Century Old Durga Puja Of Mallarpur, Birbhum

Jagannath Roy came to Mallarpur near Tarapith from Benaras for commerce by riverways about 200 years ago. Later, he became the Diwan of Malla Raja of Bishnupur. He bought some Taluks around Mallarpur and became famous as zaminder. About 200 years ago, he constructed the temple of Ma Tara at Tarapith as Bamakhyapa's wish for the third time. It is the present form of temple as we can see. At that time, Jagannath also founded the holy temple of Devi Durga as 'Abhaya Kumari' at Mallarpur getting 'swapna adesh'. Devi Durga has two hands here just like devi Annapurna of Kashi. Devi Durga is worshipped here daily. Earlier clay idol was there but now a marble image of Devi Durga has been also made here. A marble idol of Lord Shiva is also there in the temple. The Roy family still send 'Nitya Seva' to Ma Tara daily at Tarapith. All the members of family come during Durga Puja and enjoy the festival in their family. Puja begins here from 'Chaturthi'. Earlier goat and buffalos were sacrificed here, but now this custom of sacrifice is totally stopped. They offer only fruits and sweets to the goddess in lieu of 'annobhog'. Earlier, the boat was used to circulate the idol whole village before immersion, but now, this custom is abolished.

Durga Puja of Biswas family of Mallarpur too is very old - more than 200 years. This puja is very famous among the inhabitants of adjascent several villages. Devi Durga is on 'Panchamundi' asana here within 'ek chala' accompanied by Jaya & Bijoya. Sacrifice of Pumpkin on 'Pratipad tithi', black goat on 'Saptami', white goat on 'Ashtami' and three goats on 'Nabami' are in vogue.

Many years ago, 'Nabapatrika' puja was started instead of 'murti' puja on Panchamundi asana. A story is there behind it. Once, at the time of sacrifice, a baby girl was missing from the puja mandap. At last, she was found from the back of Durga murti with bindings of her hands and legs with the 'anchal' of Durga murti. Since then, the family stopped the murti puja by getting "swapnadesh" and started Nabapatrika puja. But, the craze for Biswas family's Durga puja never dimmed. On the day of 'Dashami' they immerse the Nabapatrika by boarding on a Dola.

500 Year's Old Nimai Tirtha Ghat - Reminiscences Of Sri Chaitannya Deb

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

Highest Jagadhatri Idol Of Chandannagar : Fatakgora

No other idol of Jagadhatri will compete in regard to height with the idol of Fatakgora (height: 31 feet). -- A. B.

Kripamoyee Kali Mandir Of Baranagar

Kripamoyee Kali Mandir of Baranagar, popularly known as Joy Mitra Kali Bari, is situated on the bank of river Hooghly at Baranagar of Kolkata. Baranagar is a very old place, more than 500 years ago this place was existed. Famous zaminder Joyram Mitra of Sovabazar established this temple in mid-April of the year 1851. He bought about 3 bighas land at Baranagar from some James saheb and established the temple there similar to Brahmamoyee Kali temple of Mulajor of Shyamnagar.The goddess here is Dakshina Kali (দক্ষিণা কালী). If you walk from 'Kuthi ghat' of Baranagar river bank a few steps ahead, you'll reach to the temple - 171 years old this temple is situated by the side of Hara Kumar Thakur Strand. Twelve temples of lord Shiva are there beside the main temple. The array and formation of these Shiva mandirs are very innovative. Ramakrishna Paramahansa dev used to visit this temple frequently. This temple was erected as 'Navratna' art. But it is not the formal slop

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