West Bengal - Background
West Bengal boasts of different ethnicities, cultures, religions, people and languages which add to its beautiful landscapes, forests, coastal beauty as well as its heritage. The beautiful state of West Bengal attracts a significant number of tourists every year as the state is jewelled with mesmerising landscapes, snow-clad mountains, gushing sea, blossoming tea gardens, enormous deltas, lush green forests, plentiful wildlife, ancient temples and magnificent British monuments. The Tiger Hill, the Howrah Bridge, the Tea Gardens are some of the famous tourist spots which offer an insight into the vast culture and history of the West Bengal. The culture of the state is adorned by colourful fairs and festivals every month. A vast number of famous pilgrimages also attract a large number of tourists of all faiths and beliefs.
With a culture as rich and multi-dimensional, the music composed and produced in Bengal is as rich and diverse as any other in the world. From classical to rock and folk to devotional along with a wide range of emotions- sadness, anxiety, love, devotional and spiritual that go hand in hand with it, music in Bengal encompasses and surpasses every genre. Classical Bangla Music like the classical music forms of India is basically sculpted on the musical nodes called Ragas. Many of the Ragas that are native to the classical Bangla music can also be found in the Hindustani classic or Carnatic classical music.
The culture of West Bengal is considered to be one of the richest cultures in India. The Capitol Kolkata (Calcutta) is called the Cultural capital of India. The state also takes the credit for being the pioneer of cosmopolitan culture in the country. Over the years, the culture of West Bengal has emerged as the perfect blend of modernity &traditions.The sanctity of the Ganges Hooghly, the beauty of Eastern Himalayas, the diversity of Sunderbans and the freshness of the Tea Gardens, the beaches, the historical monuments, all blend together to constitute what we call the unique culture of West Bengal. Bengali culture also has its root in Bengali music, Bengali cinema and Bengali literature. The delicious Bengali cuisine also forms an important constituent of the state's cultural heritage. The colours and participation of people of religions, categories in the festivals along with wide range of Creative Arts and crafts now being adored all over as “Biswa Bangla”.
A state renowned for its rich cultural variety, dance is an essential part that showcases the culture of West Bengal. Each region in the state has its own unique dance form to exhibit, based not only on the culture and history of the region but on worldwide themes that affect society and art as a whole. This remarkably unique feature of blending both the international themes with regional culture and tradition is another highlight of a culture so rare in the world. The Brita dance is a traditional folk dance of West Bengal performed by women who seek blessings from the Gods so the wishes of their children are fulfilled. The dance is also performed when a person or their loved ones recover from a contagious or life threatening disease. The Gambhira dance is a dance performed mainly during festivals in the state. The theme of this devotional folk dance is based on social, political and moral problems of contemporary society.
Home to a variety of unique art forms, borne out of the diverse range of culture in Bengal, the state attracts art connoisseurs from all over the globe. From embroidery to sculpture, sketching to metal crafts, the art and craft culture of Bengal has a unique rustic and mystic charm about it. The most celebrated form of embroidery, Kantha is used on Saris, Dhotis, and Kurtas. The colourful and intrinsically created pieces of clothing are best used on Cotton and Silk and are widely used by foreigners and worn by natives alike.
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