonal vegetables, while Beguni is a crispy eggplant dish, cooked in gram flour. But no true blue Bengali would allow you to leave the table without eating dessert. Creamy mishti doi, sugary roshagollas, melt in your mouth Sandesh… this is the stuff that sweet dreams are made of. Bengali feasts are long drawn out affairs as one savours the food and spices up the conversation with fiery debates. Down it all with a cup of fragrant tea straight from the slopes of Darjeeling and Kalimpong.
If you’re a foodie, Kolkatta is sheer delight. From Kolkatta Cheese to Kolkatta Kathi Roll to Kolkatta Chinese… the city’s dynamic cuisines before heading out into the Bengali countryside to discover a whole different array of food and then some more.
Bengal is one of the most culturally rich parts of India. Several pivotal moments in history took place in Bengal and it’s worth turning back the clock to discover them. Take a fascinating river cruise down the River Ganges or the Brahmaputra, as you meander through these vestiges of India’s past. If nature and wildlife intrigue you, then head over to the Sundarbans, the bastion of the Bengal tiger, and one of the most fascinating rainforests on the planet. Ask us today to plan your foodie journey through West Bengal.
