I am aware that I have few other posts pending on my blog. Post on a couple of previous trips and a Liebster Award post. But, I can’t wait to write this one, cos I feel indebted to post this. I am writing this post after an awesome trip from Kolkata. If you are wondering what made me travel all the way from Chennai, it’s my best friend Srijani’s wedding with Apurba. A wedding I can’t miss. This is probably the longest post I ever wrote. Also, bare with my extraordinary photographic skill and image quality of the pics.
The city of Kolkata:
I was very excited to travel to Kolkata. This old, rustic ex-capital of British India (until 1911) doesn’t need much introduction, as the city is well known for arts, literature and food. It’s been home to many great souls like Swami Vivekananda, Subhas Chandra Bose, Satyendra Nath Bose, Sri Aurobindo, Satyajit Ray etc. Notable Nobel laureates like Rabindranath Tagore, Sir C. V. Raman, Mother Teresa and Amartya Sen are very closely associated with this city, that’s 4/5 total Nobel laureates of India. People of this place, Bengalis are said to be very patriotic. No wonder it’s the birthplace of India’s national anthem “Jana Gana Mana” and national song “Vande Mataram”.
The Long Train Journey:
With all that excitement, I boarded Howrah Mail on the midnight of 19th Jan 2016 with my friend Shaul Hameed and his wife Humaira Thasneem Hameed. I am still wondering why 15-day train journey felt so short and this 29 hours journey felt dragging. Most time was spent on reading a book and watching sitcom episodes. Fast forward, we reached Howrah station on the early morning of 21st Jan.
Howrah Welcomes You
Hoodie Traveller
The Bengali Wedding:
Day 1:
Though was tired, we reached the marriage hall by the morning. Many rituals were carried out by the bride’s side in parallel while we were whiling up the time clueless. You wouldn’t expect people to literally stuff yummy rasgullas into your mouth, that’s what my friend’s sweet sister did. She doesn’t stop with that, she also made sure to apply a mix of sandal and turmeric on my face after the haldi function. I made sure that she doesn’t miss my friend Shaul. Believe me; it’s tough to outrun her. For breakfast, we were served Luchi and Alur Dum, Bengali version of poori and potato masala. Followed by an awesome lunch, the menu is a reflection of Bengali’s love towards fish. Post lunch we decided to take a break, go back to our room, freshen up and be back for the main marriage event by the eve.
SJ in traditional Bengali bride attire
Sj and her dad performing rituals
Rituals on process
Clock tower, spotted on the way
As planned, I and Shaul went to the wedding in traditional attire, we draped Vetti a.k.a dhoti in south Indian style and wore a dark colour shirt. We stood out in the crowd, just think of two guys wearing Vetti Sattai in a traditional Bengali wedding, how funny does that sound. I never felt this involved in any of my friend’s marriage. It’s common to be treated as a guest in friend’s marriages, but my friend Srijani’s family went a step ahead. They treated me as one in their family. I was really moved when I was given the honour of welcome the groom when he arrived and to escort him to the wedding altar. That’s like the greatest honour a friend can get at his friend’s wedding, cos here it’s usually done by the bride’s brother. Then, there is a ritual where the bride is made to sit on a low wooden stool, lifted and taken around the groom seven times. The lifting is usually done by the bride’s brothers, but they included me also in lifting and that was one awesome experience. The main marriage got concluded as the groom applied vermilion on the bride’s forehead. The day ended with an awesome dinner which includes aromatic Kolkata style mutton biryani, fish tikka, mutton curry, rasgullas and kulfi. It was already midnight when we reached our room, what a day it was.
SJ and her mom
The groom on his throne
Shankh (conch shell) being played
Day 2:
As I am an early bird I woke up early as usual, but the love birds with whom I came along, didn’t. I tried watching a couple of sitcoms episode but got bored soon. So, I walked 8 Kms on the busy roads of Kolkata, It was fun. On the way back to my room, I had tea from a roadside shop and was shocked by the serving size. The cup reminded of measurement cup in tonic bottles, probably one-third of what they serve in Chennai. It was already noon when the couples woke up and got ready and we headed back to the marriage hall. As all the main marriage events got concluded yesterday itself, It’s just the supplementary events today. The bride and the groom are made to play small ritualistic games; probably it’s kinda warm up before the big game ahead. Again, yet another awesome lunch with 4 fish dishes, can’t ask for more. With some time left, we thought to roam around.
Goddess Kali
Goddess Durga
Rustic blue city busses
Kids made their own ground to play cricket, can’t expect anything less from Dada’s fort.
Yellow Taxis
Got no one along, so selfie with the bus 🙂
Mini Bus
It was already noon when the couples woke up and got ready and we headed back to the marriage hall. As all the main marriage events got concluded yesterday itself, It’s just the supplementary events today. The bride and the groom are made to play small ritualistic games; probably it’s kinda warm up before the big game ahead. Again, yet another awesome lunch with 4 fish dishes, can’t ask for more. With some time left, we thought to roam around.
Post wedding rituals
Find the hidden ring in the pot game
Yet another warm up game 😉
Finding Nani Lal Gosh:
When asked for good places nearby to get rasgullas, my friend’s brother suggested “Nani Lal Gosh”. Though we were heavy after a sumptuous lunch, we decided to try this place before going anywhere else. After enquiring directions and couple of misdirection, we finally reached there. We had yummy Nolen Gur (date palm jaggery) rasgulla which can be got only in the winters and Rabdi too. My friends also tasted the famous Mishti Doi (sweet yogurt) and they loved it. Believe me; this small place is worth the long walk.
Nolen Gurer Rosogolla
Rabri or Rabdi
The Victoria
Not secret, but the memorial. We reached a bit late, thanks to narrow streets and heavy traffic. As the result, we couldn’t get the museum passes and could avail only the garden passes. We spent some time clicking pics walking around the memorial. As we couldn’t make it to the museum today, we unanimously decided to visit back this place first thing in the morning tomorrow.
Victoria Memorial – Garden View
Queen Victoria – The Empress of India
Selfie with the Empress
Beautiful
The Howrah and The Ghats of the Ganges
After missing to meet Queen Victoria, we decided to go to BabuGhat so that we could experience the ferry ride to Howrah. To my surprise, the ticket cost is just Rs.5 per person. We enjoyed the ride as the Howrah Bridge looked strong and beautiful at night. Once done with the ride, we also decided to walk across the bridge. The bridge was too crowded, still we managed to walk and click some pics. That’s all for the day, we returned back to our room by midnight.
Babu Ghat – The entrance for howrah ferry
Ferry ticket, that costs only 5 Rs.
Ferry Selfie
Howrah Bridge beaming at night
Busy Howrah Bridge
One Howrah Selfie
Visiting Victoria Again
Victoria MemorialFirst thing in the morning, we took a taxi to Victoria memorial. It’s a huge white marble museum built to commemorate 25 years reign of Queen Victoria in India. As all of us were hungry, we had Luchi-Alur Dum and Chow Mein for breakfast, what a contrast. This time, we were lucky to get museum passes. While my enthusiasm to visit the museum is boiling up, the couples were busy with nature photography around the memorial. Luckily they finished before I reached my threshold of waiting for them. We were allowed into the museum after security check and were asked to switch off our electronic devices as photography is prohibited in there. The main museum housed many artefacts related to British rule in India, mainly weapons that were used at that point in time. One mustn’t miss the paintings in the royal gallery which illustrates the life history of Queen Victoria. If you are interested in the history of Kolkata, then don’t miss the Calcutta gallery in there. A visit to Kolkata wouldn’t be a complete without this place.
Entrance ticket
Another view from the garden.
The other side
The dome, The max i could click without the securities noticing
Breaking the rules selfie
Princep Ghat
This monument along the banks of the Ganges was built in the memory of James Princep who was an eminent Anglo-Indian scholar. His works were so great that this was built by crowd funding people of Calcutta, which was 12,000 Rs in 1841. Later this place was renovated and maintained by Public Works Department of Kolkata. It’s one of the most happening tourist spots in Kolkata, especially for couples. You could see couples all around clicking pics and taking a boat ride on the Ganges. I can’t forget the chillness of the Ganges, the chillness that touched my spine when my bare foot touched the water. Wish I had an extra pair of clothes to take a dip. Then I remembered that I haven’t got anything for my family. So, it’s time for some shopping.
Vidyasagar Setu – the Second Hooghly Bridge
Princep Ghat
Me, by the Ganges
The Second Hooghly Bridge
Couples boating along the river
The Esplanade Shopping
It’s a short travel from Princep Ghat. All I wanted to get was a Bengali Cotton Saree for my mom and a Salwar for my sis, for which I needed the help of Shaul’s wife. But, the couples were busy with their own shopping, so I decided to part apart and try my luck.
The Couples Dilution
If you are single, especially guys, it’s better to avoid planning a trip with couples unless it’s inevitable like this one. No offence couples, this benefits both. The problem is the difference of preference. They might prefer places while you prefer experiences. They might be less flexible, comfort seeking and do things in leisure. More than all, it’s constant guilt of invading their privacy.
The Tram Ride
It’s something Shaul & Co. shouldn’t have missed. Visiting Kolkata and not experiencing a tram ride is similar to visiting Chennai and not going to marina beach. After parting from the couples, I searched for shops for Bengali Cotton Saree, but that too failed as most shops there sold trendy stuff. Then, I decided to at least experience the tram ride. Somehow I enquired and found the nearby college road tram line. I was excited to see the tram approaching and boarded it when it stopped. Again the ticket is flat Rs. 5, which is very cheap. I enjoyed the ride; it felt like a bus moving a bit slower over the rails. The funnier part was people staring at me wired, I presume my excitement and me clicking pics must be the reasons.
Here comes the Tram
It’s just two busses connected together and runs on the rail
Tram ticket, just 5 Rs.
Tram Selfie
Inside the Tram
Tram Driver
The Crafts Shop
I came back to Esplanade empty handed to join Shaul, A small guilt of not getting anything for mom and sis still stuck to me. I found interesting things on display while I crossed the shop and decided to check on the same. I got myself a small terracotta Rabindranath Tagore statue, which will be my official souvenir of this trip. I got sis an artistic box with a glass painting and mom a Sholapith Durga wall hanging. When I went to the billing counter to pay for my items, I saw an old man sitting at the counter, he must be around 70. Hearing my worst Hindi, he enquired where I am from. I saw his calm wrinkled face glowing and turned smiling when I replied “Chennai”. I was completely flabbergasted when he asked me “eppadi irukenga”, that’s “how are you” in Tamil, my mother tongue. While I was still standing speechless, he continued, that he used to work in madras (former name of Chennai) and Coimbatore 40 years back and still got friends there. He also added that he like the people there. That’s something really sweet to hear. I left the place after thanking him for those kind words.
Small Tagore – The official souvenir of this trip
The Metro Ride
Did I tell you that we were personally invited by the groom for yet another function at his home? It’s a kinda reception where close relations from the bride side visits the groom’s house and they were treated there. To reach the groom’s home, we must join with my friend’s family first. We were advised to take a metro and then an auto to reach there. So, we took a metro from Esplanade to Shobhabazar. The fare is only Rs. 5 and the maximum fare is Rs. 25 which is very cheap comparing to Rs. 40 in Chennai. Transportation in Kolkata is really cheap compared to other cities. As usual, I could notice people eying us wired, probably cos of the strange language we were talking and wouldn’t have seen people taking selfies in the metro. They might have no idea that we go in metro only to take selfies. Trivia: Kolkata metro is the first underground railway system in India.
5 Rs Kolkata Metro Ticket
Metro selfie with shaul
The Sweet Surprise
Somehow we managed to reach my friend’s house. As we arrived we were served with rasgullas and samosas. Wait, rasgulla is not the sweet surprise anymore, they serve it at every other meal here, and there is one more much sweeter. SJ’s mom gifted me and Shaul awesome shirt and trouser fabric. She also gave Shaul’s wife a traditional Bengali cotton Saree. That time, I kinda felt bad that I couldn’t get one for my mom. So, I told the same to aunty expecting her that she would point me to a better place where I would get one. But, she patiently listened to all these and left the place just replying “ok”. First I thought that she is busy with the arrangements and resumed eating rasgullas. After a while, she stepped in with a couple of sarees in her hand and asked me which one I would like to take for my mom. I was dumbstruck for a while and that’s the sweet surprise guys, sweeter than those rasgullas itself. Out of the two, I chose the one which suits my mom, a beautiful yellow colour one. I couldn’t thank her enough for that much love; it might be one which she bought for herself to wear on a special occasion. I was delighted and beaming with smile and joy. One must have seen me dancing out of joy when she left the room, Shaul and his wife witnessed that insanity.
Beautiful traditional Bengal Cotton Saree – SJ’s mom gift to my mom
The Reception
After more than an hour of drive, we reached the groom’s home. There we were introduced to the groom’s family and relatives. We were really happy and felt privileged to be there. It felt like family more than friends. What can make the evening more pleasant than a sumptuous Bengali dinner? . It’s already late by the time we finished our dinner and we have an early morning flight back to Chennai. So, we started back to the hotel after a photo session. I was happy to be there for my best friend, to be there while she takes a leap in her life.
The Bride and The Groom
SJ’s sister and her super cute daughter
A pot full of nolen gurer rasgulla
The Early Morning Flight
Our flight was scheduled at 8.20 am and we were advised to start early due to extensive republic day security checks. Waking up at 4.30 am is something usual for me, but for my friend Shaul, it’s like waking up at midnight that too after sleeping late at night. Luckily we all woke up and got ready on time. It seems we reached the airport bit early and a long wait followed until we boarded the flight. It’s a 2hrs 10mins flight to Chennai and it’s generous of Shaul to sacrifice his seat by the shade for me. It’s my 1st, morning flight and I enjoyed gazing at those clouds while we flew above them. They looked nothing less than suspended white colour candy floss. That was one smooth flight except a couple of air turbulence, which I experienced for the first time. It was around 10.45 when we landed at Chennai.
Outside Kolkata Airport
Boredom resulting in selfies
Boredom resulting in selfies
That’s my flight
Flight Wings and Candy Floss Clouds
The Lucky Arrival
I was waiting to collect my baggage from the baggage conveyor and was lucky to spot some celebrities nearby. I am happy to meet some of my favourite singers SPB Sir, Srinivas and Karthik. They were all returning back from Rahman’s Coimbatore concert. They were all gracious to exchange few words with this unknown fan and accept my request to take a selfie with them.
With Karthik
With Srinivas Sir
With SPB Sir
I loved writing this post. Even recollecting each and every moment gave me a warm feeling. I still feel words aren’t enough to express my experience there. I couldn’t thank enough Srijani and her families for their love, hospitality and making this trip more memorable. I dedicate this blog post to them. Wish the couples an awesome married life.
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