Oxygen ★ Sabyasachi - A Progressive Thought

Address:	Vill + P.O. - Naya, P.S. - Pingla, Dist. Paschim Medinipur, Pin - 721140, West Bengal, India
How to go:	Towards Kharagpur or Medinipur take any local or passenger train (Takes around 2 hours 15 min) from Howrah, get down in Balichak railway station. By bus: From Railway station you can get direct bus for Pingla. Bus stop: Nayagram Fair: 10-12 rs Time: 1 hour almost. Bus type: Local bus By Trekker: Come outside from railway station 1 no platform, turn left, step out few yards, you will get direct tracker for Pingla. Stop: Nayagram petrol pump (Potua Palli) Fair: 10-12 rs Time: 40 min almost.
Pros:	Behaviour and guidance of villagers and local shopkeepers, Road condition...
Cons:	Communication while returning to Balichak, lack of hotels for food.
What to visit ?	The village itself, Painting on house wall, painting on various stuffs like clothes-furniture-household stuffs, Museum of Bahadur Chitrakar
Company:	People who love Bengal art and culture
Minimum day/time to visit:	1 full day
Locality:	Rural
Expenses:	Approx 100 rs for communication only + depend on the stuffs you are willing to buy
More Information:	About Patua (The villagers) At present there are almost 70 Patua artist family live in Nayagram, Pingla. All of them are using surname "Chitrakar". They decorate their whole life by drawing Patachitra (Unique art and design by using natural color). Traditionally all Men-women-child are holding the same profession for years and that's the only source of income in their life. Most surprising fact, that many people don't know, is all family belongs to Muslim community and they portrait Hindu God and Goddess mythological stories in their art and you got to see the depth of knowledge regarding the myth. Except that they highlight the lifestyle of tribal people and environmental awareness. They prepare natural color by their own to draw Patchitra and for other stuffs like umbrella, clay pot, hand fan, household stuffs and specially wall art they use fabric color. Truly they are the best in their art and every artist has their own way of styling it. A fact to feel proud that most of the artist is the winner of various competition and go to various foreign countries multiple times in a year for exhibitions and award ceremonies. Poverty does not make them bypass to the wrong root yet they make their life so colorful that they hold the tradition forever. Speciality of subject: Hindu god and goddess and mythology Fish and nature Tribal life Environmental awareness When to go? Pingla is famous for the art and cultural fair (Pingla Patamaya Mela) which is being organised every year in the month of November for 1 to 2 weeks in their village itself. It is not any fairground but it is their home itself where they put individual stalls outside and most importantly decorate their house wall by various color and designs. They specially perform with Patchitra in their hand and sing and explain what's the story they want to tell by the picture. You can say this is their main festival of life. If you want to know about the exact date of the fair, you can call them up on the number I am mentioning below. Or else you can go anytime of the year. This option is for those traveler who really want to explore the Patuas' (villagers) life in details because in off season you will get time to communicate well and they also can pay attention to you. Obviously in November December it will be fully crowded and you will get to see the best stuffs to buy out there. Few people to mention: Mantu Chitrakar: Amazing voice (Request him to sing) Amazing paintings (Very fine and accurate) Big family, all are involved in drawing their own. For more information you can call them in +91 9733521335 or +91 8509477383 Amit Chitrakar: You got to see his big size paintings specially (Just mind blowing) I love the drawing of his son Sushovon Chitrakar (Exceptional art, must see) For more information you can call them in +91 9733737318 or +91 7602006594 Bahadur Chitrakar: Most passionate chitrakar in Pingla, who has already made a museum in his home. The museum is full of antique stuffs, not only Patachitra but lots of art, books, cultural and unique stuffs. Must visit to see the passion for living. He has good knowledge about many unique Rajpalace and Jaminder houses in Midnapore, you can take a guide from him. For more information you can call them in +91 9734536388 If you want to stay: In off season only they can accommodate you in their Lodge which has been built and inaugurated by state govt. It is inside the village area only. There are two room in first floor which accommodates 2 single bed on each. Per person they charge 500 for staying and for food they can organise home delivery or else you can have food cooked by them. It will be charged separately. During fair in November you can't get room on that building as they use it for the purpose of exhibition , you have to take hotel in Balichak only. Food: There are few sweet shops available nearby Naya bus stand. One of the best is Ashwini Kumar Jana's sweet shop. The old owner will be known for his gentle and sweet behaviour and he is an informer regarding Pingla. He is literally famous for 'Kheerer misti' and 'Alur chop' (it is entirely different than what we generally have and you will get it 3:30 pm onwards). Must try sweets from his shop. I also loved the 'yogurt ' and 'langcha'. ** But in Pingla all artist are marvelous and everyone has their own style of drawing. Do not ignore anyone but try to spend some time with them and buy stuffs because for the whole year they are waiting for that moment when people come and appreciate their work and make this a trademark of Indian culture.