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Dhaak'er taale, komor jhule, khushi te naache mon. The very chant of it reverberates joy and love for the culture. Calcutta has been that nostalgia that my native state doesn't have the impact on me. Being originally from Orissa, a tiny state of India, my heart has always belonged to Calcutta. Calcutta is the land for artists and reformers. A land of liberals that have proved their mettle time and again. From the timeless Shubhash Chandra Bose to the radical Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Calcutta has continued to surprise us with its progressive attitude. Rich in history and culture, Calcutta has much more to offer. I am a foodie and for Bengalis food is their first love. So this helped me to connect with this city more effortlessly. Here preparation for any celebration revolves around the food. Every dish associated with Bengal has a story to tell. Our very own Chinatown, infact the only one in the entire country. You can head to Terreti Bazar for a roadside flavourful Chinese Breakfast or have a sumptuous Bengali Thali in one of those renowned Bengali restaurants or wash it down with a glass of sarbet from famous Paramount after devouring those fish fries and cutlets in College Square, it is these gastronomical experiences that are unique to this city only. Sure we love our afternoon naps and our rice and fish curry, but those are cliché that we already know. There are so much more hidden gems of the city that are yet to come into the limelight. The iconic scene from Amar Prem paints the iridescent Hoogly river under the fully lit Howrah Bridge. Take a house boat from the Princep Ghat for a view that leaves Brooklyn itself in the shadows. The ever famous, ever aristocratic Royal Bengal Turf Club sets the bar high for a city that is a beautiful Shackle. We have our very own Botanical Garden too, that will not only fill your sight with vibrant colours but pair it with the early dew and the sounds of the parakeet during your morning walks and it is absolutely the best way to start your day in the city. This city has learned how to cope and evolve with the changing times, it keeps up whilst cherishing it's extremely prominent culture. The changing skyline of city, particularly in the eastern fringe, the ease of commutation due to better road network and better transport systems, better health care and improved recreational avenues of the city are catching up with other metros. But what makes Kolkata different from other big cities is its humane approach towards life. Contrary to its controversial tag "Dead City", it is actually a "City with Heart" because, it not only has all the amenities of modern life but also has a society which makes you feel as if you are living in an extended family. But the best secret of this place is the Durga Puja. In true sense it is not a religious festival but a grand spectacle of celebration(probably the biggest one in the world) for each Kolkatan cutting across the cast, creed and religion. It is the manifestation of inclusiveness in its truest form. The sound of Dhaak, the fragrance of Siuli and the exuberance of festivity are so intoxicating that it has forced me to be here during those five days in this city years after years barring once. Finally, I neither try to see this city through the eyes of Dominique Lapierre nor through the eyes of Vir Sanghvi. I relish every moment of my existence here through both my criticism and admiration which goes beyond the realm of trivialities.