Where family and friends are welcome with open arms...

Adda, the Bengali term for relaxed conversation about anything and everything under the sun, still remains the favourite pastime of Bengalis.

This is usually rounded off by the serving of exquisitely prepared snacks and cups of tea.

Several literary magazines and works have taken shape out of these discussions.

A famous and historical meeting place stood in all its glory, where you could say that the epitome of true coffeehouse entertainment happened on a regualr basis. Inside, a dense fog of cigarette smoke, an assorted aroma of coffee and food and a loud hum-the sound of several addas-greeted the newcomer. The Coffee House is one of many places Bengalis gather to engage in adda.

Hours of exhilarating adda follow. Umpteen cups of tea and black coffee are drunk. Serious, articulate and dignified elderly men deliberate on serious topics. Established authors encourage aspiring young ones, and eventually, not only the participants, but those who make up the audience too, come away richer in mind.

This trend continues in the College Street area, the so-called Boi Para, where famous and about-to-be-famous authors gather in the evenings.

Sundays and holidays are special days. A stream of visitors come from early morning till late evening. Youngsters peep from behind the curtains and observe budding singers fine-tune the lyrics of their latest songs, young men debate on world events, or simply enjoy a siesta.