For those who live in West Bengal or been to West Bengal recently: help!

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

I am wondering if anyone has recently been to West Bengal or even live in West

Bengal. I am asking the group because I may take a trip to India, to Calcutta,

within a year or so. In order for me to get as much as I can out of this trip,

I need to make plans ahead of time and be at least knowledgeable on a practical

level. I anticipate being there for at least a month, and I also am interested

in doing humanitarian work there if the Shaktas in the area allow me to be part

of their group for that time.

 

I have heard they can be secretive and may possibly not even identify themselves

to me without Devi's direct intervention. I cast no blame on them, since

Westerners can be very ignorant and people in the past have cast them in a

negative light. However, I also know that despite my ignorance, I know that if

I try to show respect and learn how to show respect, it tends to help break down

cultural barriers. My stepdad has went overseas to South American countries and

more or less said that it was the key to breaking down cultural barriers in a

short amount of time.

 

This trip has a several purposes for me, both religious and personal:

 

1) I want to see a place filled with devotees of Kali.

 

2) I want to experience a culture different from my own, at least different

nationality-wise. If I can get involved in humanitarian work (if it is possible

at all) with the Kali devotees in the area, I could experience that culture and

see how life is overseas, at least in one culture of India's many cultures.

 

3) The only place I been to that was not in the United States was Puerto Rico.

I want to go over seas. I am tired of feeling like I been sheltered all of my

life. :-(

 

You do not have to publicly respond to this message if you feel uncomfortable

identifying yourself. You have my word that if you feel uncomfortable publicly

giving the information out, I will keep it confidential. No one is by all means

obligated to respond to this. :-) I just believe that the Shakti Sadhana group

would have been a good place to start on finding accurate information, as well

as information from people who actually experienced the culture...in addition to

this, knowing what you know (even if not experience) can help me filter out the

bad information that exists on the internet, like those fictions that people

post about how 'bad' it is in Calcutta.

 

Thank you all for your time and attention.

 

Jai Ma!

 

Sincerely,

Christina

[Guest guest]

Hey there,

 

I had a very good experience in Calcutta. I would warmly recommend staying in

the tourist area for a day or two, but when you arrive you should promptly buy

some Indian clothes, and some toilet paper, and travel by bus to Belur Math. Its

about a 45 min drive. That is where the Sri Ramakrishna mission is. There is a

BEAUTIFUL clean and well kept area there and if you go to the offices there ask

for a man named Rajeesh Bhattacharya. He owns a guest house near by with very

nice and cheap rooms. I stayed there for rs100per night. (about $2 then)

Rajeesh's english is farly poor, but he is very nice, he lives across the street

from the guest house with his family which includes his two lovely neices and

sister in law. (his neices are wonderful, and their english is good.) He feels

it is his duty to take care of you and show you around which gets to be a bit

overbearing. But he showed me a LOT of amazing things including a private

tantric temple in the house of his friends.

The math itself is right on the hoogly river, and about a 15 minute boatride to

Dakshineshwar Kali temple. Its SO BEAUTIFUL.

You can easily learn to use the light rail in Calcutta and get around to the

different attractions, like Kalighat temple. (be cautious there)

Of course there is the MotherTeresa mission there also which is probably the

BEST way to get involved in humanitarian work. It is very well organized.

I hope this helps, if you have any questions feel free to ask. I was in Calcutta

for about 2 months. I loved every minute of it.

 

God bless you,

Rachel

[Guest guest]

Namaste:

 

While I was born in the US, my folks are originally from Kolkata, and

I've visited West Bengal several times in my life. I would highly

recommend staying with the Ramakrishna Mission - they have hostels

both at Belur Math (across the Hooghly) and in Gol Park in central

Calcutta. It is a safe place to stay, they have reasonable rates, and

there is a good sense of community. Sri Ramakrisha was a great

devotee of the Divine Mother, but I would not say all of his followers

are Shaktaas. (Though none deny Her.)

 

-S

[Guest guest]

in Kolkata there are quite good places to stay. in all places of worship and

Tara peet, 200 km away fr Kolkata

Tarakeswar, a siva sthal

near Kalighat- komalavilas- a good south indian restaurant . but be care ful w

with pandes and look after your purse.

 

Belur Mutt ,

daksheeneswar .

Here people spent entire month enjoying the Navrathri festival -- now it is not

there as it was ......busy ogaiya

A cool walk on chowingee

one has to have liking for Kolkata ... but still you will miss old days people

......... 2- 3 decades ago

 

atjags

 

 

Santo Sengupta <s.santo.sengupta

 

Cc: RACHEL GARCIA <omshantii

Wednesday, 27 February, 2008 9:49:56 AM

Re: For those who live in West Bengal or been to West

Bengal recently: help!

 

Namaste:

 

While I was born in the US, my folks are originally from Kolkata, and

I've visited West Bengal several times in my life. I would highly

recommend staying with the Ramakrishna Mission - they have hostels

both at Belur Math (across the Hooghly) and in Gol Park in central

Calcutta. It is a safe place to stay, they have reasonable rates, and

there is a good sense of community. Sri Ramakrisha was a great

devotee of the Divine Mother, but I would not say all of his followers

are Shaktaas. (Though none deny Her.)

 

-S

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Sir,

there is an old b song by bhupen hazarika

 

Ye Sahar Pranto Kolkata pranto

The spirit of kolakata is unending

 

there is also a balaji temple in bada bazar where the priests are south indians

 

 

Arakampakkam Thiaagrajan jagadeesan <atjags wrote:

in Kolkata there are quite good places to stay. in all places of worship and

Tara peet, 200 km away fr Kolkata

Tarakeswar, a siva sthal

near Kalighat- komalavilas- a good south indian restaurant . but be care ful w

with pandes and look after your purse.

 

Belur Mutt ,

daksheeneswar .

Here people spent entire month enjoying the Navrathri festival -- now it is not

there as it was ......busy ogaiya

A cool walk on chowingee

one has to have liking for Kolkata ... but still you will miss old days people

......... 2- 3 decades ago

 

atjags

 

Santo Sengupta <s.santo.sengupta

Cc: RACHEL GARCIA <omshantii

Wednesday, 27 February, 2008 9:49:56 AM

Re: For those who live in West Bengal or been to West

Bengal recently: help!

 

Namaste:

 

While I was born in the US, my folks are originally from Kolkata, and

I've visited West Bengal several times in my life. I would highly

recommend staying with the Ramakrishna Mission - they have hostels

both at Belur Math (across the Hooghly) and in Gol Park in central

Calcutta. It is a safe place to stay, they have reasonable rates, and

there is a good sense of community. Sri Ramakrisha was a great

devotee of the Divine Mother, but I would not say all of his followers

are Shaktaas. (Though none deny Her.)

 

-S

[Guest guest]

yes yes...............this where TATA and Birla created industry in old

days...................

 

atjags

 

 

sriram medepalli <dikki52

 

Saturday, 1 March, 2008 3:32:03 AM

Re: For those who live in West Bengal or been to West

Bengal recently: help!

 

Sir,

there is an old b song by bhupen hazarika

 

Ye Sahar Pranto Kolkata pranto

The spirit of kolakata is unending

 

there is also a balaji temple in bada bazar where the priests are south indians

 

Arakampakkam Thiaagrajan jagadeesan <atjags > wrote:

in Kolkata there are quite good places to stay. in all places of worship and

Tara peet, 200 km away fr Kolkata

Tarakeswar, a siva sthal

near Kalighat- komalavilas- a good south indian restaurant . but be care ful w

with pandes and look after your purse.

 

Belur Mutt ,

daksheeneswar .

Here people spent entire month enjoying the Navrathri festival -- now it is not

there as it was ......busy ogaiya

A cool walk on chowingee

one has to have liking for Kolkata ... but still you will miss old days people

......... 2- 3 decades ago

 

atjags

 

Santo Sengupta <s.santo.sengupta@ gmail.com>

Cc: RACHEL GARCIA <omshantii (AT) hotmail (DOT) com>

Wednesday, 27 February, 2008 9:49:56 AM

Re: For those who live in West Bengal or been to West

Bengal recently: help!

 

Namaste:

 

While I was born in the US, my folks are originally from Kolkata, and

I've visited West Bengal several times in my life. I would highly

recommend staying with the Ramakrishna Mission - they have hostels

both at Belur Math (across the Hooghly) and in Gol Park in central

Calcutta. It is a safe place to stay, they have reasonable rates, and

there is a good sense of community. Sri Ramakrisha was a great

devotee of the Divine Mother, but I would not say all of his followers

are Shaktaas. (Though none deny Her.)

 

-S

 

 

 

 

 

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