September 2023 – Blog of Kinjal Bose

Temples of Rajbalhat

Rajbalhat, a town in Jangipara block of Serampore subdivision of Hooghly district of West Bengal has a number of temples of which the temple of Devi Rajballavi, after whom Rajbalhat is named deserves mention.

Temples of Arambagh, Hooghly

Arambagh, a subdivisional town located about 80 kilometres from Kolkata can be reached both by road and rail. The best way is to take the morning Howrah-Goghat local and get down at Arambagh station at about 9:30 am. A little away from the station is a place called Parul within the Arambagh municipality which can be reached either by a toto or an auto. This place has two aatchala temples with terracotta decorations – Raghunandan Temple and Bishalakshi Temple.

Durga Puja in Dhanyakuria

Durga Puja, a four-day festival is celebrated in different parts of West Bengal and even outside. The pujas which are celebrated in traditional Bengali households and jamidarbari have some unique features from idol to puja rituals.

During the festive days all the members of the family who live outside try to come to their ancestral house where Maa Durga is being worshipped. Dhanyakuria in North 24 Parganas district houses the mansions of Gayen, Ballav and Sahoo who celebrate the puja in a grand way.

Durga Puja of Biswas Bari of Dasghara

Durga Puja is not only celebrated as a barowari puja but is equally famous as a household puja. Household Durga puja is well known in rural Bengal apart from Kolkata. There are some families who celebrate the puja with great pomp and splendour and during the days of the festival the thakurdalan along with the adjoining areas bear a different look. One such family where Durga is not only famous but unique is Biswas Bari of Dasghara in Hooghly district.