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.
Array
(
[0] => 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.
)
[1] => Array
(
[name] => {:en}Panchari Shantipur Aranya Kutir{:}{:bn}পানিছড়ি বৃহৎ বৌদ্ধ মূর্তি{:}
[post_id] => 1110
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/panichari-brihot-buddha-sculpture/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Panichari-Brihot-Buddha-sculpture-1-300x225.jpg
[post_content] => {:en}
Khagrachhari (Bengali: খাগড়াছড়ি) is a district in south-eastern Bangladesh. It is a part of the Chittagong Division and the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Its local name is "Chengmi". Khagrachhari is also known as Phalang Htaung or the Mong Circle (of the rest of the three hill districts Rangamati is the Chakma Circle and Bandarban is the Bohmong Circle). Khagrachhari town is the home town of the Mong Chief (currently King, or Raja, Saching Prue Chowdhury who is the head of the Arakanese descendants living in the circle. It also is the administrative headquarters of Khagrachhari district.
Panchari Shantipur Aranya Kutir - 25 km south from Khagrachhari is peripheral region. The largest Buddha sculpture of Bangladesh (Panchari Brihot Buddha Sculpture) is situated here.
{:}{:bn}এখানে অবস্থিত মূর্তিটি বাংলাদেশের সর্ববৃহৎ বৌদ্ধমূর্তি।{:}
)
[2] => Array
(
[name] => Jora Shiv Mandir
[post_id] => 16208
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/jora-shiv-mandir/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Jora-Shiv-Mandir7-225x300.jpg
[post_content] =>
Jora Shiv Mandir is located at the Sukulpotti area of Natore Sadar. It is assumed that this Shiv Temple was established by the adopted daughter of High Queen Rani Bhabani. In Sangskrit language, Shiv means happy/benevolent/kind/eminent. Also, as for a person’s name, it is meant as auspicious/ propitous. This temple is also known as Sree Sree Mohakali and Jora Shiv Mandir.
In the Bangla month of Falgun, the 14th lunar day’s night of dark fortnight is considered as the Shiv-night which is very auspicious for Hindu women. This temple holds the architectural beauty and history of many many years.The outer scenario and design can easily depict the expert artistical work and the inclination of hte then architects. every year, Hindu community celebrate very gorgeous Durga Puja in this temple.
)
[3] => Array
(
[name] => Motter Moth
[post_id] => 14403
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/motter-moth/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_20150805_134634250_HDR-300x169.jpg
[post_content] =>
Temple of Motto or Motter Moth (মত্তের মঠ) is located at the village Motto (মত্ত) of Manikganj Sadar Upazila. It is situated at the eastern side of Manikganj (মানিকগঞ্জ) town.
This Moth is about 50-60 feet tall, looks like a Shiva temple. Currently this Moth is abandoned, located beside a pond. A new temple is built near the old one. It is not sure who built that moth or its actual time period.
People says that a prominent Zamindar Ram Krishna Sen (জমিদার রামকৃষ্ণ সেন) lived at Motto Village. Possibly he could built this temple. From the close observation, it is assumed that this Moth could be around 100 years of old, or may be less.
)
)
