Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

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...

Yesterday, on auspicious occasion of 'Shukla Chaturdashi', special puja of Tara Ma was performed by the 'sebaits' of Devi Mauliksha at Kabichandrapur near Tarapith beside river Dwarka. Thousands of devotees observed the puja. On this day, 'sebaits' of Ma Tara bring the idol of Tara Ma on Biram Mancha at the said place and turned the face of Tara Ma towards village Maluti of Jharkhand /> A story is behind this event. It says that, Tara Ma and Devi Mauliksha of Maluti are two sisters. In the year 1701, the Rani of Natore and other priests performed puja of Tara Ma on this 'Biram Mancha' keeping the face of Tara Ma eastward. The Raja of Maluti - Rakharchandra sat to perform puja of Tara Ma there. By seeing this, annoyed priests forcefully stopped the Raja.   /> Resentment grew within the mind of Raja towards  Tara Ma for this untoward incident happened to him. He loitered and came to the west bank of river Dwarka at village Kabichandrapur near...

           

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...