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The Bengali People

admin — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 20:46:33 +0000

The ethnic people inhabiting Bengal who speak the Bengali language and follow the culture and traditions of Bengal may be called Bengalis or Bengali people.

Their history goes back to more than two thousand years and they may be said to belong to the Indo-Aryan community of South Asia. The Bengali or rather Bengal is known for superior intellect, rich cultural heritage and excellence in art and literature. Bengal has produced renowned poets, film directors, singers, actors, and musicians. Of the Indians who have done India proud by winning the Nobel, the majority have been Bengalis. With Muhammad Yunus winning the 2006 Nobel peace prize, another Bengali has joined the illustrious ranks.

History

The history of Bengal may be traced back to 100 B.C. when it was first mentioned by the Greeks who referred to it as Gangaridai (Land of the Ganges). Bengal’s first Buddhist king Gopala-1 was elected to the throne in 705 A.D.; this is probably the first time democratic elections were held to elect a head of state in South Asia.

Muslims came to Bengal in early 13th century and Bengal was ruled by different Mughal Dynasties till about mid 1700s when the great Mughal Empire fell to the East India Company and Calcutta became the centre of Indian culture and trade. In 1877 Victoria assumed the title of Empress of India and the British declared Calcutta as their capital.

The British divided Bengal along the Hindu and Muslim lines and along with the Indian independence came the birth of Muslim dominated East Pakistan and the predominantly Hindu state of West Bengal in India. After the war of Independence in 1971, East Pakistan became Bangladesh.

List of some illustrious Bengalis

Rabindra Nath Tagore: Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913
Satyajeet Ray: Oscar for Life time Achievement
Muhammad Yunus: Nobel Peace Prize
Amartya Sen: Economist and Nobel Laureate, 1998
Kazi Nazrul Islab: National poet of Bengal
Saurav Ganguly: Former Indian cricket captain
Jhumpa Lahiri: Author

Goa

admin — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 09:51:37 +0000

Goa is the smallest state in India in terms of area and the fourth smallest state in terms of population.
Goa is located on the Western Coast of India in a region known as the Konkan, and bound partially by the Arabian Sea. The state capital is Panaji and Vasco da Gama is Goa’s largest city.

One of the tourist destinations is Margoa that still exhibits an influence of the Portuguese culture. A Portuguese colony existed there for about 450 years before being taken over by India in 1961.

Goa is well known for its beaches and is visited by hundreds of thousands of international and domestic tourists each year.

Goa is also known for its old temples and world heritage architecture including the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa, so that it is one of the most common Christian pilgrimage sites in Asia.

Goa Tourism

admin — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 09:47:04 +0000

Goa is often known as the “Pearl of the Orient” because of its lovely beaches and tourist areas.
It resides on the western coast of India in the coastal belt known as Konkan. Visitors can see some of its lovely temples, churches and historic homes as well. Artifacts from the various dynasties that have taken control over Goa are available for sightseers to visit and understand.

There is a strong Portuguese influence in the area and this is seen in some of the Christian churches. There are also Muslim mosques as well.

Besides the vast sandy beaches, there are numerous rivers that weave their way through the state forming romantic inland waterways. The rivers also help with the transportation of iron and manganese ores, two of Goa’s most common exports.

Goan cuisine includes the staples of fish and rice although there is a strong Portuguese influence in its cuisine.

India

admin — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 22:20:36 +0000

The large country of India lies in the region between Pakistan, China and Nepal in southern Asia.

In the northern regions, it is bordered by the world’s highest mountain chain, while further south, the land is covered with plateaus, tropical rain forests and sandy, windswept deserts. Its ocean borders are lined with palm trees and lovely beaches. India’s history dates back to 3,200 BC when the first wisps of Hinduism were born.

Today, India has followers of Buddhism Jainism, Sikhism, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity and Hinduism exist side by side.

Because the country is so big, it has a diffuse history and lots of things to see.

See also

Northern India

admin — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 22:20:18 +0000

With the Himalayas forming the northern boundary of India,
travelers can see majestic views and can visit the Ganga basin of Uttar Pradeshan area that has nurtured several ancient civilizations. This area dates back over 5,000 years and is a very colorful destination for visitors.

This area is the confluence of Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism with Varanasi, one of the oldest cities in the world, and a holy center for Hindu pilgrimages. It was in this area that the Muslim culture built itself in India as well. Visitors can travel to Rajasthan, a state in which medieval forts and palaces can be seen, along with the nomadic lifestyle and lovely scenery.

Southern India

admin — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 22:19:49 +0000

Southern India is surrounded by three oceans and is a place of pristine beauty in this country.
It is separated from northern India by the Vindhya mountain range and serves as a sort of peninsula in the area of the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. This area offers vacationers a mild tropical climate with lush vegetation in the coastal areas.

The culture, language and lifestyle is largely Dravidian, offering visitors a view of a different culture, isolated for millennia. One can see magnificent temples dating as far back as the 6th century AD as well as unaltered traditions of religion, food, lifestyle, heritage and handicrafts. Tourists have a chance to see some of the ancient classical dance and music of the area.