Kolkata – Page 3 – Blog of Kinjal Bose

Dochala Siva Temple

There are a very large number of Siva temples in Kolkata; of which some are pretty old and each follows a distinct temple architecture. Bagbazar situated towards the north of Kolkata has a number of temples of which one temple on the eastern pavement of Kshirode Vidyavinode Avenue drew my attention. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Cossipore Rasbati

Cossipore had a number of old temples and heritage places which dates back to history. Being a frequent visitor there I found a very old rasmancha inside a math (open space) at Ratan Babu Road. This structure aroused my interest and that actually led me to visit there to trace its history. On one of my visit to the nearby Baranagar, I met respected Late Ajit Sen, and from his books, I gathered some information about this Rasbati.

Rasmancha

Manchas are of three types – rasmancha, dolmancha and tulsimancha. A rasmancha (a temple-like structure generally octagonal in shape with the sides open and situated on a raised-platform) is the largest among the three. It was very common in the nineteenth century Bengal. The rasmancha is normally smaller in size than the main temple where the Radha Krishna deities reside throughout the year. The main purpose of building the rasmancha is to enable the people to witness the deities (here Radha Krishna) from all the sides on a special occasion (Rashyatra).

Jagaddhatri Mandir, Kolkata

When we speak of Jagaddhatri Puja, the first thing that comes to our mind is Chandannnagar in Hooghly district of West Bengal where the puja is held for five days just like the Durga Puja. Then comes Krishnanagar where it is a single day festival – held in the Nabami tithi. Apart from Chandannagar, Mankundu and Bhadrewsar are also famous. In Kolkata, mostly the puja is held for a single day just like Krishnanagar.

Kali Pujas of Kolkata

After Durga puja, comes Kali puja which is celebrated all over the state of West Bengal. Likewise in Kolkata, it is celebrated with great pomp and splendour not only in the barowari puja pandals of the city; but also in some families of Kolkata, where the puja is being celebrated for more than hundred years. The tradition, splendour and aristocracy still remains. This year I have covered some families of north and central Kolkata where Goddess Kali is being worshipped. Here some pictures may have been taken much earlier. Like Durga Puja, this puja also attracts a huge number of spectators specially at night as Goddess Kali or Shyama is worshipped at night and, the households are decorated with light as this puja is the festival of light.

Anandamoyee Kali Mandir, Cossipore

There are a number of temples in Cossipore-Baranagar area. Cossipore being the first ward of Kolkata Municipal Corporation has a number of temples dedicated to Goddess Kali, Lord Shiva and Krishna. A Kali temple on Ratan Babu Road which is pretty old houses Maa Anadamoyee.

Durga Puja of Kolkata’s ‘bonedi’ families (Part – II)

Durga Puja is the greatest festival of the Bengalees. It is celebrated both in India and abroad where there is the presence of Bengali community. In Kolkata there are a number of families who are celebrating the festival for a long time without any break. Some of the families are continuing the pujas for more than two centuries without any break. In 2017, in my blog Durga Puja of Kolkata’s ‘Bonedi’ Families I have included 38 families of the city, and, in a single year. But there are still a number of families where Durga Puja is being celebrated with equal pomp and splendour. In this blog I have included eight families of Central Kolkata; though I would like to mention that there are still a number of families left, which I hope to cover in the next year.

Durga Puja of ‘bonedi’ families of Chetla

Chetla (now a place in South Kolkata) was once a very crowded business area as it was by the side of Adi Ganga, which was the main waterway of the Ganges. The area started populating after 1770. A number of bonedi families like Najir Bari (1861), Addya Bari (1830), Shyam Bose (1840) came to this place and started living here. Gradually they started Durga Puja in their thakurdalan. Some of the families are still continuing the age-old tradition. I along with Shri Subrata Kumar Brahma, a resident of Chetla visited four such pujas this evening.

Durga Puja of Haldarbari of Baghbazar

Durga Puja is the biggest festival of the Bengalees and is celebrated in almost every corner of the globe where there is presence of Bengali community. This five-day festival is not only celebrated in the barowari pujas of the city of Kolkata; but it is equally worshipped in many households – from north to south. Some of the pujas of the bonedi families of Kolkata are very old and are meticulously performed with all rituals till date.

Jhulan Festival of Central Kolkata

Jhulanyatra, a five-day festival is celebrated in the Bengali month of Shravan (August) every year. This festival is held in different parts of Kolkata; but there are several houses in Central Kolkata where Jhulanyatra is held with pomp and gaeity even today. Some of the household are celebrating this festival for more than 150 years. I was lucky to witness this Jhulanyatra for two years and I am describing here seven of those families who are still celebrating this festival; although there are many families who are still maintaining this age-old tradition.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bishnu Rameswar Shiv Mandir & four aatchala temples

Adi Ganga served as a major pilgrim route. A number of temples were built by the side of it. They were dedicated to either Shakti, Shiva and Vaisnav cult. Some of the temples are pretty old and some have undergone renovation