Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

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'. Earli...

            Raja Ramram Mitra was Diwan of Nawab of Murshidabad. He belonged to Dakshin Raarh Kayastha (দক্ষিণ রাঢ় কায়স্থ) community and Mitra family of Konnagar, Hooghly. Once, he came to Gobindapur (now Kolkata) from Murshidabad and had started living here. Ayoddharam was Ramram's son. Their family became prosperous during the time of Ayoddharam. After the War of Plassey, he had to construct residence at Mechobazar (মেছোবাজার) because his earlier residential area was occupied by British to erect new fort (Fort William) there. Ayoddharam had two sons - Kriparam & Jagannath. During the time of property division - Kriparam went to Shunra (শুঁরা) which is now under Beleghata-Phulbagan area (Raja Rajendralal Mitra was the descendant of Kriparam) and Jagannath stayed in his ancestral house. Jagannath's son Ramsundar Mitra (খ্যাদা রাম মিত্র) constructed the palace-like house at 84, Muktaram Babu Street of Chor Bagan. Once that big house was affected b...

            Jagatram Dutta was Diwan of import-export division of East India Company's Patna warehouse. He was the grandson of architect Ramchandra Dutta of Hatkhola area in Kolkata. Jagatram built a big mansion at 78, Nimtala Ghat Street after leaving his ancestral house in the year 1785 approximately. As per the custom of that time, Jagatram too initiated Durga and Kali Puja in his own house at Hatkhola. The mansion was very remarkable as a beautiful architecture, but now it is in dilapidated condition for want of proper maintenance. The conditions of walls and ceilings of Thakurdalan (ঠাকুরদালান) are very poor. The walls and ceilings are cracked, even the beams of ceilings are in extremely bad condition. Rain water drops through the cracked ceiling of roof and as a result, the walls became damped, deformed and the parget by plaster on walls are damaged. They usually cover the damaged portions by curtains during puja and other festivals. Goddess Ka...