Latest news with #BengalPaddle
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Beats & bold moves on a barge: Kolkata's dance scene makes waves at a one-of-a-kind battle
Kolkata recently got a taste of high-octane street dance with a splash of the unexpected this weekend as the Red Bull Dance Your Style Kolkata Regional Qualifiers set sail – on a boat, at the Bengal Paddle . In a spectacular first for India's street dance scene, 16 of Kolkata's most dynamic dancers battled it out one-on-one aboard a barge floating on the Hooghly, hosted by Bengal Padle. With an open sky, river breeze, and a lively crowd cheering them on from deck and dock, the event brought the underground to the waterline, proving that dance—and culture—need no fixed stage. This floating showdown wasn't just about the stunning backdrop. It marked a bold, experimental leap in urban performance spaces, redefining what it means to take the stage. The unpredictable format of Red Bull Dance Your Style—where music changes on the spot and the crowd decides the winner—was taken to new heights (and depths) aboard this unconventional dancefloor. After a series of electrifying, all-style duels, four dancers emerged as the undisputed crowd favourites: Boogie, Nextion, Majin Boo, and Smooth Boog. These four will now represent the East at the Red Bull Dance Your Style India Final in Delhi, where they'll face off against finalists from the North, South, and West. And it doesn't end there—whoever clinches the national crown in Delhi will go on to represent India at the World Final in Los Angeles later this year. 'Dancing on water? That was next level!' said finalist Boogie, catching his breath after back-to-back battles. 'You don't just have to move to the beat—you have to hold your ground on a rocking boat while doing it!' The Kolkata regionals were part of a broader structure rolled out by Red Bull Dance Your Style India 2025, which began with online auditions. Dancers from across the country submitted entries digitally, out of which 16 were selected for each regional qualifier—North, South, East, and West. The concept is as unique as it is thrilling: there are no judges, no set playlists, and no choreographed routines. Just pure freestyle, raw energy, and crowd verdicts. As Majin Boo, another finalist, put it, 'You've got just a few seconds to connect with the beat—and the audience. It's the most honest dance battle you'll ever do.' Kolkata's top four are now ready to take the energy of the Hooghly to the national stage. One city, four dancers, and a dream to dance their way to Los Angeles. From boat decks to global spotlights, Red Bull Dance Your Style is changing the rhythm of the street—one battle at a time.
Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Hooghly's heritage takes to water: Kolkata port plans floating cafés and museums
Wriiten by Sharadiya Mitra The Syama Prasad Mukherjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK), is offering a new opportunity to hospitality brands, tourism operators, and innovators to revolutionise tourism along the Hooghly river. The port invites proposals to repurpose three historic pilot launches—P.L. Rupsa, P.L. Hooghly, and P.L. Gopal—into floating spaces for culture, leisure, and tourism. These vessels, once key to guiding ships on the Hooghly since the late 1990s, are ready for a second life as cafés, museums, and public attractions. 'Inspired by the success of ventures like 'Bengal Paddle', SMP Kolkata envisions converting heritage vessels into floating cafés, museums, cruises, and event spaces. This initiative aims to preserve maritime history while enhancing community participation,' said Sanjay Mukherjee, Senior Public Relations Officer at SMPK. P.L. Rupsa and P.L. Hooghly, built in 1997, are steel-hulled and measure 32.90 metres each. Each offers 1,000-2,000 sq ft of usable space, with a capacity of 50-100 guests. P.L. Gopal, built in 1994 with a fiberglass hull, is 19.00 metres long and offers 800-1,000 sq ft, suitable for 30–50 guests. These structurally sound vessels are ideal for adaptive reuse and show strong potential as heritage tourism assets. Mukherjee added, 'SMP Kolkata is also offering free berthing at the Kolkata Dock System (KDS) for retrofitting, along with complimentary jetty space for passenger and staff movement during operations. This is part of a broader mission to revive Kolkata's riverfront by blending culture, tourism, and commerce, while honoring its maritime heritage.' The project marks a bold step in reimagining Kolkata's riverfront. By turning historic vessels into floating landmarks, SMPK aims to merge tradition with innovation — a push for sustainable tourism. The writer is an intern with The Indian Express, Kolkata.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
SMP Kolkata launches visionary plan to transform pilot launches into floating heritage & hospitality hubs
KOLKATA: In a move to blend heritage preservation with cultural innovation , Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata ( SMP Kolkata ), has unveiled an ambitious initiative to convert three of its iconic pilot vessels into floating venues for tourism, hospitality, and cultural engagement along the Hooghly River. The port is now inviting proposals to repurpose P.L. Rupsa, P.L. Hooghly, and P.L. Gopal—historic launches once used to guide ships through the river's winding channels—into floating cafés, heritage cruises, mobile museums, event spaces, or themed restaurants. Inspired by the successful transformation of the paddle steamer P.S. Bhopal into the event-friendly Bengal Paddle, SMP Kolkata aims to preserve these vessels while reimagining them as contemporary destinations that celebrate Bengal's maritime and cultural heritage. Historic Vessels with New Possibilities Built in the late 1990s, the pilot launches boast impressive dimensions: P.L. Rupsa and P.L. Hooghly (built in 1997) feature robust steel hulls, 32.9 meters in length, and a usable area of up to 2,000 sq ft—ideal for hosting 50 to 100 guests. P.L. Gopal (built in 1994) is constructed with a fiberglass-reinforced plastic hull and offers 800–1,000 sq ft of space, suitable for 30 to 50 guests. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AI guru Andrew Ng recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around in 2025 Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo These vessels, though retired from their original navigational roles, now represent a chance to create unique riverfront experiences for locals and tourists alike. Open Call for Creative Partnerships SMP Kolkata is calling upon a wide range of stakeholders—river cruise operators, hospitality chains, event planners, cultural institutions, conservation bodies, and joint ventures—to submit proposals for revitalizing the vessels. Emphasis is being placed on concepts that highlight Bengali heritage , multi-cuisine experiences, and cultural programming. To support the initiative, the port is offering free berthing at the Kolkata Dock System (KDS) for retrofitting, along with complimentary jetty space for boarding operations—an attractive incentive for interested developers. Reviving the Riverfront This initiative forms part of SMP Kolkata's broader vision to transform Kolkata's historic waterfront into a vibrant destination that marries commerce, culture, and community engagement. By turning static maritime relics into dynamic floating landmarks, the port is taking a forward-looking step to rejuvenate public interaction with the river and reposition the Hooghly as a centerpiece of urban life. 'Through this project, we are not just preserving vessels—we are creating living, breathing spaces that tell stories, host memories, and redefine how the city connects with its river,' said an official from SMP Kolkata. As the port authority welcomes innovative proposals, the transformation of these pilot launches promises to make waves in India's heritage tourism and riverfront development landscape.
Deccan Herald
14-05-2025
- Deccan Herald
Kolkata Port invites bids to transform three vintage river vessels into floating cultural venues
The move was inspired by the transformation of the vintage paddle steamer PS Bhopal, which was originally built in 1944, into the popular heritage cruise 'Bengal Paddle' in 2022.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Kolkata Port invites bids to transform 3 vintage river vessels into floating cultural venues
The Kolkata port authorities launched an initiative to repurpose three historic river vessels into floating venues for tourism, culture, and leisure, an official said on Wednesday. The move was inspired by the transformation of the vintage paddle steamer PS Bhopal, which was originally built in 1944, into the popular heritage cruise ' Bengal Paddle ' in 2022. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMP), Kolkata, earlier known as Kolkata Port Trust , invited proposals from entrepreneurs and creative partners to convert the decommissioned pilot launches-PL Rupsa, PL Hooghly, and PL Gopal-into attractions such as floating cafes , museums, and heritage cruise boats and even wedding venues along the Hooghly River, the official said. These retired vessels from the late 1990s used to guide ships along the river Hooghly. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Mix 4 Kitchen Ingredients, Wake Up Thinner Every Morning Health News Undo This initiative is part of SMP Kolkata's broader plan to rejuvenate the city's historic riverfront, transforming it into a vibrant destination that blends heritage, commerce, and contemporary culture. Built in 1997, PL Rupsa and PL Hooghly feature steel hulls, measure 32.90 metres in length, and offer up to 2,000 sq ft of usable space-suitable for accommodating 50 to 100 guests. Live Events The smaller PL Gopal, constructed in 1994 with a fibreglass-reinforced plastic hull, offers up to 1,000 sq ft of space and can host 30 to 50 people. "These vessels offer significant potential to become revenue-generating heritage assets," the SMP official said. To encourage participation, the port is offering free berthing at the Kolkata Dock System (KDS) for retrofitting and complimentary jetty space for boarding and operational activities during service.
