Culture of Kolkata

Cultural diversity, exotic, vibrant, revolutionary heritage etc. are the features that prevail in the culture of Kolkata. Kolkata’s rich culture and artistic thought among the people has made it an appropriate place for cultural-meditation (sadhana). This celebrated city shone with the luminaries like Rabindranath Tagore, Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee. Vidyasagar, Satyajit Ray, Bankim Chandra, Raja Rammohan Ray etc. The city had been regarded as the city of intellectuals from the bygone days of the British Umpire. This great city carries the credit to have led the modern India which started the new phase of intellectual reawakening that may aptly be called as Indian renaissance. Kolkata is well known to the world as a symbol of joie the vivre; and the exuberance of its people which is well portrayed by Dominique Lapierre in his novel The City of Joy.

Kolkata has also played a significant role preserving Indian traditional arts and crafts and on the other hand emphasized on the development of modern Indian art and crafts.

Dramas and theaters are essential parts of the Bengali cultural life. There are big and small theatre groups in the city featuring large outdoor stage plays. Music and dances are also integral parts of the Bengali culture. Citizens of Bengal or Bengalis are closely associated with Rabindra Sangeet, Rabindra Nritya Natya (song and song-dance sequences composed by Tagore) and Nazrul Geeti (songs by Kazi Nazrul Islam). Folk dances and songs are also popular in the city.

The people of Kolkata are fond of variety of cuisines. Bhaat (rice) and Macher jhol (fish curry) are considered as one of the most important part of Bengali Cuisines. The curry of Hilsa Fish made with ground seeds of mustard is very much relished by the Kolkatans. The city offers a wide range of dishes and cuisines with variety of tastes. Kolkata’s wide range of sweets can live you with your mouth watering. Don’t miss the charm of Kolkata Rassagolla (a kind of sweet) while visiting Kolkata.