Our West Bengal Trip– (6)

3-01-2023

I was happy to get up at 7.15 in the morning after a good night’s rest. When there was enough light outside, I went out to take some photos. After breakfast we got ready. Gupin came at 10 and we left for Rabindranath Tagore’s Ashram.  It is also called Uttarayan Complex. There are many buildings inside it. One that is open to the public is Rabindra Bhavan Museum. It was the residence of Rabindranath Tagore when he lived in Shantiniketan. The building still has an old -world charm. At the gate, we bought tickets and were asked to keep our bags in an allotted place. I was allowed to take my handbag.

 Many details about the Tagore family and especially about Rabindranath are dramatized in the museum through original letters, newspaper clippings and artifacts. We learnt a lot in each room. There was one room for his Gitanjali which had won the Nobel prize in 1913. We have the English translation of Gitanjali, and it is one of my favourite books. We were there till 12.30.

The room in one of the houses

There are other houses belonging to Tagore in the complex, but they were closed for visitors. We were allowed to see one room through an open door. The huge garden was beautiful with lovely, colourful flowers. There were hundreds of people. The Bengalis literally worship him.

After coming out we saw some vendors selling handicraft. Aravind bought some things for his nephew and niece. He also bought an earthen mug for himself. We saw a vendor selling yoghurt and rabri. But we did not risk eating them 😊.

The old banyan tree

 There are many other places connected to the Tagore family like a beautiful prayer hall, meditation spot of Tagore’s father, Maharishi Debendranath Tagore, Sangeet Bhavan, Kala Bhavan. All these we have to see from outside. There is very old and huge banyan tree. It is said Rabindranath Tagore sat under it and taught his students.

Kala bhavan

Prayer hall

We returned to Desher Bari for lunch. Farida and Pooja had prepared Cauliflower and potato sabji, rice, dal and aloo chokha. We were eating rasgullas in jaggery syrup every afternoon 😊. They are very tasty. Usually, rasgullas are soaked in sugar syrup. But in winter jaggery from the sap of the date tree is prepared and it is used in varieties of sweets.

Painting on the walls of Desher Bari

Rabindranath Tagore – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabindranath_Tagore

https://hebbarskitchen.com/rabri

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