The word Kolkata derives from the Bengali term Kolikata (কলিকাতা). It was the name of one of the three important villages that predated the arrival of the Britishers in India. The word Kolikata is believed to be derived from the Bengali word “Kalikkhetro (কালীক্ষেত্র), meaning "Field of the goddess Kali".
The Ethnic and cultural diversity in Bengal makes it a hub for all intellectual “aadda” meaning discussion in Bengali. The great poet, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore and freedom fighter “Subhas Chandra Bose” owe their existence from the sand of Bengal. This city has gained wide audiences in local traditions in drama, art, film, theatre and literature. Kolkata culture has idiosyncrasies that include distinctively close “paaras” neighbourhoods. Apart from these, Kolkata is most widely known for its delicious sweets like the “Roso-golla” and “Chom-Chom” and so called Bengalis’ favourite meal - “Maach-Bhaat” hosting wide preparations of fish curries from the renowned “Rui”, “Catla”, “Chingri” and “Illish”.