Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

Would you like to visit the places in the city of joy memorable for Sri Ramkrishna and Swami Vivekananda? The state-run tourism deptt. announced a package tour in AC bus to visit the places: Balaram Mandir, the house of Girish Ghosh, Kashipur Udyan Bati, Belur Math, Dakshineswar, the house of Vivekananda and the house of Sarada Ma at Bagbazar. The tour would be conducted on each Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 7:30am to 6pm. Booking from 7 May, 2012. -- A. B.

6 February, 1898 was the auspicious 'Maghi Purnima' when Swami Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Paramahansa temple at the house of 'gurubhai' Nabagopal Ghosh at Ramkrishnapur, Shibpur, Howrah. Then the monks asked Swamiji to compose mantra for worship and Swamiji instantly coined the prayer which later became the prayer of entire Ramkrishna Mission order. Swamiji later offered the silk turban (pagdi) that he wore during the Chicago address in the year 1897 and a crystal statue of himself, gifted by Sister Nivedita and made by Lalique, the famous French crystal artifact maker, to Nabagopal and his wife, Nistarini Devi, as his "most precious" possessions. Alongwith these relics, the Ghosh family also preserving the bed, harmonium, piano and organ used by Swamiji while stayed there. Every year, on the day of 'Maghi Purnima' the Ghosh family open their door for all to let see the precious relics of Swami Vivekananda and pay homage to t