| ?Cooch Behar West Bengal • India |
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 |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area | 8.29 km² (3 sq mi) |
| District(s) | Cooch Behar |
| Population • Density |
76,812 (2001) • 9,266 /km² (23,999 /sq mi) |
| Chairman | Biren Kundu |
| Codes • Pincode • Telephone • Vehicle |
• 736 101 • +03582 • WB-64/63 |
Cooch Behar (IPA: [kotʃbihaɹ]; Bengali: কোচবিহার, Kochbihar [?]) is the district headquarters and the largest town of Cooch Behar District in the Indian state of West Bengal. Cooch Behar (Bengali: কোচবিহার Rajbongshi/Kamatapuri: কোচবিহার is a district of the state of West Bengal, India, as well as India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country West Bengal ( Bengali: পশ্চিমবঙ্গ Poshchim Bônggo poʃtʃim bɔŋgo is a state in eastern India. It is situated in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas and located at . Eastern Himalaya is situated between Central Nepal in the west to Myanmar in the east occupying Sikkim, North Bengal, Bhutan and Cooch Behar is the only planned town in North Bengal region with remnants of royal heritage. [1] One of the main tourist destinations in West Bengal, the town is well-known for the Cooch Behar Palace and Madan Mohan Bari and has been declared a heritage town. West Bengal ( Bengali: পশ্চিমবঙ্গ Poshchim Bônggo poʃtʃim bɔŋgo is a state in eastern India. Cooch Behar Palace, also called the Victor Jubilee Palace, is a landmark in Cooch Behar city West Bengal. [2]
During the British Raj, the town of Cooch Behar was the seat of the princely state of Koch Bihar, ruled by the Koch dynasty. For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British For other uses see Principality, Other princely states A Princely State (also called Native State or Indian State) was a For the present-day district of West Bengal Cooch Behar District Koch Bihar is the western portion of the Koch kingdom in India The Koch dynasty of Assam and Bengal, named after the Koch tribe of Tibeto-Burmese affiliation took control of the Kamata kingdom in 1515 After 20 August 1949, Cooch Behar District was transformed from a princely state to its present status, with the town of Cooch Behar as its headquarters. Events 636 - Battle of Yarmouk: Arab forces led by Khalid ibn al-Walid take control of Syria and Palestine Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. [3]
Contents |
Etymology
The name Cooch-Behar is derived from the name of the Koch tribes (the Rajbongshi or Rajbanshi or Koch Rajbongshi) indigenous to this region for many centuries. The name " Cooch-Behar " is derived from the name of the Koch tribe that is indigenous to this area [4] The word Behar is the Sanskrit word bihar (to travel), which means the land through which the Koch kings used to roam. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical
History
- See also: Koch dynasty
The princely state known during British rule as Cooch Behar had been part of the Kamarupa Kingdom from the 4th century to the 12th century. The Koch dynasty of Assam and Bengal, named after the Koch tribe of Tibeto-Burmese affiliation took control of the Kamata kingdom in 1515 As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 4th century (per the Julian calendar and Anno Domini / Common era) was that Century In the 12th century, the area became a part of the Kamata Kingdom, first ruled by the Khen dynasty from their capital at Kamatapur. The Kamata kingdom appeared in the western part of the older Kamarupa kingdom in the 13th century, after the fall of the Pala dynasty. The Khen dynasty of Assam replaced the Pala dynasty in the 12th century. The Khens were an indigenous tribe, and they ruled till about 1498 CE, when they fell to Alauddin Hussein Shah, the independent Pathan Sultan of Gour. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Gaur, or Gour, as it is spelt mostly in modern times or Lakhnauti is a ruined city in the The new invaders fought with the local Bhuyan chieftains and the Ahom king Suhungmung and lost control of the region. The Baro-Bhuyans were the local chiefs and Zamindars who put up strong resistance to the Mughals during the time of Akbar and Jahangir. The Ahoms established the Ahom kingdom (1228-1826 in parts of present-day Assam and ruled it for nearly 600 years Suhungmung (reign 1497-1539 (Swarganarayan Dihingia Raja was one of the most important Ahom kings who ruled at the cusp of Assam's medieval history During this time, the Koch tribe became very powerful and proclaimed itself Kamateshwar (Lord of Kamata) and established the Koch dynasty. The Koch dynasty of Assam and Bengal, named after the Koch tribe of Tibeto-Burmese affiliation took control of the Kamata kingdom in 1515
The first important Koch ruler was Biswa Singha, who came to power in 1510 or 1530 CE. Bishu or more popularly known as Maharaja Biswa Singha ( Bengali: মহারাজ বিশ্বসিংহ Ruled 1522-1554 was throned after the death of Maharaja [5] Under his son, Nara Narayan, the Kamata Kingdom reached its zenith. Nara Narayan (reign 1540-1586 was the third and last ruler of the undivided Koch kingdom. [6] Nara Narayan's younger brother, Shukladhwaj (Chilarai), was a noted military general who undertook expeditions to expand the kingdom, and he became governor of its eastern portion. Shukladhwaj, or more popularly Chilarai, was the younger brother of Nara Narayana the king of the Kamata kingdom in the 16th century. After Chilarai's death, his son Raghudev became governor of this eastern portion. Since Nara Narayan did not have a son, Raghudev was seen as the heir apparent. However, a late child of Nara Narayan removed Raghudev's claim to the throne. To placate him, Nara Narayan had to anoint Raghudev as a vassal chief of the portion of the kingdom east of the Subansiri river. This area came to be known as Koch Hajo. Koch Hajo was the eastern portion of the Kamata kingdom of medieval Assam that Nara Narayan handed over to Raghudev (son of Chilarai) to govern fixing After the death of Nara Narayan in 1584, Raghudev declared independence, and the kingdom ruled by the son of Nara Narayan, Lakshmi Narayan, came to be known as Cooch Behar. The division of the Kamata Kingdom into Cooch Behar and Koch Hajo was permanent.
The early capital of Koch Kingdom (Cooch Behar) was not static and became stable only when shifted to Cooch Behar town. The Kamata kingdom appeared in the western part of the older Kamarupa kingdom in the 13th century, after the fall of the Pala dynasty. Maharaja Rup Narayan, on the advice of an unknown saint, transferred the capital from Attharokotha to Guriahati (now called Cooch Behar town) on the banks of the Torsa river between 1693 and 1714. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Guriahati is a Census town in Koch Bihar district in the Indian state of Torsa River (also spelt Torsha and also known as Machu and Amo Chu rises from the Chumbi Valley in Tibet, China, where it is known as Machu After this, the capital was always in or near its present location.
In 1661 CE, Maharaja Pran Narayan planned to expand his kingdom. However, Mir Jumla, the subedar of Bengal under the Mughal emperor Aurangazeb, attacked Cooch Behar and conquered the territory, meeting almost no resistance. Mir Jumla ( 1591 - 30 March 1663) was a prominent Subahdar (governor of Bengal in Eastern India under the Indian Mughal Subedar, a historical rank in Indian Army which ranked below British commissioned officers and above non-commissioned officers Etymology and ethnology The exact origin of the word Bangla or Bengal is unknown though it is believed to be derived from the Dravidian-speaking tribe Bang Aurangzeb ( (full title Al-Sultan al-Azam wal Khaqan al-Mukarram Abul Muzaffar Muhiuddin Muhammad Aurangzeb Bahadur Alamgir I Padshah Ghazi) ( November 4, [7] The town of Cooch Behar was subsequently named Alamgirnagar. [8] However, Maharaja Pran Narayan regained his kingdom within a few days.
During 1772–1773, the king of Bhutan attacked and captured Cooch Behar. The Kingdom of Bhutan (buːˈtɑːn is a Landlocked nation in South Asia. To expel the Bhutanese, the kingdom of Cooch Behar signed a treaty with the British East India Company on 5 April 1773, and the king of Cooch Behar became a feudal ruler under the British. The Honourable East India Company ( HEIC) referred to most commonly as the East India Company, also historically and colloquially as John Company, or Events 456 - St Patrick returns to Ireland as a missionary bishop Year 1773 ( MDCCLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common [9]
The famous Victor Jubilee Palace, a landmark in the city, was designed on the lines of Buckingham Palace of London, in 1887, during the reign of Maharaja Nripendra Narayan. Cooch Behar Palace, also called the Victor Jubilee Palace, is a landmark in Cooch Behar city West Bengal. Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the British monarch. [8] In 1878, the maharaja married the daughter of Brahmo preacher Keshab Chandra Sen, and this union led to a renaissance in Cooch Behar state. A Brahmo is either an adherent of Brahmoism to the exclusion of all other religions or a person with at least one Brahmo parent or guardian and who has never denied his Keshub Chunder Sen ( Bengali: কেশব চন্দ্র সেন Keshob Chôndro Shen) (also Keshab Chandra Sen (November 19 1838 - January 8 1884 [10] Maharaja Nripendra Narayan is known as the architect of modern Cooch Behar town. [11]
Under an agreement between the kings of Cooch Behar and the Indian Government at the end of British rule, Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan transferred full authority, jurisdiction and power of the state to the Dominion Government of India, effective 12 September 1949. Jagaddipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur ( 15 December 1915 - 11 April 1970) was Maharaja of Cooch-Behar, in India Events 1213 - Albigensian Crusade: Simon de Montfort 5th Earl of Leicester, defeats Peter II of Aragon at the Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. [3] Cooch Behar District became part of the state of West Bengal on 19 January 1950, with Cooch Behar town as its headquarters. Events 1419 - Hundred Years' War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England completing his reconquest of Normandy. Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. [3]
Geography
Cooch Behar is situated in the foothills of Eastern Himalayas, located at in the north of West Bengal. North Bengal (উত্তর বঙ্গ is a term for the parts of Bangladesh and West Bengal. It is the largest town and district headquarters of Cooch Behar District with an area of 8. Cooch Behar (Bengali: কোচবিহার Rajbongshi/Kamatapuri: কোচবিহার is a district of the state of West Bengal, India, as well as 29 km². Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of [12]
The Torsa river flows by the western side of town. Torsa River (also spelt Torsha and also known as Machu and Amo Chu rises from the Chumbi Valley in Tibet, China, where it is known as Machu Heavy rains in the area often cause strong river currents and flooding. The turbulent water carries huge amounts of sand, silt, and pebbles, which have an adverse effect on crop production as well as on the hydrology of the region. [13] Alluvial deposits form the soil, which is acidic. [13] Soil depth varies from 15 cm to 50 cm, superimposed on a bed of sand. A centimetre ( American spelling: centimeter, symbol cm) is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one hundredth The foundation materials are igneous and metamorphic rocks at a depth 1000 m to 1500 m. The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International The soil has low levels of nitrogen with moderate levels of potassium and phosphorus. Nitrogen (ˈnaɪtɹəʤɪn is a Chemical element that has the symbol N and Atomic number 7 and Atomic weight 14 Potassium (pəˈtæsiəm is a Chemical element. It has the symbol K (kalium from qalīy Atomic number 19 and Atomic mass 39 Phosphorus, (ˈfɒsfərəs is the Chemical element that has the symbol P and Atomic number 15 Deficiencies of boron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and sulphur are high. Boron (ˈbɔərɒn is a Chemical element with Atomic number 5 and the chemical symbol B. Zinc (ˈzɪŋk from Zink is a Metallic Chemical element with the symbol Zn and Atomic number 30 Calcium (ˈkælsiəm is the Chemical element with the symbol Ca and Atomic number 20 Magnesium (mægˈniːziəm is a Chemical element with the symbol Mg, Atomic number 12 Atomic weight 24 Sulfur or sulphur (ˈsʌlfɚ see spelling below) is the Chemical element that has the Atomic number 16 [13]
The town of Cooch Behar and its surrounding regions face deforestation due to increasing demand for fuel and timber, as well as air pollution from increasing vehicular traffic. Deforestation is the conversion of Forested areas to non-forest land for use such as Arable land, Pasture, urban use logged area or wasteland The local flora include palms, bamboos, creepers, ferns, orchids, aquatic plants, fungi, timber, grass, vegetables, and fruit trees. Migratory birds, along with many local species, are found in the city, especially around the Sagardighi and other water bodies. Sagardighi is one of famous "Great Ponds" in the heart of Cooch Behar, West Bengal, India. [14]
Climate
Five distinct seasons (summer, monsoons, autumn, winter and spring) can be observed in Cooch Behar, of which summer, monsoons and winter are more prominent. Summer is one of the four Temperate Seasons Summer marks the warmest time of year with the longest days A monsoon is a seasonal prevailing wind which lasts for several months Autumn (also known as fall in North American English) is one of the four Temperate Seasons Autumn marks the transition from Summer Winter is one of the four Seasons of Temperate zones Calculated astronomically, it begins on the Solstice and ends on the Equinox Spring is one of the four Temperate Seasons Spring marks the transition from Winter into Summer. Cooch Behar has a moderate climate characterised by heavy rainfall during the monsoons and slight rainfall from October to mid-November. [13] The district does not have high temperatures at any time of the year. The summer season is from April, the hottest month, to May. During the summer season, the mean daily maximum temperature is 32. 5°C, and the mean daily minimum is 20. The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. 2 °C. [15] The winter season lasts from the end of November to February; January is the coldest, when temperature ranges between 10. 4 °C and 24. 1 °C. [15] The lowest and highest temperatures recorded have been 3. 9 °C and 39. 9 °C respectively. The atmosphere is highly humid throughout the year except from February to May, when relative humidity is around 50 to 70 percent. The rainy season lasts from June to September. Average annual rainfall in the district is 3,201 mm. The Millimetre ( American spelling: millimeter, symbol mm) is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to [15] However, the climate has undergone a drastic change in the past few years, with the mercury rising and the rainfall decreasing each year. [16]
Economy
The central and state governments are the largest employers in Cooch Behar town. . Cooch Behar is home to a number of district-level and divisional-level offices and has a large government-employee workforce. Business is mainly centred on retail goods; the main centres lie on B. S. Road, Rupnarayan Road, and at Bhawaniganj Bazar.
An industrial park has been built at Chakchaka, just four kilometres from town, on the route to Tufanganj. An industrial estate is an area of land set aside for industrial development. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Tufanganj (তুকানগঞ্জ is a sub-division town and a Municipality in Cooch Behar district A number of small companies such as Poddar Food Products Pvt. , Ltd, and Deepa Casing Pvt. , Ltd have set up industries there. [17]
Farming is a major source of livelihood for the nearby rural populace, and it supplies the town with fruits and vegetables. Poorer sections of this semi-rural society are involved in transport, basic agriculture, small shops and manual labour in construction. As the town is near the international border, the Border Security Force (B. The Border Security Force ( BSF) is a Border patrol agency of India. S. F. ) maintains a large presence in the vicinity of Cooch Behar. This gives rise to a large population of semi-permanent residents, who bring revenue to the local economy. The state government is trying to promote Cooch Behar as a tourist destination, though income from tourism is low. [18]
Civic administration
Cooch Behar Municipality is responsible for the civic administration of the town. The municipality consists of a board of councillors, elected from each of the 20 wards[19] of Cooch Behar town as well as a few members nominated by the state government. The board of councillors elects a chairman from among its elected members; the chairman is the executive head of the municipality. The present chairman is Biren Kundu. Currently, the Indian National Congress Party holds power in the municipality. Indian National Congress-I (also known as the Congress Party and abbreviated INC) is a major Political party in India. The state government looks after education, health and tourism in the town.
The town is within the Cooch Behar (Lok Sabha constituency) and elects one member to the Lok Sabha (the Lower House of the Indian Parliament). The Lok Sabha (also titled the House of the People, by the Constitution) is the directly elected Lower house of the Parliament of India A lower house is one of two chambers of a Bicameral Legislature, the other chamber being the Upper house. The Parliament of India (or Sansad) is the federal and supreme Legislative body of India. It elects one member to the Vidhan Sabha, which is the West Bengal state legislative assembly. The Vidhan Sabha also known as Legislative Assembly is the lower house of state legislature in India. The West Bengal Legislative Assembly &mdash the Vidhan Sabha is the Unicameral legislature of the Indian state of West Bengal. Cooch Behar town comes under the jurisdiction of the district police (which is a part of the state police); the Superintendent of Police oversees the town's security and matters pertaining to law and order. The West Bengal Police is the Police Force of the State of West Bengal,in the Union of India reorganised under provisions of Police Act1861(Act V of Superintendent ( Supt) often shortened to "Super" is a rank in British police services and in most English-speaking Commonwealth nations Cooch Behar is also home to the District Court.
Utility services
Cooch Behar is a well-planned town,[20] and the municipality is responsible for providing basic services, such as potable water and town sanitation. Water of sufficient quality to serve as drinking water is termed potable water whether it is used for drinking or not Sanitation is the hygienic means of preventing human contact from the hazards of wastes to promote health The water is supplied by the municipality using its groundwater resources, and almost all the houses in the municipal area are connected through the system. Solid waste is collected every day by the municipality van from individual houses. The surface drains, mostly uncemented, drain into the Torsa River. Electricity is supplied by the West Bengal State Electricity Board, and the West Bengal Fire Service provides emergency services like fire tenders. West Bengal State Electricity Board ( WBSEB) is a state owned electricity regulation board operating within the state of West Bengal in India. West Bengal Fire Service is the state owned service that attends fire/rescue calls throughout the Indian state of West Bengal, including the city of Kolkata Most of the roads are metalled (macadam), and street lighting is available throughout the town. The Public Works Department is responsible for road maintenance in the town and on the roads connecting Cooch Behar with other towns in the region. Health services in Cooch Behar include a government-owned District Hospital, a Regional Cancer Centre, and private nursing homes.
Transport
Rickshaws are the most widely available public transport within Cooch Behar town. Rickshaws (or rickshas) are a mode of Human-powered transport: a runner draws a two-wheeled Cart which seats one or two persons Most of Cooch Behar's residents stay within a few kilometres of the town centre and have their own vehicles, mostly motorcycles and bicycles. MotorCycle is the title of a 1993 album by Rock band Daniel Amos, released on BAI Records. The bicycle, cycle, or bike is a pedal-driven, human-powered vehicle with two wheels attached to a frame, one behind
The New Cooch Behar railway station is around five kilometres from town and is well connected to almost all major Indian cities. New Cooch Behar is the extension of Cooch Behar town Situated almost 5 km away from the heart of Cooch Behar town The rail route is one of the important connecting North-East India with remaining parts of the country. North-East India refers to the easternmost region of India consisting of the contiguous Seven Sister States and Sikkim. All express and Superfast trains going towards North East have a stoppage here. Another station named Cooch Behar situated inside the town exists but only two pairs of local trains run on this route.
Cooch Behar is headquarters of the North Bengal State Transport Corporation, which runs regular bus service to places in West Bengal, Assam and Bihar. North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC is a West Bengal State government undertaken transport Corporation. West Bengal ( Bengali: পশ্চিমবঙ্গ Poshchim Bônggo poʃtʃim bɔŋgo is a state in eastern India. Assam) ( Assamese: অসম Ôxôm) is a northeastern state of India with its capital at Dispur, a suburb of the city Bihar ( Hindi:बिहार Urdu: بہار bɪhaːr) is a state in eastern India. Private buses are also available. Most buses depart from the Central Bus Terminus near Cooch Behar Rajbari. Hired vehicles are also available from the taxi stand near Transport Chowpathi.
Cooch Behar has an airport that, at present, is defunct, but plans are being considered to make it operational soon. [21] At present, the nearest airport is in Bagdogra near Siliguri, about 160 kilometres from Cooch Behar. Bagdogra Airport or Civil Aerodrome Bagdogra, a military Airport that is open for civilian flights is located about from the city of Siliguri in Siliguri (শিলিগুড়ি ''Shiliguṛi'') is a rapidly developing metropolis in the Indian state of West Bengal. Indian Airlines, Jet Airways and Air Deccan are the three major carriers that connect the area to Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati. Indian Airlines or Indian ( Hindi: इंडियन एयरलाइंस or इंडियन was an airline based in Delhi India and focused primarily Jet Airways is an Airline based in Mumbai, India. It is the country's second-largest international airline after Air India and the largest Delhi (दिल्ली ਦਿੱਲੀ دلی d̪ɪlːiː sometimes referred to as Dilli) is the second largest metropolis of India, with a population WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Guwahati ( Assamese: গুৱাহাটী previously spelled Gauhati) is a major city in
Demographics
As per the 2001 census,[22] the Cooch Behar municipal area has a population of 76,812. A census is the procedure of acquiring information about every member of a given population The sex ratio is 972 females per 1,000 males. The decadal growth rate for population is 7. 86 %. Males constitute 50. 6% of the population, and females constitute 49. 4%. Cooch Behar has an average literacy rate of 82%, which is higher than the national average of 64. 84%. The male literacy rate is 86%, while female literacy rate is 77%. In Cooch Behar, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age. [23]
The major religion followed is Hinduism, followed by Islam; Christianity and Sikhism. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Sikhism ( IPA: or; ਸਿੱਖੀ sikkhī, IPA:) founded on the teachings of Nanak and nine successive gurus in fifteenth century The population's ethnic composition is closely linked with that of Bengal and Assam. Communities that inhabit Cooch Behar include the Bengalis, Gorkha, Marwaris, Biharis and Rajbangsi. The Bengali people are the ethnic community from Bengal (divided between Bangladesh and India) on the Indian subcontinent with a history dating Marwaris are the people from the Marwar region of Rajasthan in India. Commonly spoken languages include Bengali and Hindi. Hindi ( Devanāgarī: hi [[wiktहिन्दी हिन्दी]] or hi [[wiktहिंदी हिंदी]] IAST:, IPA:) is English and Assameese are understood by most of the people. [15]
Culture
Popular festivals in Cooch Behar include, Durga Puja in October, along with Ras Purnima, when a big fair is organised in the town near the famous Madan Mohan Temple. Durga Puja (দুর্গা পূজা ‘Worship of Durga’ also referred as Durgotsab (bn দুর্গোৎসব ‘Festival of Durga’ is an annual [24] Cooch Behar Ras mela is the oldest in the North Bengal region. North Bengal (উত্তর বঙ্গ is a term for the parts of Bangladesh and West Bengal. [25] Other major festivals celebrated in the region include Pohela Baishakh (Bengali New Year), Rathayatra, Dolyatra or Basanta-Utsab, Diwali, Poush parbon (festival of Poush), Christmas, Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha. Bengali New Year ( Bengali: নববর্ষ Nôbobôrsho) or Pohela Boishakh (পহেলা বৈশাখ Pôhela Boishakh or পয়লা Ratha Yatra is a major Hindu festival associated with Lord Jagannath held at Puri in the state of Orissa, India during Holi ( or language|Bhojpuri]] also called the Festival of Colours, is a popular Hindu spring Festival observed in India, Holi ( or language|Bhojpuri]] also called the Festival of Colours, is a popular Hindu spring Festival observed in India, Diwali, or Deepavali, (also called Tihar and Swanti in Nepal (Markiscarali is a major Indian and Nepalese festival and a significant Eid ul-Fitr or Id-ul-Fitr (عيد الفطر ‘Īdu l-Fiṭr) often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim Holiday that marks the end of Eid al-Adha ( Arabic: عيد الأضحى ‘Īd ul-’Aḍḥā, Urdu: بقرعید or the Festival of Sacrifice is a religious festival celebrated During Rathayatra, a small fair is organised at Gunjabari area of the town. Ratha Yatra is a major Hindu festival associated with Lord Jagannath held at Puri in the state of Orissa, India during
Cooch Behar has a mixture of cultures, similar to those of West Bengal and Bangladesh. West Bengal ( Bengali: পশ্চিমবঙ্গ Poshchim Bônggo poʃtʃim bɔŋgo is a state in eastern India. ( Bengali: বাংলাদেশ inc-Latn Bangladesh) officially Rice and fish are traditional favorites, leading to a common saying that "fish and rice make a Bengali" (machhe bhate bangali). Meat consumption has increased with higher production in recent years. Bhuni Khicuhri (a dish made of rice and dal) and labra (a mixed-vegetable preparation) are quite popular and are served during any religious occasion. Bhuni Khichuri is a popular component of Bengali cuisine and is made from rice green gram along with other vegetables such as cauliflower potatoes tomatoes green peas etc Dal (also spelled dahl, dhal or daal) ( Devanagari दाल Telugu పప్పు Bangla দ্দাল is a preparation As in any part of West Bengal, people of Cooch Behar are known to prepare distinctive confections from milk products; popular ones are Rôshogolla, Chômchôm and Kalojam. West Bengal ( Bengali: পশ্চিমবঙ্গ Poshchim Bônggo poʃtʃim bɔŋgo is a state in eastern India. Confectionery is a set of Food items that are rich in Sugar; modern usage may include substances rich in artificial sweeteners as well Rasgulla (Rasagolla রসগোল্লা Rôshogolla; Rasgulla is a syrupy Dessert of Orissa and Bengal. Bengal's vast repertoire of fish-based dishes includes various hilsa, ilish preparations (a favorite among Bengalis). Hilsa (ইিলশ Ilish) is the national fish of Bangladesh, also popular in India 's Assamese - Bengali - and Oriya Hilsa (ইিলশ Ilish) is the national fish of Bangladesh, also popular in India 's Assamese - Bengali - and Oriya Fast foods, such as Paratha (fried bread), egg roll (flatbread roll with vegetable stuffings and egg), and phuchka (deep fried crêpe with tamarind and lentil sauce), are also widely popular. A paratha (or parantha) is a flatbread that originated in the Indian subcontinent. An egg roll is an Appetizer which was originally eaten in East Asia but has spread throughout the world as a staple of Asian cuisine The momo is another popular snack made from vegetable or meat filling, which is steamed and served with a soup. MOMO (Multiple Observative Mimetic Organicus Mizrahi is a fictional character/reference from the Xenosaga series Another popular snack is Ghatigaram, a variety of Jhalmuri (a mixture made out of flattened rice and other spices).
Bengali women commonly wear a sari (shaŗi) and the salwar kameez, which are distinctly designed as per local customs. for the town in Nepal see Sari Nepal A sari or saree or shari is a female garment in the Indian subcontinent Salwar kameez ( also spelled shalwar kameez or shalwar qameez) is a traditional dress worn by both women and men in Southern Asia. However, Western-style attire is also quite popular, especially amongst youngsters. Men wear traditional costumes such as the kurta with dhoti or pyjama, often on religious occasions. A kurta ( Persian / Urdu: کرتا, Hindi: कुरता কুর্তা also called a panjabi in Bengali (or kurti The pancha in Telugu, called dhoti or doti in Hindi, Laacha in Punjabi, Mundu in Malayalam Kids in pajamasjpg|thumb| Boys in pyjamas]] Pajamas or pyjamas (see also spelling differences) is a word with several different related meanings in
A characteristic feature of Cooch Behar is the Para or neighbourhoods with a strong sense of community attachment. Typically, every para has its own community club with a clubroom and often a playground. People here habitually indulge in adda or leisurely chat, and these adda sessions are often a form of freestyle intellectual conversation. Residents of Cooch Behar are fond of music and generally listen to Rabindra Sangeet, Bangla Bands, Hindi Pop music and the local Bhawaiya Sangeet. The local Bengali dialect, is different from the one spoken in Kolkata. The local dialect is more closer to that of East Bengal and a mix of Assamese and Rajbangsi language. East Bengal ( Bengali: পূর্ববঙ্গ Purbobôngo) was the name used during two periods in the 20th century for a territory that roughly corresponded Assamese (অসমীয়া) (ɔxɔmija is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language, spoken mainly in the state of Assam in North-East NABARAJ is an Eastern Indic language spoken in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
The sole museum in Cooch Behar is located inside the Cooch Behar Palace. Cooch Behar Palace, also called the Victor Jubilee Palace, is a landmark in Cooch Behar city West Bengal. It has a variety of photographs and articles used by the maharajas of Cooch Behar and also information about the tribals of North Bengal. North Bengal (উত্তর বঙ্গ is a term for the parts of Bangladesh and West Bengal. The town boasts a well-archived North Bengal State Library. North Bengal State Library is the largest library in the North Bengal region which is situated in the Cooch Behar city Rabindra Bhawan, an auditorium, is often chosen as the venue for cultural events such as dramas, concerts, poetry-recitals, and dance programs. Temples exist throughout region; the Madan Mohan Temple, Bara Debi Bari and Rajmata Temple are centres of religious and cultural importance.
Language
The people of Cooch Behar/Koch Behar speaks Rajbongshi Language. The Rajbongshi Language had coined different terms and names during the Past centuries from its inception in the ancient Kamarupa Kingdom, the Rajbongshi language is also named or called and known as Desi/Kamatapuri language and it is also known as Goalpariya in Assam, Goalpara is one of the ancient Priencely state ruled by Rajbongshi Kings and the Royal Family are still existing and resided in Assam. It is some times said that Rajbongshi is a part of Assamese culture in Assam and the Scholars also says that it is the Part of Rich Bengali Heritage and culture. If we see this Rajbongshi language we can find some similarities of both Bengali and Assamese language and also Sanskrit, but Rajbongshi people believes that their language is the ancient language in this part of world and it has originated from Sanskrit only.
Education
Cooch Behar's schools are either run by the state government or by private and religious organisations. The schools usually use English and Bengali as their medium of instruction, although the use of national language Hindi is also stressed. Medium of instruction is the Language that is used in teaching The schools are affiliated with the ICSE or the CBSE or the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education. The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education is the West Bengal state government administered autonomous examining authority for the Standard 10 examination (or secondary school Some of the reputed schools in the town include Kendriya Vidyalaya, St. Kendriya Vidyalaya, (Hindi केन्द्रीय विद्यालय ( Hindi for Central School) is a system of Central government schools for children Mary’s H. S. School, B. D. Jain Modern School, Jenkins School, Nipendra Narayan H. S. School, and Sunity Academy. There are five[26]colleges and a polytechnic in the Cooch Behar town including A. B. N. Seal College, Cooch Behar College, University B. T. and Evening College, Thakur Panchanan Mahila Mahavidyalaya, and Cooch Behar Polytechnic College, all of which are affiliated with the University of North Bengal in Siliguri. University of North Bengal (উত্তরবঙ্গ বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় is a state university situated near Siliguri in Darjeeling district Siliguri (শিলিগুড়ি ''Shiliguṛi'') is a rapidly developing metropolis in the Indian state of West Bengal.
There is also an agricultural university, Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, just outside the main town at Pundibari.
Media
Newspapers in Cooch Behar include English language dailies, The Statesman and The Telegraph, which are printed in Siliguri, and The Hindustan Times and the Times of India, which are printed in Kolkata and received after a day's delay. The Statesman is among the leading daily Newspapers of India. Siliguri (শিলিগুড়ি ''Shiliguṛi'') is a rapidly developing metropolis in the Indian state of West Bengal. Hindustan Times ( HT) is a leading newspaper in India, published since 1924 with roots in the independence movement The Times of India ( TOI) is a leading English-language Broadsheet Daily newspaper in India. In addition, Hindi and Bengali publications, including Anandabazar Patrika, Bartaman, Ganashakti, Uttar Banga Sambad and Dainik Jagran, are available. Anandabazar Patrika ( Bengali: আনন্দবাজার পত্রিকা Anôndobajar Potrika) is a Bengali language Newspaper Bartaman Patrika (বর্তমান পত্রিকা is a pro Trinamool Congress Bengali language newspaper published from Kolkata, India Ganashakti Patrika is the official Mouthpiece of the Communist Party of India (Marxist West Bengal State Committee which first appeared as Uttar Banga Sambad (উত্তর বঙ্গ সংবাদ is a Bengali language broadsheet published from Siliguri. Dainik Jagran is a Hindi daily newspaper It is principally published in Northern India.
The public radio station All India Radio is the only radio channel that can be received in Cooch Behar. All India Radio (abbreviated as AIR) officially known as Akashvani ( Devanagari: आकाशवाणी ākāshavānī ( Urdu: اکاشوانی However, recently WorldSpace Satellite Radio has started transmission in Cooch Behar. Cooch Behar receives almost all the television channels available in the rest of the country. Apart from the state-owned terrestrial network Doordarshan, cable television serves most of the homes in the town, while satellite television is common in the outlying areas and in wealthier households. Doordarshan (दूरदर्शन literally Tele-Vision) is the public television broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati, a public Satellite television is Television delivered by the means of Communications satellites as compared to conventional Terrestrial television and Cable Besides mainstream Indian television channels, the town also receives Nepali television channels and Bangladeshi television channels. List of Indian Satellite Television Channels Hindi Entertainment General DD NATIONAL ZEE TV STAR Recent years have seen an upsurge in Bangladeshi television channels especially during the BNP-led four party alliance
Cooch Behar has three cinema halls, featuring Hindi, Bengali, and English films. Internet cafés are available in the main market area, connected through broadband, provided by BSNL. The term broadband can have different meanings in different contexts The area is serviced by local cell phone companies such as BSNL, Reliance Infocomm, Vodafone, Aircel, Tata Indicom and Airtel. Reliance Communications (formerly Reliance Infocomm) along with Reliance Telecom and Flag Telecom, is part of Reliance Communications Ventures (RCoVL Vodafone is a Mobile network operator headquartered in Berkshire, England, UK. Aircel is a Mobile phone Service provider in India. It offers both Prepaid and Postpaid GSM cellular phone coverage throughout Introduction Tata Teleservices Limited (TTSL is a part of the Tata Group of companies an Indian conglomerate Bharti Airtel, formerly known as Bharti Tele-Ventures Limited (BTVL is India 's largest cellular service provider with more than 75 million subscribers as of August
Sports
Like most other towns in India, Cooch Behar has not been left out in the game of cricket. Cricket is a bat-and-ball team Sport that originated in England and is now played in more than 100 countries Cricket is the most popular game followed by football, swimming, badminton, volley ball, kabadi, and water polo. Football is the word given to a number of similar Team sports all of which involve (to varying degrees kicking a Ball with the foot in an attempt to score a Swimming is the movement by humans or animals through Water, usually without artificial assistance Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players (singles or two opposing pairs (doubles who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court Volleyball is an Olympic team sport in which two teams of 6 active players (5 normal players and one 'libero' are separated by a net that is usually four feet Kabaddi (sometimes written Kabbadi or Kabadi) (கபடி otherwise known as சடுகுடுకబడ్డీ ਕਬੱਡੀ कबड्डी कबड्डीکبڈی Water polo is a team water sport A team consists of six field players and one Goalkeeper. Cooch Behar has two outdoor stadiums, M. J. N. Stadium and Cooch Behar Stadium, for games such as cricket and football. Cooch Behar also has a new indoor stadium, Netaji Subhas Indoor Stadium. Inter-district and inter-school meets are often held in these stadiums. Swimming is practised under the guidance of trained coaches in the local Sagardighi. Sagardighi is one of famous "Great Ponds" in the heart of Cooch Behar, West Bengal, India. The popularity of games changes according to the season - for example, cricket and badminton are played during winter, swimming and water polo in summer and football during the monsoon. Cooch Behar town is one of few district towns in India with three stadiums.
Notes
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This article contains Indic text. The Brahmic family is a family of syllabaries (writing systems used in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and parts of Central Asia and East Asia, Without rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes or other symbols instead of Indic characters; or irregular vowel positioning and a lack of conjuncts. Mojibake is the happenstance of incorrect unreadable characters (garbage characters shown when Computer software fails to render a text correctly according to its associated |
- ^ Coochbehar
- ^ The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Nation
- ^ a b c Brief Royal History of Cooch Behar 5. Retrieved on 2006-10-22. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 202 BC - Hannibal Barca, leader of the Carthaginians, is defeated by the Roman legions under Scipio Africanus
- ^ Pal, Dr. Nripendra Nath (2000). Itikathai Cooch Behar (A brief history of Cooch Behar). Kolkata: Anima Prakashani, 11-12.
- ^ Royal history of Cooch Behar
- ^ Royal History of Cooch Behar. Retrieved on 2006-10-22. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 202 BC - Hannibal Barca, leader of the Carthaginians, is defeated by the Roman legions under Scipio Africanus
- ^ Pal, Dr. Nripendra Nath (2000). Itikathai Cooch Behar (A brief history of Cooch Behar). Kolkata: Anima Prakashani, 68.
- ^ a b Royal Banglapedia Kamta-Koch Behar. Retrieved on 2006-10-01. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela.
- ^ Pal, Dr. Nripendra Nath (2000). Itikathai Cooch Behar (A brief history of Cooch Behar). Kolkata: Anima Prakashani, 73.
- ^ Pal, Dr. Nripendra Nath (2000). Itikathai Cooch Behar (A brief history of Cooch Behar). Kolkata: Anima Prakashani, 75.
- ^ Royal History of Cooch Behar 5. Retrieved on 2006-10-22. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 202 BC - Hannibal Barca, leader of the Carthaginians, is defeated by the Roman legions under Scipio Africanus
- ^ West Bengal Census. Retrieved on 2006-10-01. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela.
- ^ a b c d Annual Plan on Agriculture 2003-04. Cooch Behar: Cooch Behar District Agriculture Office, Pg 02.
- ^ West Bengal Tourism: Cooch Behar. Retrieved on 2006-11-07. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1492 - The Ensisheim Meteorite the oldest Meteorite with a known date of impact strikes the Earth around noon in a Wheat
- ^ a b c d District Profile, Cooch Behar Government website Accessed on October 1, 2006
- ^ Sharma Lakhotia, Anuradha. "Darjeeling warming up faster than earth", The Telegraph, 2006-11-07. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1492 - The Ensisheim Meteorite the oldest Meteorite with a known date of impact strikes the Earth around noon in a Wheat Retrieved on 2006-11-07. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1492 - The Ensisheim Meteorite the oldest Meteorite with a known date of impact strikes the Earth around noon in a Wheat
- ^ Industries in Cooch Behar, Cooch Behar Government Website Accessed on October 1, 2006
- ^ Tourism Development in Cooch Behar, Cooch Behar Government Website Accessed on October 1, 2006
- ^ District Administration Accessed on October 1, 2006
- ^ North Bengal: Cooch Behar. Retrieved on 2006-11-07. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1492 - The Ensisheim Meteorite the oldest Meteorite with a known date of impact strikes the Earth around noon in a Wheat
- ^ "More airports for Indian cities, says India's Civil Aviation Minister", Trav Talk, 2006-03-27. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 196 BC - Ptolemy V ascends to the throne of Egypt. 1309 - Pope Clement V excommunicates Retrieved on 2006-09-29. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 522 BC - Darius I of Persia kills the Magian usurper Gaumâta securing his hold as king of the Persian Empire.
- ^ Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns. (Provisional). Census Commission of India. Retrieved on 2007-09-03. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 36 BC - In the Battle of Naulochus, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, Admiral of Octavian, defeats Sextus Pompeius
- ^ West Bengal Census Accessed on October 1, 2006
- ^ Fairs and Festivals in Cooch Behar Accessed on October 1, 2006
- ^ Cooch Behar Ras mela: The Statesman
- ^ Education in Cooch Behar, Cooch Behar Government Website Accessed on October 1, 2006
References
- Cooch Behar District’s Official Website
- Banglapedia Kamta-Koch Behar
- Translation from Itikathai Cooch Behar (A brief history of Cooch Behar) by Dr. Nripendra Nath Pal
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