Bong's Valentine Day

Every year in this time Bengal celebrate its  Saraswati Puja, the goddess of music, prosperity and knowledge, academics and Literature.
With great faith students, teachers n schools celebrate this festival.
But Bongs have something special, this Ma Saraswati Puja is also known as Bong's Valentine Day. Which has been a trend not just after Valentine Day celebration started but much before that. It says " Love finds its way " something like that. Here its through festivities that love is reaching into these young hearts. Actually all heart.
Its cool to see the young boys n gals are out on streets and in temples in their traditional outfit, gals in Sarees and boys in kurta payzama. Festivals are so much fun, holiness in air, skies are full with colourful kites which like hundreds of birds have decided to celebrate with us and food. Shit now I can't wait for the sweet dish ( payesh) mom is cooking. Screw dieting :P
HV fun guys n enjoy n love all <3

Tribeni - Bengal' old heritage since 14th century

Tribeni - A destination for those eyes which love old architecture and heritage places. It can be good for a weekend trip. A drive from a local train from Howrah Station to Bandel. From there buses, rickshaws to Tribeni. Or a one hour 15 mimute drive from Calcutta, is situated at the confluence of three rivers - Hooghly, Saraswati, Kunti. Eight hundred years ago, it was one of the busiest ports of bengal. The river Saraswati dried up a long back and now the port is no longernin existence. But Tribeni still have those signs of its rich culture heritage. It's a holy place for Hindus. many devotees take the holy dip during Maghi Purnima, Baruni, Makar Sankranti. On the bank of the Hooghly, there is mazar of Zafar Khan, who ruled the area in early 14th century. The famous Ananta Basudev temple and Hangseshwari temple are also located here. ANANTA Basudev is a terracotta temple built by king Rameshwar Dutta in 1679. The temple Hangseshwari was completed by Rani Sankari, its height is about 21 metres wid 13 minars. The idol of devi is blue in color. 

I am going to make this now and you are invited :)

Right now am gonna prepare this awesomee  Bengali sweet dish. The main requirement is the rice, it has its own particular aroma which doesn't require anything extra essence. It's called Gobindhobog Chal, am not sure whether you will get in other regions. Unlike other regions here first milk is boiled to half amount and then rice is added, rice will be cooked in that milk only. So the exact way is: 

 Soak the rice (gobindo bhog or dubraj or any fragrant small to medium grain rice in water for 30 minutes. Drain and let it dry for few more minutes.

Take 200ml of milk in a vessel and bring it to the first boil. Add the bay leaf and the cardamom pods.

Now slowly add the soaked rice and stir continuously. Cook it on a low flame till the rice become soft (till the rice cooked up to 60%).

Add the sugar and mix it well with the milk. Keep on stirring till the sugar melt and is incorporated well.

Add a teaspoon of misri and mix it well. Check for the desired consistency and take off from the heat.

Serve hot or cold as dessert or with puris.

Few important notes:
this recipe serves one and measurement is very important (specially the ratio of milk to rice).
Stirring continuously means do not leave it for single minute otherwise rice and milk will be separated.
Rice should not be overcooked (rice should be cooked up to 80%).
Misri is optional.