Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

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...

It says, 'thhan thhan' sound of bell of Kali temple could be heard from the nearby jungle and some say, the then residents of that area installed a big bell there and rang it to alert other residents from the invasion of dacoits. /> Whatever it may be, the area got the peculiar name 'Than thane' (ঠনঠনে) and the Kali temple there too got the name 'Than thane Kali Bari' (ঠনঠনে কালী বাড়ি). In the year 1703 - that means about 320 years ago a Tantrik named Uday Narayan Brahmachari established Siddheswari Kali murti there made of clay. The area was surrounded by jungles at that time. Uday Narayan used to sit on 'Panchamundi Asan' (পঞ্চমুন্ডি আসন) and performed 'sadhana' (সাধনা).  Later, a local trader of Bahir Shimla near Than thane - Ramshankar Ghosh alias Shankar Ghosh erected a pacca 'Aat chala' (আটচালা) and temple (মন্দির) for goddess Kali there in the year 1806. But actualy, the mud temple was founded in the year 1703. By reckoning th...

Firingi Kali Bari is a famous temple of goddess Kali established by Antony Firingi or Antony Kabiyal (who used to compose songs instantly and sing) at Bowbazar Street. Once upon a time this place was a burning ghat (shamshan). Lord Shiva was there in a small room made of sedge leaves  (হোগলা পাতা) in front of sub-stream (খাল) of river Ganges. Kabiyal Antony Firingi regularly attended the Shiva temple. One day, he established there idol of Siddheswari (সিদ্ধেশ্বরী) Kali. Antony appointed Srimanta Pandit as Purohit or priest of Ma Kali. The idol of Siddheswari Kali is very good looking here - the crown of Kali is made of silver, the idol is decorated with various ornaments, the third eye of Ma Kali is not so angry. Irrespective of castes and creeds all the people comes here and pray for their well-being to goddess Kali. A 'Kaath Champa' (কাঠ চাঁপা) tree is there just behind the temple and the lower portion (কাণ্ড) of the tree is looks like the ox of lord Shiva. Many devotees bi...

Poote Kali Temple: Poote Kali temple is situated at Kali Krishna Tagore Street of Burra bazar area beside Tarasundari Park. The founder of this temple is Tantrik Manik Chandra (or Manik Ram) Bandyopadhyay. The temple is 'char chala' (চার চালা) and it has three peaks (চূড়া). The peaks have symbol of Chakra, Trishul and Pataka (flag). At the basement of this temple, there is a room. Here, the idol of goddess Kali is only 6 inches tall. There are several stories about the name of this temple. Some say, 'puti' (পুঁটি) means a small girl in Bengali. The deity here is only six inches tall, therefore, the small height of idol is responsible for the name 'Poote Kali'. Another story is behind the name of this temple. One day, Khelaram Bandyopadhyay - descendant of founder Manik Ram Bandyopadhyay was performing 'Homa' (হোম). In the meantime, a small fish (pooti mach) hopped to the 'homa' suddenly from the nearby 'khad' of river Ganga. Khelaram pi...

At this moment, the Maha Puja on the night of Kali puja is about to start at the temple of renowned Dakshineswar temple of Ma Bhabatarini.

I visited the Sati Shaktipeeth Kankalitala with my own and my younger brother's family last winter. It was a pleasant journey by car from Rampurhat of Birbhum district. We started our journey at about 9 am from my elder sister's house at Rampurhat. On the way we took rest at some market place for breakfast. After that, we again moved by car for our destination Kankalitala.            Finally, we crossed about 63 kms and reached at the desired Shaktipeeth after one and half an hour.           When we reached there, we saw that a good number of beggers were sitting on both side of the entrance road. We slowly crossed the road and entered into the main premises of the temple. The temple is a traditional 'pacca' construction with adjacent 'Nat Mandir' for the devotees and pilgrims. At that morning time, some of family's were busy with the rituals of goddess and some of them came for...

                               Ramdulal De - the foremost businessman of nineteenth century, started his life in the house of Madan Mohan Dutta of Hatkhola as 'Bill Sarkar', and after 'Ship Sarkar'. Sarkar was his title. His paternal house was at the village Rekjani of 24-Pgs. He lost his parents in childhood and came to Calcutta with his grandmother. Adult Ramdulal accepted the job of ship business manager of Madan Mohan Dutta. Once, he bought a sinked ship by himself and earned rupees one lakh. But he handed over the entire amount to his employer Madan Mohan Dutta. Mr. Dutta was very pleased to see his honesty and returned the whole amount to Ramdulal. He advised Ramdulal to start a new business of his own. Ramdulal started worshipping various god and goddesses at his own residence of 67E, Beadon Street. It was the last part of nineteenth century. On the day of Kali Puja, the episode of "অলক্ষী বিদা...

We're becoming conscious of world resources more and more. In spite of that, some countries are remain not fully conscious about the conservation of their resources and heritages due to ignorance of some people. India is one of them. In view of this, UNESCO has started observance of World Heritage Week (19th November-25th November). It is to be mentioned here that, our Ajanta, Ellora, Sanchi, Hampi, Tomb of Humayun or the rock art paintings of Bhimbetka along with Kajiranga, Keoladeo or Manas Wildlife Sanctuary are among the list of world heritage. But, how many people know that creations of famous architect Le Corbusier have now been enlisted as world heritage? And the waiting list from Bengal and the country is not so short - Terracotta temples of Bishnupur and Namdhapa or Neora Valley National Park are amongst them. The World Heritage Week is observing Kolkata too to create mass awareness about the importance of conservation of heritages. On 19th last, the functions began on af...

After the war of Plassey, to pave the way of construction of new fort (Fort William), the inhabitants of the then Gobindapur (now Kolkata) were been rehabilitated to various areas of Kolkata. The head of this family - Ramgobinda Mitra was Diwan of Nawab Siraj-ud-doula. He was one of the resident of Gobindapur. During the rehabilitation, he constructed his new house (ভদ্রাসন) at 26, Chakraberia Road of Bhawanipur and had started puja of goddess Kali and Durga at 'thakur dalan' (ঠাকুরদালান) of his new house.      It was the middle of nineteenth century. The house was called 'Bhawanipur old Mitra Bari' as there were more Mitra families. The original house (ভদ্রাসন) of Mitra family at Bhawanipur was divided among the members in course of time. Now, the main 'thakur dalan' (ঠাকুরদালান) of 26, Chakraberia Road is not in shape as it was in old time - the four arches (খিলান) out of five were broken gradually and now the puja's are performed at the only 'thaku...

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...

The lotus flower is the symbol of peace. And the organisers of Santoshpur Lakepally Durga Puja are creating the puja pandal as the model of Delhi's Lotus Temple. This 54 year's puja will see the weapon-less idol of goddess Durga. Theme-maker Purnendu Dey is now busy to creat this weapon-less temple with 30 creative artists and by the elements of bamboo, wood, metals like bronz, brass, aluminum etc. Lighting and colour would be the main factor of this peaceful puja. -- A. B.

The town Chandannagar of Hooghly district has many historical monuments of heritage. But those are under dilapidation due to lack of proper care and conservation. Nandadulal Jeu's temple is one of them. It was established by Indranarayan Chowdhury - the Izaradar of the then French Government under the regime of French Governor Duplé of Chandannagar in the year 1740. The roof is of 'do-chala' like a bow and there are only 2 temples of this style in West Bengal - one, this of Chandannagar and the other, 'Jor Banglo' temple of Bishnupur. Unfortunately, there are no idols in this Nandadulal temple. In the year 1756, English Admiral Watson through rivers and Robert Clive by road, attacked the French in a joint venture. The war is famous in history as War of Chandannagar. A 'gola' was fell on the temple and the sign is still there. Clive approached towards the basement (Paatal Ghar) of the temple in search of treasure. And he had to approach laid...

After the fasting, worshipper of Lord Shiva observing the rituals at the temple of Shiva. -- A. B.

This century-old ruined temple situated at village Bandipur of Hooghly district. The village is near Nalikul railway station. The temple has still now the signs of ancient culture of rural Bengal on its wall. This abandoned temple not yet included in the list of 'Temples of Bengal'. -- A. B.