Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

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...

150 years old Motilal Ghat (bathing ghat of Kolkata) needs renovation. The "richest and most virtuous baboo of Calcutta" Mutty Lall Seal or Moti Lal Seal established this bathing ghat on the bank of River Hooghly (Ganga) in the middle of nineteenth century alongwith other benevolent activities for Calcutta. The bathing ghat is now being neglected, under dilapidation. Alongwith other older ghats, this century-old Motilal Ghat should also be declared as heritage monument and conserved as well. -- A. B.