After authorities halted the festival for the past three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the country's renowned ‘Shikdar Bari Durgotsob’ is going to be reinstated on a large scale this year in Bagerhat. The Shikdarbari Durgotsob, which faced a forced closure from 2020 to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is back on a grand scale. During the pandemic, Puja was organized on a small scale to uphold religious rites, but this year marks a resurgence of grandeur. A total of 501 idols of gods and goddesses are gracing the Shikdarbari Puja Mandap, arranged with precision and artistry. In the eleventh hour, the work of adorning and embellishing the idols in the puja mandap is in progress. Various modifications are being introduced to the idols to captivate visitors. Deities from Satya, Treta, Dwapara, and Kali Yuga are interspersed throughout the puja mandap as companions to Mahamaya Goddess Durga. Read: With 463 mandaps, Lalmonirhat gearing up for Durga Puja celebrations The pandal is a vibrant spectacle, with artisans putting final touches to the idols just moments before the festival kicks off. Various modifications and creative flourishes have been added to captivate the visitors, creating a captivating ambiance. Vijay Krishna Bachar, the sculptor behind the artistry, said that a team of 15 dedicated artisans spent five months crafting the 501 idols of various gods and goddesses. Liton Shikder, the organizer of Shikdar Bari Durga Puja, said that despite performing puja for the past three years to preserve religious rituals, the Durgo Festival couldn't be held due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Durgotsob has been organized this year as before, he said.   The organisers of the district hope to make the autumn Durgotsav a recurring spectacle in this family worship hall.

A nine-day flower festival at Faujdarhat-Port Link Road in Chattogram is drawing visitors in droves. The site used to be considered “unsafe” and was frequented by drug users after dark, according to locals. But now, various types of flowers and the birds they attract are vying for the attention of nature-lovers. The local administration took the initiative to turn the abandoned place as ‘DC Flower Park’ where the first “flower festival” of Chattogram is taking place. Also read; Five-day long Bangla film festival starts at DU The festival started on Friday evening and will continue till February 18. Already more than 5,000 flowers of 122 local and foreign varieties have been planted on the 194 acres of khas land.

In the maze-like streets of Old Dhaka, the rooftops of high-rise buildings host a festival unlike any other. Starting with the iconic, highly competitive kite-flying in the afternoon, the revelry is just getting started as night descends. Residents celebrate the southward journey of the sun from the tropic of Capricorn to the tropic of Cancer. The festival, which usually takes place from January 14 to 15, is also known as Makar (Capricorn) Shankranti. The annual celebration marks the end of the ninth month of the Bengali calendar – Poush. Shakrain – a celebration of kites and lights – is one of the oldest festivals of Bangladesh, which dates back to the Mughal period.

Christmas is a religious and cultural annual festival of the Christian community that is celebrated every year on 25th December. Christian people around the world celebrate the day to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the Son of God. Any celebration and festival cannot be enjoyed properly without healthy, yummy, and cozy food items. Let’s find out 5 delicious Christmas Dinner recipes to enjoy with your family.  5 Christmas Dinner Main Course Recipes Vegetable and Chicken Skewers Recipe Ingredients 400 gm chicken breasts, 240 gm onion, 240 gm yellow bell pepper, 5 gm oregano, salt as required, 240 gm zucchini, 240 gm red bell pepper, 5 gm powdered black pepper, 150 ml virgin olive oil, lemon wedges as required, bamboo sticks Cooking Methods First, dive the bamboo sticks into the water for at least 10 minutes. Then cut the chicken and vegetables. Cut all the vegetables into 1’’ square pieces. Now take a large bowl and put olive oil, salt, crushed black paper, and oregano herbs and mix them well. Then marinate the chopped vegetables and chicken in such a way that all the pieces are coated well. Marinate them not for a long time just for 5-6 minutes. Read More: 5 Scrumptious Chicken Wing Recipes. Preheat the grill or oven. Now take the bamboo sticks and put the chicken pieces and veggies into the bamboo skewers. Cook the skewers on preheated grill or oven as long as the vegetables and chicken are tender. Cook well on both sides and make sure you prevent burning. Garnish with lemon wedges.

Yoga is an ancient system to experience divine freedom, peace, and self-realization through physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual practices. Originating from Sanskrit, the term Yoga means “yoke” which refers to drawing, binding; or uniting together. The purpose of Yoga is to unite the body, mind, and soul, as well as the universal consciousness. A healthy mind and body lead to a healthy family, community, and city.  However, the hectic urban life in Dhaka city gives the residents little room for calmness, contemplation, or purpose. Thanks to Shazia Omar for hosting the Festival of Yoga Wellness Dhaka Flow. Let’s take a look at the host and the festival. Dhaka Flow: A Wellness Movement Dhaka Flow is a wellness movement in Bangladesh. Dhaka Flow aims to promote a sustainable lifestyle of self-growth, joy, and gratitude. Dhaka Flow promotes wellness through festivals and retreats, events and gatherings, social media, and more. Read More: Which Type of Yoga Should You Try? Dhaka Flow organizes the Festival of Yoga & Wellness in January 2023 to bring together the vendors of wellness products, fitness teachers, healers, and people, to build community, celebrate health and healing, honor the environment, and elevate the spirit. The festival will be conducted with zero plastic waste. Dhaka Flow also upholds the principle of ahimsa which means non-violence towards any living being, and as such, food stalls will ALL offer vegetarian meals only. Journey of Shazia Omar: From investment banker to yogi  Starting her career as an investment banker at Lehman Brothers in Manhattan, Shazia soon realized this was not her calling in life. She grew disillusioned with the state of the world and geopolitics and capitalism and soon after 9/11, she left her job and went traveling around the world to look for a better way to be. Shazia landed up in South Africa, working at an AIDS orphanage as a volunteer, where she met a group of yogis.  Read More: Free Online Yoga Courses for Stress Relief and Better Immunity From there, her passion for the practice began. She began visiting ashrams and yoga schools in India and Thailand and eventually got certified in ashtanga yoga. She has been teaching yoga for 20 years. Shazia teaches regular classes at Nordic Club and Canadian Club in Dhaka. She has conducted numerous corporate workshops on yoga, mindfulness, well-being, health, and fitness. She organizes retreats around Bangladesh and around the world because she believes well-being and wanderlust go hand-in-hand. She is associated with Samahita Yoga Retreat in Thailand.  Shazia has written a mind, body, and spirit book (Intentional Smile: A Girl’s Guide to Positive Living, Bloomsbury 2016) and children’s books (Sun Moon Secret, Guba Books 2022) as well as two novels. Shazia writes a regular column for Daily Star (Kundalini Rising). Shazia did her undergrad at Dartmouth College, USA, and her Master's in Social Psychology at LSE, UK. Shazia Omar’s channel is YouTube.com/ShazzyOm.  Read More: How to strengthen lungs, ease breathing problems with yoga Dhaka Flow: Festival of Yoga and Wellness Dhaka Flow organizes a unique event to bring many of Dhaka’s yoga teachers and healers under the same sky. Aside from yoga, there will be certified practitioners offering meditation, reiki and energy healing, martial arts and boxing, cardio and HIIT, and much more. Over 30 companies and entrepreneurs are participating in the fair, with a similar vision to promote a cleaner and greener Dhaka city, cultivating good health and well-being. The event will be organized with eco-friendly materials, like jute stalls, cloth canvas signs, etc. Food partners will provide vegetarian treats. During this festival, there will be free yoga classes all day long by different teachers in the yoga shala. These classes are suitable for all ages and sizes. There will be cardio and HIIT and martial arts classes in the fitness pavilion. There will be dance, breathing, meditation, and kids' yoga in the amphitheater. There will be art activities in the art corner. Read More: From coffee to yoga to happiness: Offbeat ministries from around the world! Time and Venue of Dhaka Flow Festival of Yoga and Wellness The festival will be held at Gulshan Society Lake Park on Friday, January 13, 2022, from 11 am to 5 pm. How to Participate in Dhaka Flow Festival of Yoga and Wellness Registration is required to participate in the event. It is totally free of cost.  Visit the following link for free registration: https://partyinvite.club/e/Dhaka-Flow--Festival-of-Yoga---Wellness-6388813caf21872f9b6dcf8b

Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid, who criticised “The Kashmir Files” as a “propaganda” and “vulgar film” at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, today (November 29, 2022) received harsh criticism from the Israeli ambassador to India. In an “open letter” posted on Twitter the day after IFFI jury chair Lapid criticised the movie at the festival’s closing ceremony, Israeli envoy Naor Gilon also expressed his regrets to India, NDTV reports. The 1990 migration and murders of Kashmiri Pandits from the Kashmir Valley is the subject of Vivek Agnihotri’s film “The Kashmir Files”. Since it was released in March, it has been engulfed in controversy. Read: ‘Wakanda Forever’ review: A king-less kingdom mourns, rebuilds The Israeli ambassador tweeted this morning: “An open letter to #NadavLapid following his criticism of #KashmirFiles. It’s not in Hebrew because I wanted our Indian brothers and sisters to be able to understand. It is also relatively long so I’ll give you the bottom line first. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED. Here’s why:” Ambassador Gilon claimed that filmmaker Lapid had exploited the judges’ panel invitation from the film festival in India’s Goa in the “worst way”. He wrote: “In Indian culture they say that a guest is like God. You have abused in the worst way the Indian invitation to chair the panel of judges at @IFFIGoa as well as the trust, respect and warm hospitality they have bestowed on you.” Read: Iranian who inspired ‘The Terminal’ dies of ‘heart attack’ at Paris airport “I unequivocally condemn such statements. There is no justification. It does show the sensitivity of the Kashmir issue here,” the Israeli ambassador’s tweet read. “From your interview to Ynet the connection you make between your criticism of #KashmirFiles and your dislike to what is happening in Israeli politics was quite evident.” He further tweeted: “As a human being I feel ashamed and want to apologize to our hosts for the bad manner in which we repaid them for their generosity and friendship.” Gilon claimed in tweets directed to Lapid that the relations between Israel and India are very strong and will endure the “damages” caused by the latter’s comments. Read More: In Kashmir, ‘conscious music’ tests India’s limits on speech Israeli filmmaker and IFFI jury head Lapid yesterday (November 28, 2022) remarked that “The Kashmir Files” movie “disturbed and shocked” the festival jury members. He said, “That felt to us like a propaganda, vulgar movie, inappropriate for an artistic competitive section of such a prestigious film festival.” 

The British Curry Festival, which showcases the UK’s favourite curry dishes alongside the best of British regional cuisine, is returning to Dhaka after a decade. The announcement was made at a press conference on October 19, 2022 at InterContinental Dhaka. Organized jointly by InterContinental Dhaka and Curry Life Magazine UK, the globe-trotting festival was held for the first time in Dhaka in 2001, with the last instalment in Dhaka being in 2011. Now, the festival is returning more than a decade later. The festival will begin tomorrow (October 21, 2022) at the InterContinental Dhaka’s ‘Elements – All Day Dining’ restaurant for buffet dinner, which will continue until October 26. Read:5 Simple One-Skillet Dinner Recipes for Busy Bachelors Curry is Britain’s favourite dish. There are an estimated 12,000 curry houses in Britain. Of these, 90% of restaurants are operated by chefs of Bangladeshi origin. Over the last two decades, the British Curry Festival has taken the best British curry experience across Europe to Asia. This year, the festival features Michelin Star Chef Dominic Chapman, who is the storied Head Chef and Patron of The Beehive restaurant in Berkshire (the Michelin Star is awarded to restaurants for outstanding food and service, based on quality and consistency). Having travelled the world and worked with several Michelin Starred chefs, Chapman is well acquainted with the rich and complex flavours of international cuisines. Alongside The Beehive, where he has been since 2014, Chapman recently acquired the Michelin-star gastropub The Crown at Burchetts Green, Berkshire. Chapman’s arrival in Dhaka marks the first time a Michelin Star Chef has visited Bangladesh.  Alongside Chapman is an impressive cohort of 5 more award-winning curry chefs: Chef Jamal Uddin Ahmed, owner of the Shozna, Kent; Jafor Solim Uddin of the Maidenhead's The Fat Buddha; Syed Zohurul Islam, Executive Chef at The Capital, Durham; Chef Utpal Kumar Mondal, former Executive Chef of Hotel Hindustan International; and Chef Moloy Halder, Executive Chef of Specialty Groups.  Read Top brain foods for studying and exams Among those present at yesterday’s press conference were Lord Karan Bilimoria, former president of the British Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a life peer of the UK House of Lords; Atiqur Rahaman, Managing Director, Bangladesh Services Limited; Sheikh Mohammad Maroof, Additional Managing Director, City Bank; Frances Jacks, Director of Communications, British High Commission; Syed Belal Ahmed, Editor, Curry Life Magazine; Syed Nahas Pasha, Chief Editor, Curry Life Magazine; and Ashwani Nayar, General Manager, InterContinental Dhaka. Lord Bilimoria said, “Curry is an essential part of the British way of life. Whether they live in rural or urban areas, government housing or mansions, everyone eats curry, and everyone loves curry. The growth of the industry has been spectacular, emerging from a handful of restaurants in the 1980s to over 12,000 today. Why this curry revolution? The answer is simple: because of the Bangladeshi community, and pioneering Bangladeshi chefs and restaurateurs, in the UK. That’s why it is very important and pertinent that we are here today. Among the doom and gloom that is plaguing us today, be it due to the Ukraine-Russia war, and the numerous crises in energy, labour, and more, this festival is a ray of sunshine amongst all that.” Read: Health Benefits of Nigella Seeds (Kalijira) He added, “I have felt completely at home since I landed in Bangladesh. It is a pleasure to be here at the InterContinental Dhaka; not only does it have a great history, it is today a phenomenal facility with world-class service comparable to anywhere else in the world.” Speaking about the British Curry Festival, Robert Chatterton Dickson, British High Commissioner said, “I’m delighted that traditional British curries are being showcased and celebrated in Bangladesh through the week-long British Curry Festival. Curry houses have been a feature of life in the UK for over 200 years, and curry is now a firm British favourite. The UK curry industry was led from the start by enterprising Bengalis, and its continued strength is a great symbol of BritBanglaBondhon.” During the British Curry Festival at InterContinental Dhaka, Chef Dominic Chapman said, “I’m greatly looking forward to learning about the culture of Bangladesh. I can’t wait to work with the team and have unique culinary experiences. While I will definitely be creating dishes inspired by British recipes, I’m excited to make the best use of the local produce as well. I have learned much from having attended previous editions of the festival, not least how very different ‘British Curry’ is compared to the palates of the subcontinent.” Read Top Instagrammable rooftop restaurants in Banani

For the last 127 years, Durga Puja is being celebrated at Sherpur’s Palbari Puja Mandap with much fanfare. Palbari is a testament to the fact that communal harmony and freedom of religion are deeply ingrained in the Bangladeshi psyche. Durga Puja at Palbari Mandap is a family event held at the house of late educationist Nagendra Chandra Pal in Khalbhanga area under Sherpur’s Nalitabari upazila. Besides being the oldest puja mandap of Sherpur district, it is also known as the second oldest mandap of the country. According to Palbari Puja Committee Chairman Gourango Chandra Pal, Durga Puja celebration at Palbari mandap started in 1885 by Mangal Ram Sarkar, the ancestor of Pal family. After Mangal’s death, his son Nagendra continued arranging the puja for half a century. Nagendra is no more, but the puja is still being arranged thanks to the relentless efforts of his four sons, who are now in charge.     Read: With scars from 2021, Cumilla sees tighter security for Durga Puja Over the years, Durga Puja at Palbari has become an integral part of the lives of the local Hindu community. From a mere family tradition, it has developed into a popular festival. The local Hindu devotees view the Palbari puja as a junction where people from all faiths mingle to find happiness. The Palbari puja mandap has a strong legacy. During the Bangladesh liberation war in 1971, when the Pakistani military were killing Hindus in droves, the Pal family continued celebrating Durga Puja defying all danger. This is a proof of the power that culture, tradition and religion possess. Bishwajit Pal, Nagendra’s son, said that the century-old Palbari puja mandap has been able to propagate harmony among the local people. Read: Bagerhat’s Durga Puja attraction: 151 idols in one mandap “We don’t discriminate against anyone based on his religious identity. The Palbari Puja Mandap is open for all. Arti and cultural programmes at the mandap every evening have become a source of entertainment for the local people,” he said. “We have been arranging the puja for four generations. Now the time has come for our next generation to take over. Through this puja, we just want to share happiness and regard best wishes for people,” Bishwajit said. Biplab Dey Ketu, a local journalist, said he has never missed the Palbari Puja since his childhood. Read Keep vigil against vandalism during Durga Puja: Obaidul Quader asks AL members “People from the area wait every year for this festival to commence. Our hearts become content each time we visit the place,” he said. This year, Durga Puja is being celebrated in 144 mandaps in Sherpur district. To avert any untoward incident, security has been beefed up at the festival sites. While all the mandaps have been brought under CCTV surveillance, a large number of police and Ansar personnel have also been deployed. Read 5 Durga Puja Bhog Recipes to try this festive season Besides non-stop patrolling by the law enforcement agencies, volunteers from the Puja Udjapon Parishad are also working tirelessly to ensure security in Sherpur’s Palbari Puja Mandap, organisers say.

Durga puja is the biggest religious festival of the Bengali Hindu community. In Durga Puja, also known as Durgotsava, worshippers celebrate the victory of Goddess Durga in the battle over evil-powered Mahishasura. Bhog has always been a major part of Durga puja festival. The bhog represents a one-pot dish made with seasonal produce. Here are the top 5 Bhog recipes for Durga Puja. You can try these easy-to-prepare recipes at home to make your Durga Puja festival more special and enjoyable. 5 Easy Bhog Recipes for Durga Puja Bhoger khichuri  Bhoger khichuri is an exemplary and inimitable moong dal khichdi that is prepared in puja and offered to the goddesses as Prasad. Ingredients: 1 cup chal, 1 cup moong dal, 2 potatoes, 10 large Cauliflower florets, 2 Tomatoes, ½ cup green Peas, 3 green Chillies, 1/3 cup grated Coconut, 2 tablespoons Cashew nuts, 2 tablespoons Raisins, 1 ½ teaspoon Garam Masala powder, 1 tablespoon Ghee, 1 tablespoon Sugar, ½ teaspoon Turmeric powder, Salt to taste, Mustard oil for cooking, 7-8 cups of hot Water For the Khichuri masala paste 3-inch Ginger, 1 green Chilli, ¾ tablespoon Cumin seeds, 1-inch Cinnamon stick, 2 Cardamoms, 3 tablespoons Water, 1 teaspoon Turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon Chilli powder Instructions: First, soak the fried dal for an hour. Then wash dal and chaal and strain the excess water. Put oil and cashew nuts into the pan and fry them till golden. Now add other ingredients except tomato chunks, masala paste, chal, and soaked moong dal. Then add the rest of the items with 4 cups of hot water and cook it on low flame for another 10 minutes. Switch off the flame and serve. Read Yummy sweets for Durga Puja: Traditional Bengali desserts to try in this great religious festival Bhoger Labra It is an excellent mixed vegetable curry that is prepared in puja festivals and offered to the Goddesses as Prasad.  Ingredients: 2 Potatoes, 1 large sweet Potato, 3 Taro roots,300 grams Pumpkin, 1 large Radish,2 Medium Carrots, 1 unripe Banana, 1 large Ridge Gourd, 10 large florets of Cauliflower, 1 small Cabbage, 1½ cup Spinach, 100 grams broad Beans, 3-4 green Chillies, c¾ up Coconut, grated or paste For tempering ½ tablespoon Panch Phoran, 2-3 Bay leaves, 3 dry red Chillies For masala paste 1½ tablespoons Ginger paste, 3 teaspoons Turmeric powder, 2-3 teaspoons red Chilli powder, 1½ teaspoons Cumin powder, 3 tablespoons Water Instructions: First, peel the vegetables, wash them, and cut them into pieces. Now prepare the masala paste. Then heat ¼ cup mustard oil into the pan and add vegetable pieces and cook in medium flame for 5-6 minutes. Add other ingredients and cook on low flame for 10-15 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon bhaji masala, 1 tablespoon ghee into the pan, and the salt if required. Put the flame on high and cook it for a minute. Finally, labra are ready to serve. Read Messages of Durga Puja Festival: What can we learn from Goddess Durga Bhoger Rosogolla Rosogolla is one of the most famous and fabulous desserts in Bengal. Durga puja's bogh is incomplete without Rosogolla. Ingredients: 1 liter full-fat Milk, 1 Lemon, 1 teaspoon fine Rawa,2 Cardamoms, 2 cups Sugar, 4 cups of Water Instructions: First, prepare the chenna and hang the chenna for 30 minutes on a soft cloth. Then prepare the sugar syrup with water and sugar into a large pan. Make sure you add cardamoms and stir the syrup occasionally. Now, make the chenna balls. Cook the balls in sugar syrup by falling the balls into the boiling sugar syrup one by one immediately. Let them cook for 10 minutes and make cover the pan then.  Let the Rasgullas cool down for an hour and serve. Read Durga puja: A festival that unites Bangladesh! Bhoger Mishti Doi  Mishti Doi is great when served with delicious Rasgulla. The Mishti Doi recipe is a perfect combination of yogurt and sugar in balanced proportions.  Ingredients 3 cup milk, 2 cup yogurt (curd), 6 tablespoon sugar, 1 green cardamom Instructions: First, take a saucepan and heat the milk. Keep the in a medium-high flame. Now add 2 tablespoons of sugar and keep stirring. You need to stir continuously so that the milk doesn't stick to the saucepan. Reduce the top half by heating and keep it aside. Then to caramelize the sugar, take another pan and add 4 tablespoons of sugar and some water. When caramelizing is done, add in the warm milk and mix nicely. Next, turn off the oven and let it be at normal room temperature. Finally, add curd and mix well. Let the mixture be in a hot place for about 12 hours or more to freeze the misty doi.  Read Durga puja fervour grips Bangladesh Bhoger Aloo posto  This is an easy-to-prepare vegetarian recipe. The ingredients are usually available in every Bengali kitchen.  Ingredients: 60g mustard oil, ¼ teaspoon nigella seeds, 2 pcs dried red chilies, 25g onions, 500g potatoes, 4 pcs green chilies, 12g salt, 8g sugar Instructions: First, peel the potatoes and the onions and cut them into pieces. Then put the onions slices into the heated mustard oil in a pan and fry them until to make they are pale in color. Drain the oil and set it aside for the onion.  Next, temper the oil with dried red chilies & nigella seeds. Add the potatoes. Fry for about 5 minutes or until the potatoes are soft. Finally, garnish with a hint of mustard oil, green chilies, and fried onions. Then serve.  Read Bagerhat's Durga Puja attraction: 151 idols in one mandap Bottom Line   The Durga Puja festival lasts ten days and the last five days are celebrated remarkably. From the day of Mahalaya, every Hindu starts feeling exuberant and cheerful with lots of nostalgia. Submission of Bhog to Goddess Durga can make the celebration joyous and memorable. So far, we have discussed 5 popular Durga Puja Bhog recipes. These preparations can make the festival more ecstatic.

A three-day national dance and drama festival began at the Jatiya Natyashala auditorium of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) Wednesday. However, the last two days of the festival have been scheduled for July 24 and 25 at the same venue. On the first day of the festival "Kobor" of Polli Kobi Jasimuddin, "Proshongo 47" of Saju Ahmed and "Chandallika" of nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore were staged.   Read: StageOne Dhaka showcases 'The Odd Couple' at BSA On July 24, four dramas "Hajar Bochorer Bangali," "Baramkhana," "Rupantorer Gan," and "Kunjo Shajao Go '' will be staged from 5pm. The next day "Mayar Khela," "Shyema," "Meher Nigar," and "Rongila Nayer Majhi" will be performed.