Paschim Barddhaman – Blog of Kinjal Bose

Rathayatra at Bankati, Paschim Barddhaman

Rathayatra is a major and popular festival of West Bengal. The roads and streets are adorned with chariots of various shapes and sizes. There are a number houses where brass chariots are used. This year I witnessed the rathayatra of Joydev Kenduli in Birbhum and Bankati in Paschim Barddhaman district. The three notable places in Paschim Barddhaman where brass drawn chariots are used are Searsole, Ukhra and Bankati.

Rathayatra of Ukhra

Rathayatra is celebrated in different districts of West Bengal in a grand way. The chariot in some cases are not made of wood rather they are made of brass. These brass-drawn chariots are seen in different areas of Bengal. The three places where these chariots are drawn in Paschim Barddhaman district of West Bengal are Bankati, Ukhra and Searsole.

Temple of Ichai Ghosh, Paschim Barddhaman

The Temple of Ichai Ghosh in Gourangapur village of Kanksa block in Durgapur subdivision of Paschim Barddhaman district is a protected monument under Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Kolkata Circle. This brick-built temple of “large smooth curvilinear” type of rekha deul is located on the southern bank of River Ajay.