I had a magical experience with a bumblebee yesterday. I saw her on the bike path and thought she was a goner, she couldn’t move her front legs but I still didn’t want her squished so I tried bringing her to a flower and she starting eating! But the coolest thing was… 1/
Jamai Sasthi is more than a feast; it is Bengal’s way of turning love into ritual. From the haathpaakha blessing and Sasthi Suta tied with prayers, to plates overflowing with ilish, chingri, kosha mangsho, fruits and mishti, every gesture carries warmth. Rooted in the folktale of Goddess Sasthi, a cat, misplaced blame and gratitude, this tradition became a celebration of family, forgiveness and homecoming. Because beneath all the indulgence lies the real emotion — a daughter returning to her mother’s home, and a family welcoming love with blessings, abundance and a plate that never stays empty.
#JamaiSasthi #FamilyCelebration, #BengaliCulture
An ex student reminded today that I had shown two Satyajit Ray films back to back for a class discussion-Ghare Baire & Charulata. When I asked the class to start the conversation- one student said, “first thing first, one should never allow Soumitra Chatterjee to enter your home”
When Bengal Was The Richest Place in the World
In the early 1700s, Bengal was one of the richest places in the world. Generating 5% of global GDP, its capital Murshidabad had more wealth than the British aristocracy combined.
first 9XO. then VH1. now Radio One 94.3 shuts down..
feels like we’re losing every platform that helped a generation discover international music before spotify and reels decided what we should listen to.
The Beauty of RURAL BENGAL.
Pingla Patachitra is an ancient folk art of Bengal that began as a traveling storytelling tradition, where Patuas used painted scrolls and songs (Pater Gaan) to share mythological tales and social messages. Rooted in centuries-old literature like the Mangal-Kavya, this art reflects a unique blend of culture and harmony-where artists often carried both Hindu and Muslim identities.
Using natural colors and handmade materials, the art evolved from depicting gods and epics to capturing real historical events like the Indian Independence Movement and modern issues such as COVID-19.
Today, the village of Naya has become the heart of this tradition, turning into a living art hub. With the Gl tag recognition and festivals like Pot Maya, Pingla Patachitra has transformed into a globally celebrated cultural heritage.
📹thesouravgoshofficial.
In 1957, Bhupen Hazarika, then an emerging singer, read a story by Mahadevi Verma that felt a bit like Rabindranath Tagore's Kabuliwala. He loved the story and discussed it with another young, upcoming director, Mrinal Sen, who was just one film old at the time. Sen wrote the script, but couldn't find anyone willing to finance the project. Enter Hemanta Mukhopadhyay. Already an established singer and a fine composer, Hemanta was shuttling between Bombay and Calcutta like a daily passenger back then, and he was thinking of producing a movie. Bhupen Hazarika introduced Hemanta to Mrinal Sen, and after reading the script, Hemanta saw its immense potential and invited Sen to Bombay. There, Mrinal made a few more changes to his script and gave Hemanta Da a final reading, flanked by two other fellow Bengalis: Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Salil Chowdhury. Hemanta Da made up his mind right then to produce the film, giving Mrinal Sen full freedom to choose his cast and crew.
Using his political contacts, Hemanta Babu even organized a special screening at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the presence of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, President Dr. Rajendra Prasad, and Vice President Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, among others. Nehru later spoke highly of the film within his party circle. However, due to the Sino-Indian political tensions of 1962, the movie was briefly banned. When Hemanta Mukherjee got an opportunity to meet the Prime Minister and explained the issue, Nehru immediately instructed the ban to be lifted. Because of this, "Neel Akasher Neechey" earned the unique tag of being the very first Indian film banned in independent India, leaving Hemanta Mukhopadhyay to bear the brunt of the political turmoil as its producer.
Hemanta Babu wasn't just a singer or a music composer, he was a towering personality and a truly great human being.
On his birthday today, let’s remember this titan of Indian music.
A small public service announcement from the Department of Things That You Should Know…
It has not “peeked” your interest.
Nor has it “peaked” your interest.
…It has piqued your interest.
You are not “phased” by something.
You are fazed by it.
If you’ve had a long day, you are weary.
If you suspect someone is an idiot, you are wary.
It is “due course”, not “do course”.
“Per se”, not “per say”.
And while we’re here, it’s “could have”, not “could of”, but that particular battle may already be lost.
Thank you for your attention during this brief outbreak of grammatical housekeeping.
This has been a @LairdofthManor announcement.🎩💙
HIGH PROTEIN CHICKEN CAESAR SALAD PASTA
This is a high-protein, low-carb Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad that’s so good, it might just become your new favorite. Plus this dressing is SO good. Just do it.
👉 I used my Kaizen pasta—it’s got 20g of protein and just 6g net carbs per serving. But as always, use any protein or lowcarb pasta you like.
Here’s how I made it:
1. Start with the chicken. Mix 1 lb chicken thighs + 1 tbsp avocado oil + juice of 1 lemon + 1 tbsp smoked paprika + 1 tsp oregano + 1 tsp onion powder + ½ tsp chili flakes. Mix well, roast at 425F for 34-36 min, then diced it up
2. For the dressing:Mix 3 tbsp avocado oil mayo + 3 tbsp thick plain Greek yogurt + 1 tbsp Dijon + 1.5 tbsp apple cider vinegar + juice of 1 lemon + 1 garlic clove (minced) + 3 anchovy filets (optional but 🔥) + salt + lots of pepper + ¼ cup shredded parm. Thin it out with water or lemon juice if needed. Taste and adjust.
3. Finely chop 2 heads of romaine.
4.Cook 6-8oz of Kaizen lowcarb pasta (or any high protein pasta you love).
5. Assemble: Layer cubed chicken with the romaine and cooked pasta in a big jar. Flip it onto a plate for that chef’s kiss pasta presentation.
6.Drizzle with dressing + extra parm on top.
If you make it, be sure to let me know on SHREDHAPPENS
ENJOY!
.
.
.
.
#highprotein #lowcarbrecipes #pastasalad #mealprep #lowcarb #ketorecipes #keto #goodmoodfood #healthyrecipes #lowcarbpasta