The ancient pot of Bardhaman Rajbari

The pot of Debendra Bhaban, Bardhaman

 

Ancient pujas in Bardhaman used to be of `poteswari' i.e. the image of debi painted instead of current `murti'.
 

The most famous puja used to that of Bardhaman Rajbari and the puja of Debendra Bhaban (of Dr. Ahibushan Road, Borhat). After abolishment of `jamindari pratha' the puja of Rajbari has been stopped. However, the 92 years old puja of Debendra Bhaban still continues. The founder Shri Debendralal Das was from the famous Dasbari (jamindar of Kanchannagar, Bardhaman). The puja of Kanchannagar jamindar bari is of almost 300 years old. They moved to Borhat at around 110 years ago and started the puja. 18 years later both the brothers separated and the current puja was started.

     
 
Dey family
Borsul

The Durgpuja of this zamindar family is over 200 years old. Although, the zamindari & the earlier glory is long gone, the puja is still continued by the current family members. The unique feature of this puja is that the debi Durga is worshipped as Hara-Gouri. A smaller image of Durga found sat on the lap of Shiva. The four children, Laxmi, Ganesh, Saraswati & Kartick glory on both side of Shiva. A symbolic bull lies below the feet of Shiva. Debi Durga is not dashabhuja & is not seen at her normal destructive mood.
In earlier days, the murtikars were brought in from Nabadwip to build the debi image but now local people are engaged for the art.

 
Paschimpara
Kanchannagar

The exact age of this Subhachandi Durgapuja of Kanchannagar cannot be ascertained, but the local people believes it to be older than 250 years. This puja was started at the Poddarpara by the sonabene clan & was later shifted to the current location. The debi image is not immersed to water every year but is repainted before the Durgapuja season. Images are immersed after every 7-8 years. In earlier times, a gold image of the Durga was worshipped along with the earthen one, but has been stolen years back. 108 pradips are enlightened during the sandhipuja.

 
Sunil Kumar Sinha's Temple 
4/24 Vidyapati, B-Zone, Durgapur-5

Mr. Sunil Kumar Sinha, wished to visit the Tirupati while he was admitted at a hospital in South India. Although he managed to visit the shrine, but was unable to see the idol. This retired technician of the Durgapur Steel Plant virtually converted his leased quarter to a temple.
 
Das family
Kanchannagar

This traditional Durgapuja is over 250 years. The Das family started the puja at their erstwhile village, Sansar & was later brought here when the family shifted to Kanchannagar. The Durga pratima is built in traditional ekchala style. A pure ghee pradip is enlightened from saptami to dashami. Home made dhups are used at this puja. Over 19 ingridents are used to make these dhup & each insense stick lasts over five hours. The creation of debi murti is started from the rathayatra day.

 
Ghosh family
Kanchannagar

This 300 years old Durgapuja is situated near Kanchannagr. The entire family unites during the puja. The pratima is in ekchala style & decorated in daker saaj. Boli (sacrifice) is made on saptami to nabami.

 
Chatterjee family
Khoshbagan, Burdwan

This family puja is celebrating its 117th anniversary this year. The puja was started by Shyamlal Chatterjee & his wife, Sushiladebi of Monteswar after they received an order from the debi at their dream after their only child expired. Later the couple was blessed by another child & the puja was shifted to the current location during the flood of 1320 (Bengali calendar). The male members of the family wear dhoti during the puja days & the female members are forbidden to visit any other Durgapuja. This family puja also organise `kumari puja' on the nabami.

 
Sen family
Burdwan

The Durgapuja of Sen family is over 150 years old. Noted lawyer Bhaminiranjan Sen started this puja on 1848 at their residence in Kalia village, Jessore district, Bangladesh. Later the puja shifted along with the family during the partition in 1948. The family members unite during the Durga puja & all prasads are homemade as part of the tradition.

 
Ghosh family
Puratanchowk, Burdwan

This Durga puja is 158 years old. Gadai Ghosh of the family received an order of the debi in his dream & recovered a debi kathamo from the Banka river. The pratima was built on the kathamo & worshipped. Later the family also received a vessel full of mohars while digging foundation for the mandir. The mohars were sold to generate fund for the temple. Later the Bardhaman maharaj took over the puja for some years when the Ghosh family's finance went through a bad patch.

 
Bhattacharya family
Talit

Kali Prasanna Bhattacharya is the founder of this almost 300 years old puja. Till later 1980s gun was fired to denote the `sandhikhan' on the astami day, which has been stopped after an accident. Sacrifice of buffalo is done before the debi. The villages dance like war-march with the buffalo head to remember the cruel period of 'Borgi hanadars'. Before the immersion, the debi is worshipped witha silver coin, sindoor & rice. This ritual is called kanakanjali. The coin is stored every year & coins of Sultan Iltubmish are still found. The coins of that year denotes that this puja is over 300 years old.

 
Sarkar family
Memari

One of the oldest puja in the area aging over 380 years. This Durga puja was started by Ayodhyaram at Mohabaatpur or the current Memari. This puja is made in continuation of the family's puja at their village, Srikhanda.

 
Maji family
Gushkara

This is the first Durgapuja in Gushkara and is continued till today from the period of Nawab Alibardi Khan. The debi rides on the lion along with her two friends Jaya & Bijaya along with Ashur. The childs of the debi are absent here. The bali (ritual animal sacrifice) of all pujas in Gushkara are made after the same has been made here.

 
Hazra family
Bahirghanna, Galsi

Started by Dataram Hazra, this 300 years old puja is famous for its puja ceremony, which is still strict followed to the `sastras'. Many people from the surrounding areas come to see the puja. Although this is a family puja, many people outside this family offer anjali to the debi.

Jamidar bari
Paharhati, Memari

This puja is 150 years old. The debi has two hands and is worshipped as Abhoya along with her 4 children. The Mahishasur (the bull-demon) is absent. Although the story of asur badh is depicted in the chala behind. The debi has daker saaj. The purohit is Narayan Chandra Dutta and his family.

 
Kumardihi
Ukhra

One of the oldest puja of the district, of around 350 years old. The Banerjee family, used to be the jaminder of the area from Samrat Akbar's reign. Debi's `bodhon' is done 15 days before `Sasthi'. Late Birendra Naryan Banerjee started this puja in 1655 A.D. 

 
Nachan village
Loudaha P.S.

This puja, a 133 years old is famous in the area. The Ekchalar pratima is made by Shri Hari Narayan Mondal of Angadhpur village. The maha astami has its custom of boli (sacrifice) of a white pantha (male goat). On the nabami, more than 2,000 people of the surrounding five villages have a feast of prasadi. 

 
Chongdar Bari
Guskara

This 500 years old puja is famous for its ekchala protima. Maharsi Debenranath Tagore, Rabindranath Tagore, Tarasankar Banerjee (famous writer) used to visit this puja. The face of the lion of debi is built as a horse face look alike.

 
Bhattacharya family
Khatundi, Ketugram

This puja was started by Ramlal Bhattacharya (father of Keshab Barati, who gave `diksha' to Mahaprabhu Chaitynadeb) around 600 years ago. The unique feature of this puja is six Durga murtis are worshipped in the same mandap.