Blog of Kinjal Bose

Nilkantheshwari Temple, Gondalpara, Chandannagar

Chandannagar, a former French colony, is just 35 kilometres from Kolkata can be reached by both rail and road. Chandannagar is now a subdivision of Hooghly district of West Bengal. When we speak of Chandannagar, the first thing that comes to our mind is Jagadhatri Puja which is celebrated here for five days with great pomp and grandeur just like Durga Puja. A number of temples are there in Chandannagar of which Nilkantheshwari Temple of Gondalpara deserves mention.

Jagadhatri Puja of Kolkata’s ‘Bonedi’ Families

When we speak of Jagadhatri Puja, we think of Chandannagar, Mankundu, Bhadreswar in Hooghly district and Krishnanagar in Nadia district of West Bengal. In Hooghly district it is a five-day festival starting from Sasthi to Dasami like that of Durga Puja whereas in Krishnanagar the puja starts in Nabami.

Kalibari, Baranagar Bazaar

There are many Kali temples in Cossipore-Baranagar area of which the Kali temple in Baranagar bazaar is more than two hundred years old. Founded in 1781, this temple is located at the crossing of Gopal Lal Thakur Road and Kashinath Datta Road. The presiding deity is Maa Siddheswari.

Siddheswari Kalibari, Kutighat

There are a number of Kali temples in Baranagar which are more than hundred years old of which Siddheswari Kalibari in Kutighat is one. Built by zamindar Joy Narayan Bandopadhyay in 1843, the temple is one hundred and seventy five years old. A road – Joy Narayan Banerjee Lane – in Baranagar is named after him. He was a very pious and religious man.

Jora Shiv Mandir, Kalighat

There are a number of temples in Kalighat area of South Kolkata of which Jora (twin) Shiv Mandir of 60, Iswar Ganguly Street, Kolkata – 700026 is pretty old. There are two temples – both of Bengal’s traditional aatchala style built possibly in the late eighteenth century by Baidyanath Halder.

Pramanik Kali Bari

There are a number of temples in Cossipore Baranagar area of which Pramanik Kali Bari of 225, Pramanik Ghat Road, Kolkata – 700036 deserves mention. The temple was established in Maghi purnima tithi of 1259 Bangabda, which, according to Gregorian calendar comes to 1852.

Bamondas Mookerjee Kali Bari

A Grade-I heritage under Kolkata Municipal Corporation, the Kali Temple of Bamondas Mookerjee of 85, Cossipore Road, Kolkata – 700002 houses the idol of Kripamoyee Kali and Shiva lingas of Durgeswar and Kshetreswar – all made of kasthipathar.

26 Shiv Mandir, Khardah

26 Shiv Mandir at Ramhari Biswas Ghat Road, Khardah in North 24 Parganas by the side of the Ganges is a protected monument under Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Kolkata circle.

Durga Puja of Howrah’s ‘Bonedi’ families (Part-II)

In my first blog on Howrah’s ‘bonedi‘ families published a few days back, I have covered the houses of Bally, Belur and Salkia. But there are also some houses in Andul and Shibpur, where Durga Puja is not only old but also equally famous. In Part-II of my blog on Durga Puja of Howrah’s ‘bonedi‘ families, I try to include them.

Durga Puja of Howrah’s ‘Bonedi’ families (Part-I)

1. Buri Maar Aaatchala, Chaitalpara, Bally

According to Shri Suniti Ganguly, Vice-President of Bally Chaitalpara Buri Maar Aatchala Puja Committee, this puja dates back to nearly 400 years and was started during the reign of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Acutally this puja was a household puja but now it has been taken over by the puja committee. This puja is named as Buri Maar puja only because of its age; it started nearly four centuries back.

Joy Mitra Kali Bari, Baranagar

There are a number of Kali temples in and around Calcutta (now Kolkata); of which some were pretty old. A number of Kali Mandir are situated by the side of Hooghly river near Baranagar in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal like Joy Mitra Kali Bari (Kripamayee Kali) of 1850; Pramanik Kali Bari (Brahamayee Kali) of 1853 and Dakshineswar Kali Mandir (Maa Bhabatarini) of 1855.

The Denmark Tavern (1786)

Serampore, now a subdivisional town under Hooghly district was earlier a Danish settlement. The town was also very famous because of the three missionaries – William Carey, Joshua Marshman and William Ward – the Serampore trio.

Unique Lodge, Serampore

Serampore (formerly a Danish colony), now a sub-divisional town of Hooghly district of West Bengal had many heritage places. One such place is Unique Lodge (addressed locally as Singha Bari) of 21, Dey Street, Serampore – 712201.

Dakat Kali Bari

Dakat Kali Bari of 39/1A, Purna Das Road, (earlier Manoharpukur Road) Kolkata had a very old history. The present temple that we see was formally built in 1891. But the deity of Goddess Kali made of kastipathar (touch stone) was much older than the temple. It was said that this Kali was worshipped by Manohar Bagdi or as he was popularly known as Manohar Dakat.

Coomar’s Shiv Mandir, Bally

One can find a number of old temples in Bally of Howrah district. One such old temple, I mean two old aatchala temples in one raised platform at 15, Kali Prasanna Coomar (Kumar) Street (which was previously known as Sen Para) in Bally deserves mention. There are actually two temples placed side by side opposite to a pond known as Coomar (Kumar) Lake.