Devi Durga is worshipped round the year in quite a number of temples/houses in Kolkata. During the time of Durga Puja these places of worship gets crowded with devotees of all age groups thereby making the ambience a puja-like atmosphere. In this post I shall include four such pujas and the rest in the third and final post coming soon.
Bhukailash Rajbari, a Grade-I heritage under Kolkata Municipal Corporation houses the two big aatchala Shiva temples – Raktakamaleswar and Krishnachandreswar, thakurbari and Patit Paboni Durga Mandir which was built in the dalan style. The temple courtyard has other temples also.
I visited this temple way back in January 2016 and today being Maha Panchami tithi I paid a visit again in the morning. At that time I found that the temple courtyard is being cleaned. A few devotees have already arrived there to offer puja and the priest was getting ready for the worship.
There are a total of three plaques – two old and a new. Once you enter the temple you will find an old and a new stone plaque on the left while another – very old made of copper on the right narrating the life story of Maharaja Joynarayan Ghosal the founder of Bhukailash Rajbari. This one is a bilingual – the upper portion in English and the lower probably in Persian. It’s rather difficult to read .
Patit Paboni Durga Mandir was founded by Joynarayan Ghosal in the Bengali month of Phalgun (February-March) There are also two old canons which bore testimony to a glorious past. The idol of Devi Durga is made of astodhatu (an alloy of eight metals). The lion looks like that of a horse. Another thing to note here that Maa Durga is alone without her sons – Kartick and Ganesh and daughters – Lakshmi and Saraswati. The temple remains open in the morning and in evening. I was very lucky to click a few pictures of the goddess because in my previous visit I found the temple closed.
Haldar family of Baghbazar situated just opposite to Gauriyo Math at 17/1, Kaliprasad Chakraborty Street is another house where Maa Mahisasuramardini standing on a lotus is worshipped on a daily basis. This unique idol made from kastipathar was found by one of the ancestors of the Haldar family at a fisherman’s hut at a place called Sahebpur in Odisha. The goddess is worshipped alone. The idol is south-facing from the day of Mahalaya till Dasami. On the evening of Bijoya Dasami, the idol is again turned to its original position from south to west and will remain there for the rest of the year. No one will be allowed to enter the sanctum wearing leather goods – purse, belt, leather strap of wrist watch as leather is connected with animal and as animal sacrifice is not performed here, it is strictly prohibited. The puja is performed according to Baisnab rituals. I visited this house twice. In the year 2020 I paid a visit during Durga Puja. Kumari Puja is performed on Nabami. The feet of the kumari should be smeared in alta. Hom is also meticulously performed on Nabami tithi. The ritual of biswarjan is performed here by changing the water in the ghat which is placed during the puja. As said earlier only the direction of the idol changes.
Haldar Barir Pujo of 15, Ramnath Kabiraj Lane, Bowbazar started 175 years ago by Rashmoni Dasi, wife of Ramnarayan Haldar in 1255 Bangabda, ie 1848 as per the English calendar. I was told that earlier the Durga idol was prepared and worshipped in the thakurdalan which has unique stained glass decorations. At present Maa Singhabahini is worshipped. It is made of astodhatu.
The deity resides in the thakurghar and on Sasthi the same was brought in the dalan and worshipped for the next four days. On the day of Dasami, it is again sent to her actual place of abode – thakurghar. Apart from Durga Puja, Kali Puja and Kartick Puja are also held here. Kali Puja here is a grand affair.
Hatibagan Tol dates back to 1863. It also houses a Durga Mandir founded by Nemai Thakur more than four decades back. I have seen this temple a number of times whenever I went to Ultadanga. The address is 129B, Arabinda Sarani, Hatibagan. It is close to Hatibagan crossing and almost diagonally opposite to Hatibagan Sarbojonin Durgaustav. The idol of Goddess Durga was worshipped both during the days of Durga Puja and Basanti Puja apart from regular worship.
Special thanks to Shri Shilajit Ray.
Date of posting: 20th October, 2023.
Blog of Kinjal Bose 