Three-day 'rosogolla' fest to pamper Kolkata's sweet tooth

The year is going to end on a sweet note for the people of Kolkata as a three-day 'rosogolla' festival is being organized in the city to pay tribute to its inventor Nobin Chandra Das.

Bengal had last year received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the round-shaped syrupy sweet.

The three-day gala, beginning December 28, will celebrate 150 years of 'rosogolla' invention, said West Bengal minister Sashi Panja.

"The first-ever 'Baghbazar-O-Rosogolla Utsab', supported by the state government, is aimed at paying tribute to Das and his invention of the syrupy cheeseball, which went on to conquer taste buds across the world," Panja, who is also the chief convener of the fest, told reporters here recently.

The sweetmeat festival will also highlight the history, heritage and culture of Baghbazar - the hub of the Bengal renaissance, she said.

Singer Hariharan is set to grace the occasion and enthrall visitors with his performance.

The fest committee, with painter Suvaprasanna as chief adviser and the rosogolla inventor's heir Dhiman Das as member, has also arranged for cooking competitions and quiz contests.

Sweetmeat traders from across the state will get an opportunity to dish out their signature items during the three-day fiesta, Panja, the state minister for women and child development and social welfare, said.

"I fell very proud that Rosogolla has been invented in this city, in Baghbazar. We will also observe 100 years of Bagbazar Sarbojanin Durgotsav (annual Durga puja) at the fest," she added.

Nobin Chandra Das had opened a sweet shop at Jorasanko in north Kolkata in 1864, but he tasted success after moving his business to Baghbazar in 1866. It was sometime in 1868, when he created 'rosogolla' out of fragmented clumps of cottage cheese and sugar syrup.