Lifestyle / Culture

A symphony of colours at Sahbag's flower market

A symphony of colours at Sahbag's flower market

The value of flowers in the heart's treasury is immeasurable. They are delicate ambassadors of feeling. Their tiny petals transmit feelings, too deep for words, like whispers of devotion. Flowers are the most valuable and best way to express love. This chaotic universe has few things to offer that


Tales of revival through nostalgia

Tales of revival through nostalgia

The lines are from a poster advertising the first form of cinema or motion pictures in the world, written playfully in Bangla - an invitation to watch a bioscope show. A bioscope - a square or hexagon with little round holes inside which the magic happens. Let a story be the wind that sails this s

Rudaalis: The tear sellers of Rajasthan

Rudaalis: The tear sellers of Rajasthan

In the middle of a dry land of yellow sand and red forts, a loud wailing filled the heavy desert air. Another grand Rajasthani fort was weeping in more grandeur than the celebration of joy. The Thakur of the haveli (the palace) has died.  This deep scream of wailing i

How national symbols are determined 

How national symbols are determined 

National Symbols are part and parcel of a country's culture. They represent a country's intrinsic and idiosyncratic features, and almost every country in the world has its own national flower, food, emblem, and bird.  Did you ever wonder on what basis they are determined, as different countri

Why thousands of Japanese stay isolated from the society?

Why thousands of Japanese stay isolated from the society?

In Japan, there are usually two opposing viewpoints. It is both modern and traditional, busy and lonely.  Restaurants and pubs are constantly filled, but if anyone looks closely, they'll see that most are packed with customers eating alone. And, no matter what time it is, they may encounter f

How did Lungi became a part of Bengali culture?

How did Lungi became a part of Bengali culture?

Lungi is one of the most commonly worn dresses in Bangladesh. Bangladeshi men wearing lungis is one of the most common scenes if one is to visualise rural Bangladesh. It is unimaginable to find a single man from Bangladesh who has never worn a lungi in his entire life.  Lungi has a long histo

Jobbarer Boli Khela: Bangladesh’s 100-year sports heritage

Jobbarer Boli Khela: Bangladesh’s 100-year sports heritage

Sports have been integral to Bangladeshi culture and heritage for hundreds of years. Even before the popularity of international sports like cricket, football, hockey, and so on, the country had numerous local sports held annually, some of which are still popular.  One of these sports hails f

How circus industry flourished in the mid 1900s in Bangladesh

How circus industry flourished in the mid 1900s in Bangladesh

The circus – a spectacle of daring feats, mesmerising performances, and vibrant costumes – has long held the power to captivate audiences and transport them to a world of wonder. Nowhere is this more evident than in Bengal, where the circus industry experienced a remarkable evolution th

The charm of Nilkhet's second-hand bookshops

The charm of Nilkhet's second-hand bookshops

There is a famous Latin maxim, 'Antiquarian librorum, magister.' It emphasises the intrinsic value and knowledge that lie within older books. 'Antiquarian' denotes things that are old or connected to old things; 'librorum' denotes books; and 'magister' means a teacher or master. Capital Dhaka's Ni

Metro station at TSC: Overcrowding or better communication?

Metro station at TSC: Overcrowding or better communication?

To most Bangladeshis, the metro has been a foreign concept, seen in some foreign tours or pop culture by others. Naturally, many misconceptions percolated when it was announced that Dhaka would have its own metro.  There were rumours about its being underground, and some considered it very bu