Durga puja has been started in the Raj family of Seoraphully (Dist. Hooghly) from last Monday (23.09.2019). It is the custom of Raj family that the 'ghot' (ঘট) of 'Bodhan' (বোধন) is to be placed on the auspicious 'tithi' (তিথি) of 'Nabami' of 'Krishna paksha' (কৃষ্ণপক্ষ) before Mahalaya (মহালয়া). In pursuance of that custom, they placed the 'ghot' of 'Bodhan' on Monday last. Debi Durga is here 'Sarbamangala' (সর্বমঙ্গলা). The deity Durga is being worshipped in this family for the last 286 years. The preacher (পুরোহিত) placed the 'ghot' with chant of 'mantras' (মন্ত্র) and 'stotras' (স্তোত্র). Local people along with Raj family members witnessed the religious function at the 'Thakur dalan' (ঠাকুর দালান) of palace. History says, at Patuli Narayanpur of Barddhaman district, there was the kingdom of Dutta family. They used to maintain relations with Badshah Akbar too. But the Duttas lost their lands due to expansion of river Ganges (গঙ্গা). Hence, Raja Manohar DuttaRoy used to live in the 'Katchari Bari' (কাছারি বাড়ি) of Seoraphully. He dreamt that deity Durga asked him to worship 'Astadhatu' (অষ্ট ধাতু) idol of Debi Durga regularly. And since then, the deity is being worshipped as 'Sarbamangala' (সর্বমঙ্গলা) at the 'Thakur dalan' (ঠাকুর দালান) of Raj family of Seoraphully.
It says that Nimai Sri Chaitannya Deb once came to district Hooghly for the pilgrimage of Tarakeswar. So he bathed in river Ganga on the bathing ghat of Baidyabati. Then had started his journey to Tarakeswar on foot. It took about 12 hours to reach Tarakeswar. Later, the bathing ghat was named on him and now known to all as Nimai Tirtha Ghat. So, the ghat is about 500 year's old. Kabikankan Mukundaram mentioned this ghat in his mangal kabya, about 400 years ago. Raja Harishchandra of Seoraphuly constructed Nistarini Mandir and Bhadrakali Mandir in the year 1827 beside NimaiTirtha Ghat. then, lakhs of pilgrims take bath on river Ganga from this ghat and take holy water, visit Ma Nistarini and Debi Bhadrakali near, then use to go for Tarakeswar on foot to pour that Gangajal on the shiblinga of Baba Taraknath. The pilgrims use to go to Tarakeswar on the month of Shraban (July-August). Pic 1) The gate of Nimai Tirtha Ghat; Pic 2) The pilgrims are taking bath at the said gha
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