Brief
The Joy kali Temple of Dhaka, is situated in a place between Thathari (ঠাটারি) Bazar and Wari. The road was named after this temple itself. Now, literally it is 24 Joy Kali Temple street. Joy Kali Temple is a Hindu temple devoted to Goddess Kali Ma for worshipping. People of Hindu religion of every age come to this temple to worship Goddess Kali. The statue of Goddess Kali is of great significance to the Hindus. The visitors and committee members of this temple gather money for occasions, where sweets are later distributed among them which is called ‘Prasad’.
History:
This temple is about 400 years old, established in the Bengali year 1001. During the reign of the Nawabs, Dewan of Nawabs Tulsi Narayan Ghosh and Nabh Narayan Ghosh established this temple with the inspection of Bancharam Saint. At that time they established twenty-one statues of Shiva, Kali, Lakshmi narayan, three Shalgram Chakra, Bandurga etc. A few beautiful monuments like Pancharatna, Nabratna, temple of Shiva, guest house, were built in the house of Joy Kali. Even market named Nawabpur Joy Kali bazar, and a market situated at the south of Kaliganj hut was dedicated to Joy Kali Devi.
Present condition:
The first caretaker of this Joy Kali Devi was Bancharam Saint, the third caretaker was Panachenand, who suffered a decline, so the responsibility to serve the Devi got into the hands of Bhraman Tanyar. Later the landlords of that time seized some of the land of this temple. Starting from that time the temple started to erode, due to lack of maintenance and shortage of money. This temple was damaged during the strike of 1990’s. The temple was renovated later on by Goddess Kali’s followers. Now the temple is much smaller than it was when it was first established. The temple was burgled and valuables looted by thieves in 2010.
Architectural significance:
Inside the boundary of this temple there is basically two temples. One of the temples is of Kali Devi, the other one, which has a dome, is of Shiv. The dome was made out of plaster and is visible from outside. Locals of that area refer to this dome as the Joy Kali Temple. The front of the temple complex is a busy stop for human haulers that go into old Dhaka. The temple has tiles on the walls all around, and the floor is made out of mosaic. There are pictures of Hindu Gods and Goddesses printed on the tiled walls of the temple. The entrance to the temple is welcomed by a logo made of stainless steel saying ‘Om’- which is a Hindu divine symbol. In front of the Kali Devi statue is a bell hanging from above, it is a ritual to ring the bell after entering the temple and before leaving.
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[name] => Jora Kali Temple of Muktagacha
[post_id] => 22247
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/bn/places/jora-kali-temple-muktagacha/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/P_20151014_134059_1_p-169x300.jpg
[post_content] => Sri Sri Anondomoyi (শ্রী শ্রী আনন্দময়ী) Kali temple is located at the nucleus of Muktagacha Upazila. This temple is dedicated to Nirmola Debi (নির্মলা দেবী), Mother of Maharaja Shoshikanto Acharya (শশীকান্ত আচার্য). A traveler may get confused by the name of this temple as it comes with different words in websites and it's place. In websites, it is known as Sri Sri Anondomoyi (শ্রী শ্রী আনন্দময়ী) Kali temple where as in place, it’s named as Sri Sri Shiva Moheshwar (শ্রী শ্রী শিব মহেশ্বর) Temple and locally it is known as Jora kali Temple of Muktagacha.
Whatsoever the name is, ORB Team came to know from different places and later visited this attraction physically to reveal it's history. It was established in the year 1820 by the patronize of Shoshikanto Acharya (one of the great Zamindars of Muktagacha). Basically this two adjacent temple is a great example of mirror structure in Bengal. It has three arch shaped doorways at the front side. From the surface level, it is almost 1o meter high with so many decoration in its wall. The structural design of this temple is look like the other Moth (মঠ) structure in Bengal.
There is a large pond in the temple premises and it was dug at the time of establishment. Maharaja Shoshikanto Acharya donated his many assets for the daily expenses of worshipping in the temple. Among those lands significant areas are in Muktagacha Upazila, Gabtoli and Khamar Bazar area. Though none of those assets now owned by the temple.
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[name] => Chowdhury Bari Moth
[post_id] => 9088
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/bn/places/choudhuri-bari-moth/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/choudhuri-bari-moth-1-169x300.jpg
[post_content] =>
If you come to see "Baro Awliar Mazar" (বারো আওলিয়ার মাজার) in Tetultola, Munshiganj Sadar then after leaving you will turn out to a place called Chowdhury Bari. Here you will see a beautiful but abandoned Hindu Moth named as Chowdhury Bari Moth which was sometimes used as a temple.
The Grave of Twelve Awlia is situated at Mohakali Union in Munshiganj Sadar. The Union Complex is situated at Chowdhury Bazar and the abandoned Moth/Hindu Temple is called Chowdhury Bari Moth.
Munshiganj is a district of many Hindu Moths. Most of them are established near or more than 150 years ago. The moth may be abandoned but the architectural beauty like wall drawing/terracotta is still very beautiful. Another remarkable thing is that there are plenty of birds making the place as their nests. So, almost all the time you will hear birds humming. Parrots are seen rarely in the town area but in Hindu Moths, a lots of Parrots are seen chirping.
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[name] => Chinishpur Kalibari
[post_id] => 5717
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[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/DSC_01621-300x199.jpg
[post_content] =>
Chinishpur Kalibari (চিনিষপুর কালীবাড়ি) is one of old temples and a sacred place of worshippers in Hindu religion. So far from locals, it is almost 250 years old temple which was built by Hindu Saint Ram Proshaad (রাম প্রসাদ). He got financial support and land from a person name Ramkrishno Ray (রামকৃষ্ণ রায়) who was a Dewan (দেওয়ান) of G.P. Wize (Last Kuthial of Atkandi Nilkuthi).
He built this temple with stones & bricks. After founding this temple he got married to a local girl who was resident of this region and was daughter of another Hindu Saint named Narayan Chakrabarti. Then he stayed there beside the temple for his lifetime.
Architecture and Layout:
The exterior of this temple is decorated with flower and animal iconic figure. Total layout of this temple is in rectangular shape. In the inside of the temple, the Icon of Mother Goddess Kali is kept in North-side of the brick wall which is probably very ancient, and the Stela is made with stone. In the front side of this ancient temple, there is a another temple of Shiva. A big Banyan tree is standing just beside this temple. May be it is the same years old as this Temple is. In the western side of this temple, there is a large pond.
Festivals in Temple Premises:
This temple becomes so festive in every year at new moon of Bengali month Boishakh (বৈশাখ) and Joistho (জ্যেষ্ঠ), While a local fair is celebrated lasting for 3/4 days at the Temple premises. People from distance come to watch this local fair which is a place of extensive collection of local arts & Crafts. For the people of Hindu religion this fair is very important event and they usually don’t miss it. Another attraction of this temple is every year at the time of fair there are a huge number of billy goats is sacrificed in front of Kali Goddess to make her satisfied with the blood of animals. In course of time this tradition is losing its popularity as many rich people of Hindu Religion had left the country at the time of dividing Indian sub-continent in the year of 1947.
Present Condition:
Very recently a gigantic temple is being constructed outside of the main building of this temple & it is totally covered with the new gorgeousness. Hopefully, it will be one of the most exclusive and gigantic Kali Temples in Bangladesh. Nearly, 80 million BDT will be spent to build this Temple.
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[name] => Sri Sri Shib Bari Naat Temple
[post_id] => 13716
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/bn/places/sri-sri-shib-bari-naat-temple/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_20150805_133106239_HDR-300x169.jpg
[post_content] =>
Sri Sri Shib Bari Naat Temple is a renowned Shiva Temple in Manikganj Sadar Upazila. It was established in the year 1954. But, it has been renovated in several times. It is not just a single temple but a complex of other features surrounding this temple. Goddess Kali's murti is situated just outside of this temple in a hut. Beside this hut there is a Crematorium adjacent to a lake name Borai Khal (বড়াই খাল). Spiritually this place is very sacred one in Hindu religion. Just at the left side of crematorium there is a pond here, where local people used to have their bath in daytime.
At the time when ORB (Offroad Bangladesh) team visited that temple it was very calm & quiet. Though, it is assumed that at the night time people do worship at this temple using various types of musical instruments.
There is a tin shed house situated inside of this temple, Which is being used as a center of pre religious studies for Hindu religion. A Brahman lives in this house who teaches the children and conduct the worshiping inside the temple.
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