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[0] => Array
(
[name] => Chinishpur Kalibari
[post_id] => 5717
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/chinishpur-kalibari-%e0%a6%9a%e0%a6%bf%e0%a6%a8%e0%a6%bf%e0%a6%b7%e0%a6%aa%e0%a7%81%e0%a6%b0-%e0%a6%95%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%b2%e0%a7%80%e0%a6%ac%e0%a6%be%e0%a7%9c%e0%a6%bf/
[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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[1] => Array
(
[name] => Navratna Mandir
[post_id] => 3072
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/navratna-mandir/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Navaratna-temple-Ripon-Dhar....1-300x225.jpg
[post_content] =>
The navaratna style of temple architecture (Sanskrit: नवरत्न, meaning "nine gems") incorporates two main levels, each with four spired corner pavilions, and a central pavilion above, for a total of nine spires. The style arose in Bengal during the eighteenth century as an elaboration of the pancharatna style that had five pavilions (four at the corners and one above).
Many other temples are located close to it. During the reign of Nawab Murshid Khan(1704-1720) estimated a guy named Nayeb Dewan Ramnath Vaduri built it. The main temple is three storied. It is said that during construction of the temple each brick was fried with ghee. This temple was taken by Archaeology department of Government for reformation.
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[2] => Array
(
[name] => Sri Sri Shib Bari Naat Temple
[post_id] => 13716
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/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.
)
[3] => Array
(
[name] => Sonarong Jora Moth
[post_id] => 8450
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/sonarong-jora-moth/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/SJM-1-300x240.jpg
[post_content] =>
Sonarong (means golden color) is a lovely village at Tongibari Upazila of Munshiganj district. This village belong a beautiful "Moth(মঠ)"(a place for praying by Hindu religious people) which is known as "Sonarong Jora Moth" (সোনারং জোড়া মঠ) ("twin moth"). It is used to call twin moth/temple, because it has two towers side by side. It may be around 150 feet high from the ground. There is a large pond just in front of the Moth. This moth is not functioning now a days. Interviewing local people we came to know that, there are no praying activities take place in this moth. Every side of the moth is covered with trees and that gave a lovely golden and green color's illusional view of the moth.
The larger moth was made for "Shiva"(Hindu God), and made during 1843, and the smaller one for "Kali"(Hindu Goddess), and made during 1886. It was built by a Hindu merchant named "Rupchand" (রূপচাঁদ) From stone inscriptions fixed over the temple’s entrance.
The two towers of the moth are not equal sized. One is much larger than another one. The larger tower has hundreds of holes at the top of it, and each hole is occupied by parrots. Visitors may observe hundreds of parrots from the place, and they are making sweet sound together all the day long. During the breeding season, the top of the moth become green for the numerous numbers of parrots. Both the towers of the moth are ornamented nicely with different types of leafs motif and blind alcoves.
Architectural Features:
Two temples stand side by side on a single masonry platform surrounded by a moat on three sides and an access path on the eastern side.The western temple, loftier than the eastern one, is about 15m high over the square sanctum, and measures 5.35m x 5.35m and has a 1.90m wide veranda. A low hemispherical dome covers the square sanctuary, over which rises an octagonal sikhara(শিখর) crowned by the usual pinnacle with kalasa (কলস) finials. This terminates in a trident fixed with an iron rod. The outer surface of the sikhara is decorated with a semi-circular arched pattern in plaster, which is repeated on all sides. The entire sikhara is dotted with three pigeonholes under each arch pattern. The main sanctuary has two archways, one each on the south and west sides, flanked by arched panels on both sides,and a pattern of three arches on the other two sides. The western entrance consists of a two-centered arch. The top of the archway is decorated with a frieze of blind merlons. In front of the sanctum, the veranda is covered with a flat roof supported on columns, It has three arched openings on the south, one each on its east and west side.
It is one of the important historical & archaeological places in Munshiganj District. Very recently,renovation work is on go,undoubtedly a good initiative to protect this site from further destruction.
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