Culture

Kolkata is the cultural capital of the country. The people of the city are known for their aesthetic sensibilities. culture

Their appreciation of art and literature is a well known fact. Like the rest of India Kolkata has not only conserved its rich heritage but has assimilated and enriched its culture through centuries.

Being basically an agricultural region, it has a rich tradition of folk music, dance, art and craft. Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore had created his own style of music and dance which had a profound influence on the Bengali psyche and still continues to do so today. The cultural scene of Kolkata will not be complete if western music is not mentioned. This city was already rocking to jazz, blues, country, rock and roll and pop western music when the rest of the country wasn’t even aware of their existence. This city appreciates Indian classical music as much as it appreciates the works of western classical maestros. Every musician worth his salt acknowledges the fact that Kolkata knows its music and has the most knowledgeable audience.

The Kolkata Book fair is an annual event which is observed like a ritual. The Bengalis are avid book lovers and read both Bengali and English books with equal enthusiasm. Poetry reading, theatre, book reading sessions, seminars, debates are a part of the literary circle in Kolkata.

Many prominent artists of the country come from this part of the country. The Bengal School of Art founded by Abanindranath Tagore has a distinct and unique style. Jamini Roy, Ganesh Pyne, Bikash Bhattacharya, Nanda Lal Bose and Ramanada Bandopadhay, to mention a few, belong to this genre.

The art of burnt clay or terracotta belongs to this region and so does the embroidery of kantha which never fails to amaze one with its intricate designs and craftsmanship.

The Bengal cotton sari has draped the Bengali woman and now the rest of India down the ages. The handloom fabric is most sought after textile for its quality, durability and price.

The European influence is evident in its old buildings. However the architecture of the temples in West Bengal is different in style and character from the north and south Indian temples.

The people of Kolkata like the rest of India believe in the belief that a guest is a representative of God and therefore hospitality is observed like a religion. However every other Indian agrees that Kolkata exudes warmth and is the friendliest city in India. People will run to the aid of absolute strangers and go out of their way to make visitors feel at home. The city is otherwise safe and has a low crime rate when compared to other metro cities.