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Beyond Mihidana & Sitabhog: Bardhaman’s Hidden Food Stories | Tiyasa Koner

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  Beyond Mihidana & Sitabhog: Bardhaman’s Hidden Food Stories                                                                Image Source: The Chronicle Khana Introduction Just before dawn in the calm Bardhaman by lane, Bulu-da, an elderly vendor, lights his kerosene stovetop as the aroma of roasted rice from his freshly-prepared 'Chit-ruti', a rare, crunchy puffed snack that has been a staple in his family for centuries, fills the air. Locals slowly arrive with both their eyes barely open and their hands frozen waiting for their hot paper cone. By sunrise, all of the Chit-ruti will be gone, and most tourists will not know it existed until all the Chit-ruti has been sold out. This is what makes Bardhaman's food scene unique; only about 70% of tourists buy sitabhog or mihidana, while over half of Bardhaman's best-kept sec...

Sparkle by Hand: The Hidden Art Behind Handmade Jewellery | Tiyasa Koner

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Sparkle by Hand: The Hidden Art Behind Handmade Jewellery Introduction Necklaces are birthed in an artisan's hands; each bead laid with careful intention, each wire twisted with intention, and each detail is created by human hands and the heart rather than created using machinery for factory-made jewellery. Handmade jewellery contains magic that cannot be created by factory-made jewellery. This blog will show that the magic through exploration of the craft of handmade-jewellery items, their benefits, and practical information to help others enjoy the handmade-jewellery arts-and-crafts movement. The handmade jewellery market is growing, with estimates by Statista that the market will reach about $50 million in 2024. The Roots of Handmade Jewellery Ancient Traditions That Still Shine Jewelry created by hand is a tradition that dates back over 5000 years to Ancient Egypt and India, where artisans used crude implements to produce amulets, earrings, insignia, etc. The metalsmiths of ear...

The Secret Blueprint to a Balanced and Energized Life | Tiyasa Koner

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  The Secret Blueprint to a Balanced and Energized Life Introduction According to the CDC, 75% of adults report feeling drained every single day. This reality shows up in tired mornings, sluggish afternoons, and a gradual loss of energy and enthusiasm in daily activities. Over time, constant fatigue affects focus, motivation, and overall well-being, making even simple tasks feel overwhelming. What begins as occasional tiredness often turns into a persistent state of exhaustion that impacts both personal and professional life.                                                                       Image Source: Eggoz Tired of being burnt out? No one is alone in feeling drained, and life does not have to be lived on empty. Today offers a simple, science-backed blueprint to restore energy by strengthening sleep qua...

Inside Bengal’s Sweet Shops: The Magic Behind Every Mishti | Tiyasa Koner

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Inside Bengal’s Sweet Shops: The Magic Behind Every Mishti                                                           Image Source: India Food Network Introduction On a crisp Kolkata evening, the whiff of warm, milky sandesh escapes from a small local shop. Inside, trays of pristine white and honey-gold mishti glitter under soft light; a queue of hungry, shawl-drawn customers humbles itself in line. Yet beneath this everyday delight lies a secret world: secret kitchens, master sweet-makers, centuries-old recipes, and traditions that have shaped Bengal's identity. Today, over 500,000 tons of mishti are churned out every year in Bengal (2025 FSSAI data). With every other bite, history, science, craftsmanship, and love travel from the past into the present. Here's a guided walk through that world: meet its legends, uncover its secrets, and learn ho...