Rathayatra is one of the greatest festivals of Bengal. There are many bonedi houses in and outside Kolkata where this festival is celebrated in a grand way. The raths are mostly made of wood, though some are made of brass. One such house in North Kolkata where a brass chariot is drawn in the courtyard belongs to Tarak Pramanick.
The beautiful twelve feet brass chariot was built during the time of Gurucharan Pramanick, father of Tarak Pramanick at Muragacha. The Pramanicks had a business involving brass, bronze and copper. According to Subrata Kumar Pramanick, family member the approximate age of this chariot is 279 years ie, it was made probably in the year 1746. An interesting thing about this rath is except the base all the other parts can be opened separately and they are done by the members of the family.
Previously this chariot used to go to Burrabazar where the Pramanicks had a shop and it remained there till Ultarath. But this practice was stopped during the time of Tarak Pramanick; instead it moves inside the courtyard of the house. The presiding deity of the Pramanicks is Sridhar Jiu.
On the day of Rathayatra, Sridhar Jiu gets down from the thakurghar in the morning and sits on the singhasana in front of the chariot and puja including arati is performed. Bhog is offered. After that Sridhar Jiu encompasses the rath for seven times and then he resides in the chariot and the rath moves around in the courtyard. Again, in the evening, the rath is drawn but in between the time Sridhar Jiu goes upstairs in the thakurghar.
I was told by Shri Pramanick that there are eight fairies arranged in each corner – four male in the first floor and four female in the second floor of the chariot each holding a flag. There are two horses along with a charioteer. The rath is decorated with garlands and flowers. On the day of Ultarath, the chariot is drawn only in the evening after Sridhar Jiu rides on the chariot. A visit to this house on the day of Rathyatra will really be memorable.
Special thanks to Shri Subrata Kumar Pramanick.
Date of posting: 4th July, 2025.
Blog of Kinjal Bose 