QKolkata: City of Joy Burns 60ft Ravan; Rainy Hangover After Pujo

Read The Quint’s compilation of the top stories from Kolkata.

Image used for representational purposes.

(Photo: AP)

Kolkata Burns 60ft Ravana, Celebrates Dussehra

Keeping up with its tradition of burning the tallest effigy during Dussehra, the Salt Lake Sanskritik Sansad burnt a 60-feet tall Ravana effigy at the Central Park in Salt Lake, the VIP township near Kolkata.

The event was attended by residents and eminent personalities like Salt Lake mayor Sabyasachi Dutta, MLAs Sujit Bose and Vaishali Dalmiya and president of Salt Lake Sanskritik Sansad Lalit Beriwala.

(Source: Times of India)

Also Read: In Photos: Behind the Scenes With the Gods of Ram Leela

Rain That Played Spoilsport for Puja Likely to Stay

Image used for representation purposes(Photo: PTI)

Durga Puja is over but the rain that interrupted your revelry Ashtami onwards is here to stay at least for a few days more.

The weather office has forecast cloud-heavy skies and more than one spell of intense rainfall on Monday, the last day of an extended festive period that had started with Sashthi last Tuesday.

Between Dashami night and this morning, there were several bursts of short, sharp showers that might have set the trend for the last lap of this monsoon.

Intermittent showers are tipped to continue till Thursday, although weather scientists expect the amount of rainfall to decline from Tuesday.

(Source: The Telegraph)

Also Read: Bonedi Barir Pujo: A Fine Balance Between Tradition & Modernity

Festivity Worsens Dengue Ordeal

Relatives of dengue patients had a harrowing Puja this year, running from one blood bank to another, often in vain, in search of platelets.

An early Puja ensured that the festive season, or at least the start of it, coincided with a spell of dengue outbreak.

The spurt in the spread of the disease has pushed up the demand for platelets but a decline in the number of blood donation camps during the festive season has led to a sharp fall in the stock of the crucial blood component, which can fall to dangerous levels in dengue patients.

Relatives of patients, in desperation, tried knocking on the doors of potential donors but that didn't help much as many Calcuttans were out of town on account of Puja.

(Source: The Telegraph)

Also Read: We Are Not Gods: SC Unamused at Plea to Ban Mosquitoes

Gurung Blamed for Hill Violence - Morcha Chief Responsible for Split: Anit

Rebel Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader Anit Thapa today alleged that the split in the party had been triggered by Bimal Gurung's indulgence in violence in the latest round of the statehood agitation.

Thapa, who is also the vice-chairman of the board of administrators appointed by the Bengal government to run the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, said the Morcha president had no choice but to surrender before the law.

Gurung denied the charge and suggested that Thapa and Binay Tamang had incited people to resort to violence.

(Source: The Telegraph)

Also Read: Darjeeling Simmers: Bimal Gurung Explains The Gorkhaland Demand

Muharram Observed Peacefully in West Bengal

Indian Shiite Muslims flagellate themselves in a procession to mark Ashoura during Muharram (Photo: iStock)

Thousands of Muslims took out processions on Sunday braving intermittent rains on the occasion of Muharram which passed off peacefully in West Bengal.

Processions carrying tazias and black flags and beating their chests in ceremonial mourning were taken out both in the metropolis as well as in the districts.

Muslim-dominated areas of Kolkata like Park Circus, Rajabazar, Kolkata port area including adjoining Kidderpore, Iqbalpur, Mominpur and Metiabruz witnessed huge processions.

(Source: PTI)

Also Read: Security Stepped up in Kolkata for Muharram Processions

Mamata Remembers Sachin Dev Burman on Birth Anniversary

Lata Mangeshkar and SD Burman creating magic together(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@chitralekhamag)  

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday commemorated the birth anniversary of legendary music composer Sachin Dev Burman.

"Remembering the great music composer Sachin Karta (S D Burman) on his birth anniversary," Banerjee wrote on her Twitter handle.

Born on 1 October to the Tripura royal family, Burman started his career with Bengali films in 1937.

He soon started composing for Hindi films and went on to become of the country's most successful music composers. Popularly known as 'Sachin Karta', he also lent his voice to semi-classical and folk style songs of Bengal.

(Source: PTI)

Also Read: Give Me Lata and a Harmonium, I’ll Make Music: SD Burman

Mamata Banerjee Greets President Ram Nath Kovind on His Birthday

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.  (Photo: Reuters)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday wished President Ram Nath Kovind on his 71st birthday.

"Birthday greetings to @rashtrapatibhvn Ram Nath Kovind," Banerjee tweeted. In July, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate Ram Nath Kovind was elected as the new President of India, securing a massive margin over his United Progressive Alliance (UPA) rival Meira Kumar in a straight fight.

(Source: IANS)

Also Read: PM Modi, President Kovind, VP Naidu & Manmohan Celebrate Dussehra