My 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...

Mahalaya marks the end of "Pitri Paksha" and the beginning of "Devi Paksha". People believe that Lord Shree Rama invoked Ma Durga on this day of 'Mahalaya Amavasya' for her blessings, just before his journey to Lanka to fight with Ravana and rescue his wife Sita. Some people believe that on this auspicious day Parvati - the wife of Lord Shiva started her journey from mount Kailash to her father mount Himalay's residence for five days. This annual arrival of Parvati is called Durga Puja in Bengal. The Bengalees worship Ma Durga with due devotion and dedication. Irrespective of castes and creeds, all the people enjoy this festival - young & old. Traditional pujas are performed in 'Banedi' families of Kolkata and Bengal. 'Baroari' puja also a phenomenon where Durga Puja is concern. The Bengalees wait throughout the year for this biggest festival of the year.  Another significance of 'Mahalaya' is  "Tarpan". At the end ...

An untitled Tagore painting of a “couple”, from the 1930s, was auctioned by Christie’s on September 22, with a price estimate of between $120,000 and $180,000 (Rs 88 lakh-Rs 1.3 crore). But, the said painting was sold out at the price of Rs. 4.7 Crore ($637,500). The name of the buyer although not disclosed.  The painting was acquired directly from Rabindranath Tagore by Edith Andreae, a literary executor and editor of the works of her brother, Walther Rathenau, and her banker husband in Berlin, Friedrich. It was passed on in the Rathenau family as an heirloom. Rathenau was a German industrialist, writer and liberal He considered the painting as “a national treasure”, the painting, mixed media on paper laid on card, measures 56.8cm x 45.7cm, “considerably larger than most of his works”. Christie’s tells prospective buyers that although Tagore “is still best known for his poetry and songs, his importance as an artist was recognised when he became one of nine painters designat...