BHUGOLIYO

 Brati Majumdar (Chatterjee) Third gender individuals are often ridiculed in the society, and excluded as outcasts in the Indian Chauvinist society. We often see them as a problem while travelling in trains and buses and try our best to ignore them.  In January 2025, on a cold Makar Sankranti Day, I travelled to a remote village in the Odisha-Midnapur border area, to shoot Tusu celebrations. I was invited by renowned social worker Dr. H. Mahato, as he wanted me to experience something extraordinary. We were guided to the field adjacent to the temple, which was decorated with flowers, colorful flags, a typical village fair was going on. The smell of jalebis,  fried nuts, potato fritters, singara, and above all Mahua (a typical tribal drink of festivals), filled the air along with families gathering with children.  In a corner, crowd has gathered, as cheer and whistle filled the air, where "MOROG LORAI", is going on, with cruel laughter fillin...

Broti Majumdar Chatterjee The grassland behind the Indian Institute of Management Kolkata, in Joka, was once a part of a Wetland Ecosystem, overing a huge area, which was once a home to many species of local birds, housed many rare migratory visitors in winter, as well as many mammal species. Staying in Joka outskirts, very near to this grassland zone, I used to visit with my father and his photographer friends to witness the vibrant greenery and various bird species during winter since my school days. The outskirts of the wetland had a sparse population mostly of fishermen. The local people eagerly greeted the arrival of the winged winter visitors. My interest about photographing birds and watching them with shared binoculars grew as years passed by. Every year Gangaram, the local fisherman greeted us with a bright smile and informed us about the arrival of Bluethroat, Rubythroat, Siberian Stonechat or some other rare species. Let me share the story of JOKA BIRDING AREA, a Paradise Lo...

  Atrayee Roy One of the natural wonders of the United States of America is the Bryce Canyon. Amid wilderness in the state of Utah stands tall with the spectacular geological feature called the Bryce Canyon, also known as “hoodoos”. I am so fortunate to have visited this canyon on 20.8.24. It is about a 4–5-hour drive from Idaho, the home of Prabir and Chitta (my brother and sister-in-law). Prabir has taken us to his amazing land twice, and Chitta made sure that there was plenty of fruit and snacks to last us for those few days! This gave us the liberty to move around and not be restricted to being close to the food joints. As we approached the 18-mile road that runs north-south through the park, the stunning geology of Southern Utah, the red rock wonderland formation by wind, water and snow gave the striking patterns and clusters of hoodoos, We reached there in the latter half of the day. We checked into a motel, kept our luggage, and quickly got ready to go to see the re...