Tag: Kolkata

Durga Puja 2023: Disneyland-themed pandal with characters and castle to be a big crowd-puller

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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A Disneyland-themed pandal is built in Kolkata, which is set to be a huge crowd-puller during this Durga Pujo. The pandal was virtually inaugurated by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on October 12. It will be open to the general public from 8:00 pm on October 14.

Sreebhumi Club, which is the same club that built the Burj Khalifa-inspired pandal in 2022, is behind the Disneyland-themed pandal. Soccer player Ronaldinho is set to visit the Disneyland-themed pandal next week, while Bollywood actress Vidya Balan will be here on Mahalaya Day on October 14.

Popular Disney characters including Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and others will be seen in the pandal. The pandal is giving tough competition to other pandals in the city with its ornately designed Disney castles.

Speaking to News 18, Sujit Basu, Fire Minister in Kolkata and the president of Sreebhumi Club said, “We always try to do something different. We have done Vatican City and Burj Khalifa. This time we thought of bringing Disneyland here considering kids and their interests.”

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“Kids will enjoy the Disneyland-theme pandal. Durga Pujo is a festival for all religions and we believe that this pandal will draw more crowd. The idol though, is totally traditional and ornated with gold ornament,” he added.

Commissioner Bidhanagar Gaurav Sharma told News18 that proper security arrangements will be put in place at the Disneyland-themed pandal so that people don’t face any problems.

“Police will be there 24/7 in this entire area so that people don’t face any problems while coming to see Disneylandland. Police personnel and civic volunteers will also be deployed for a better pandal-hopping experience. We have launched a special app for newcomers to this city which will help you in Pandal hopping and get you to help in case of any emergency.

Also read: Discover Kolkata’s best shopping spots for Durga Puja celebrations

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Durga Puja 2023: The ritual of Navapatrika and what does it signify

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Bengalis around the world are counting days to wake up to the beats of ‘dhaak’ as Durga puja is almost here — to be celebrated from October 20 to 24. The smell of ‘shiuli’ or coral jasmine and the sight of white fields filled with kans grass surrounds Bengal, everyone is ready to welcome the festival with fervour.

Every lane is lit up and everyone wears new clothes to welcome their homegirl, Goddess Durga. However, Durga puja is much more than this! A set of rituals are performed each day, starting from Shashthi-the sixth day of Navarati to Dashami or Dussehra.

If you visit a Durga puja pandal in Kolkata, you will find a tree dressed up as a new bride standing right beside lord Ganesha. This tree is known as Navapatrika, which means nine leaves of the tree, symbolising the nine forms of Goddess Durga.

On Saptami (the seventh day of Durga puja), Navapatrika is washed in the Ganges and carefully draped in a red and white saree. It is then carried by a priest on the shoulder or carefully placed on a palanquin. This marks the start of Durga Puja.

Also read: 81% Indians intend to increase online spending this festive season

Navapatrika comprises nine plants: banana, colocasia, turmeric, jayanti, bel, pomegranate, ashoka, arum, and paddy. Each of these plants holds unique significance and properties. This ritual signifies the nine forms of Goddess Durga. When bound together with vines, they collectively form the female idol representing Navapatrika.

Durga Puja is celebrated at the beginning of the autumn season each year. Many suggest that the navapatrika represents the grain God, and the ritual marks the beginning of the agricultural season. With the sound of dhaak, people welcome the agricultural season and seek blessings from Goddess Durga.

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

TMC MP Nussrat Jahan reaches ED office in Kolkata in flat sale case

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP and actress Nussrat Jahan reached Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Kolkata, West Bengal, on Tuesday.

She was summoned by the financial probe agency in connections with a complaint filed by a group of senior citizens accusing a real estate company of cheating by promising them flats in the New Town of Kolkata. According to the complaint, the MP is a former director of the company.

#WATCH | West Bengal | TMC MP and actress Nussrat Jahan arrives at the ED office in Kolkata.

She has been summoned by the Agency regarding a complaint filed by a group of senior citizens accusing a real estate company of cheating by promising them flats in the New Town of… pic.twitter.com/Drf9S56cBp

— ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2023

Jahan, 33, had held a press conference and denied allegations of being involved in any fraudulent practice saying she had resigned from the directorship of the company in March 2017.

The TMC Lok Sabha MP from Basirhat had said she had taken a loan from the company and repaid it with interest in May 2017.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

INS Vindhyagiri: A look at capabilities of Navy’s sixth stealth frigate

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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President Droupadi Murmu launched the INS Vindhyagiri at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) on the banks of Hoogly River in Kolkata. INS Vindhyagiri is the sixth stealth frigate that has been built under Project 17A of the Indian Navy.

President Droupadi Murmu graced the launch ceremony of Vindhyagiri – the sixth ship of project 17A of Indian Navy at Kolkata. The President said that the launch of Vindhyagiri marks a move forward in enhancing India’s maritime capabilities. It is also a step towards achieving the… pic.twitter.com/IsEl76MItu

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) August 17, 2023

During the launch event of INS Vindhyagiri, the President expressed her satisfaction and heartfelt appreciation for the remarkable work of the Warship Design Bureau and other naval teams, who have contributed to fulfilling the nation’s idea of self-reliance in warship building. She also praised GRSE for their commitment and support to warship production.

INS Vindhyagiri has been named after the mountain range in Karnataka. The warship is equipped with improved stealth features, advanced weapons and sensors. Under Project 17A, a total of seven warships are being built, out of which four ships are made by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders and three by GRSE.

The project’s first five ships have already been launched by MDL and GRSE between 2019 and 2022.

INS Vindhyagiri is the sixth warship of the Project 17A Frigates which is a technologically advanced ship that pays a relevant tribute to its predecessor the erstwhile INS Vindhyagiri, which was the Leander Class ASW Frigate. The previous INS Vindhyagiri served for nearly 31 years from July 8, 1981, to June 11, 2012. It had participated in many challenging operations and multinational exercises.

However, the newly launched INS Vindhyagiri is aimed to stand as a symbol of India’s determination in embracing its rich naval heritage while stepping towards a future of indigenous defence opportunities.

Project 17A warships are being constructed in-house by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau. The project also aligns with ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative as around 75 percent of the orders of Project 17A for equipment and systems are carried out from indigenous firms which include the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Kolkata | Violent protests rock Behala area after speeding truck crushes schoolboy

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Several vehicles were torched and a few policemen were injured, as violent protests rocked Kolkata’s Behala area on Friday after a speeding truck crushed a six-year-old boy and left his father battling for life in hospital, officials said.

The accident took place around 6.30 am when the Class-2 student and his father were crossing the Behala Chowrasta, they said.

The father of the deceased boy, Souranil Sarkar, is undergoing treatment at state-run SSKM Hospital. Souranil was a student of Class 2 at Barisha High School.

Locals and parents of other children immediately took to the streets following the incident, protesting against the “lack” of proper policing of the major road intersection in the southern part of the city.

A number of police vehicles and private buses were set on fire, prompting the administration to deploy RAF personnel in large numbers, the officials said.

Police baton-charged protesters and fired tear gas shells to bring the situation under control, they said.

A few policemen, including Kolkata Police Joint CP (Traffic) Rupesh Kumar, suffered injuries, the officials said.

The truck driver has been apprehended from Santragachi and the vehicle was impounded, a police officer said, adding, traffic was disrupted on the busy Diamond Harbour Road for at least two hours.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has sought a report about the incident from Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal.

Meanwhile, the accident triggered a political row, with the opposition BJP accusing a section of the state police of turning a blind eye to “blatant” traffic violations by heavy vehicles.

“A section of police and civic volunteers is busy collecting money from truck drivers, ignoring traffic violations… The chief minister is responsible for this situation,” Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari told reporters.

Countering him, Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said the BJP was indulging in dirty politics over the death of a child.

“Adhikari’s convoy had recently mowed down a man in Ram Nagar of Purba Medinipur, and he did not even bother to get down from his car,” Ghosh claimed.

Headmaster of Barisha High School Arjun Roy alleged that there is no presence of traffic police personnel in front of the educational institution, which is not the case for other private schools in the area.

“Had police been more vigilant to control the traffic outside our school, we would not have lost the child,” a sobbing Roy said.

Also Read:Counterfeit medicine racket worth Rs 2 crore busted in Kolkata

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Counterfeit medicine racket worth Rs 2 crore busted in Kolkata

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), Kolkata, on Thursday (August 3) seized counterfeit medicines worth approximately Rs 2 crore from an unlicensed warehouse located at 82, Moulana Shaukat Ali Street, Kolkata.

The crackdown came after CDSCO received a complaint from Sun Pharma Laboratories Ltd. via email on January 11, 2023, reporting the selling and storage of suspected spurious (counterfeit) products at Bagri Market, Kolkata.

कोलकाता में एक बड़े गिरोह पर रेड करके ₹2 करोड़ से अधिक कीमत की मिलावटी एवं फर्जी दवाओं को जब्त कर, अपनी बहादुरी का परिचय देने वाले CDSCO के दो अफसरों यशपाल सिंह और राकेश शर्मा से मिलकर उन्हें बधाई दी।

मोदी सरकार मिलावटी दवाओं को रोकने हेतु किसी प्रकार का समझौता नहीं करेगी। pic.twitter.com/F0TMO1IxVl

— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) August 3, 2023

A team of officers from CDSCO East Zone, along with assistance from officers of the Directorate of Drugs Control, West Bengal, conducted a successful raid at Bagri Market.

During the operation, they seized spurious/counterfeit drugs of leading manufacturers worth approximately Rs 10 lakhs. Additionally, one person was apprehended in connection with the case by the Drug Inspector, in compliance with the provisions of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940.

The initial raid not only led to the seizure of counterfeit medicines but also provided vital leads for further investigation. The arrested individual disclosed critical information, leading to a major breakthrough in the case.

Subsequently, a clandestine unlicensed warehouse at Moulana Shaukat Ali Street, Kolkata-73, was identified. The officers from CDSCO East Zone, along with assistance from the Directorate of Drugs Control, West Bengal, conducted the raid on July 8, 2023.

During this operation, the authorities successfully seized counterfeit medicines worth about Rs 2 crore. The counterfeit drugs bore the names of prominent manufacturers, including Sun Pharmaceutical, Alkem, Cipla, Glenmark, GSK, Abbott, Novartis, Dr. Reddy’s, Aristo, among others, and included reputed brands like Augmentin, Pan-D, Pantocid DSR, Urimax-D, and Clavam.

The suspect has been remanded in judicial custody for 10 days by the Bankshall Court, Kolkata.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Bumper hilsa catch: Fishermen net 150 tonnes of ilish, but is it good news for fish lovers?

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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There’s some great news for fish lovers in West Bengal. In the first catch of the season, fishermen have netted approximately 150 tonnes of the prized delicacy Hilsa aka Ilish. This butter-like fish can be easily converted into do-die-for curries. Since the seasonal ban on fishing lifted on June 15, 25 tonnes of Hilsa was netted on the first day. In the four-five days following that, the catch is now being weighed at 150 tonnes.

This massive catch has been found in Digha and was sold at the Digha Estuary fish auction Centre.

The weight of the fish caught on Friday, Saturday and Sunday is around 1 kg to 1.2 kg per fish. The price of one kg to 1.2 kg of Ilish is between Rs 800 and Rs 900. However smaller fish weighing between 400 and 500 grams are being sold for upto Rs 600.

With the late onset of monsoon in Kolkata, fish lovers had to turn to other fish as there was not much supply of hilsa. However, with the massive catch in the Digha and Diamond Harbour estuaries, over the last few days, markets in Kolkata are finally seeing enough hilsa. Some traders claimed to have seen most hilsa in the market on Monday. They added that the supply of hilsa will be maintained for the next few days.

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This is the first time this year that such a large amount of hilsa was caught in Digha estuary. Speaking about the bumper catch, Digha Fishermen and Fish Traders Association Secretary Shyamsunder Das said, “The hilsa catch has been favourable due to the wind and drizzle for several consecutive days. As a result, the landing of hilsa in the fishing nets has been huge. It is hoped that a large amount of hilsa will come up in the next few weeks.”

There has been a good supply of hilsa in markets including Maniktala, Hatibagan, Gariahat, Kasba, Bhavanipur and Ashubabur Bazar. The price of the fish was the same in each market, depending on the size.

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Nonetheless, fisherfolk are the happiest lot given the rise in the price of hilsa. A fisherman from Digha said, “Usually in the month of Shravan, hilsa is available in abundance. As a result, hilsa will come in the coming days and the size of hilsa fish will be much bigger.” Hilsa fish was not seen like that in previous years. Fishermen and trawler operators are expecting more hilsa to arrive in Digha estuary in the coming days.

However, even if the supply of hilsa is increased to cover the shortage, buyers are doubtful whether the price of the delicacy will reduce. Moreover, they are concerned about how the fish will taste. Whatever the case, one thing is evident that fish lovers are flocking to markets to get a bagful of Ilish.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

American entertainment company Cineverse announces launch of Cineverse Services India

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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American entertainment company Cineverse Corp., a global streaming technology and entertainment company, on Tuesday, announced the launch of Cineverse Services India (CSI). This new business unit is set up to facilitate Cineverse’s Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) strategy, which is central to cost-cutting efforts in the current fiscal year.

The new unit, located in Kolkata and adjacent to Cineverse’s Engineering & Technology facility, will focus on providing customer service, quality control, operations, accounting, information technology, administrative and other back-office functions to support Cineverse’s growth.

The Company forecasts approximately $7.5 million in SG&A cost reductions over the course of the current fiscal year (a 21 percent reduction), driven by savings from the relocation of more than 50 identified Cineverse domestic roles, full-time role eliminations, and the reduction of third-party contract labour. The Company expects the majority of back office and support roles to be operated from CSI, while the domestic employee focus will centre on sales, business development, content and consumer strategy roles.

The Company recently hired Abhishek Pradhan as a key leader of these efforts. Pradhan has over 13 years’ experience in business process outsourcing and operations management, with experience at companies such as MSR IT Solutions and WIPRO BPO. He will work closely with Cineverse management to ensure a rapid, smooth scaling of CSI and will oversee the hiring, training and day-to-day management of the CSI team.

Chris McGurk, Chairman & CEO of Cineverse, stated “Over the last two years, we have demonstrated that our Indian operations provide a significant and unique strategic advantage in the market. We have built world-class technology with a talented, dedicated team of more than 60 technologists at Cineverse India.”

“This unit saves the Company an estimated $6 million per year compared to similar domestic operations. Given this success and cost savings, it makes strategic and economic sense to expand these operations further to rapidly drive the Company towards sustainable profitability and positive cash flow.”

McGurk continued, “As we continue to focus on leveraging next-generation technologies like AI, Machine Learning and computer vision already integrated into our Matchpoint platform suite, the talented teams in India will become a central and integral part in building the future of streaming across all facets of the company.”

Cineverse has one of the world’s largest portfolios of streaming channels and content libraries, all powered by its advanced, proprietary technology platform. Cineverse currently features enthusiast brands for subscription video on demand (SVOD), advertising-based video on demand (AVOD) and free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels. 

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Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow