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] => Shyamsiddhir Moth
[post_id] => 8507
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/shyamsiddhir-moth/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/SDM-11-252x300.jpg
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A huge number of moth (মঠ) has been found all over the places in Munshiganj District. Shyamsiddhir Moth is one of the old moth, which is located in Shyamsiddhi village, to the west of Sreenagar Bazar under Sreenagar upazila in Munshiganj district. A Bangla inscription fixed over the doorway in the south side implies that it was constructed by one Shambhunath Majumder in 1243 BS/ Shakabda 1758 (1836 AD). The math is named after by its location.
The building is square in plan, measuring 6m externally, and the walls are 1m thick. This brick built math stands on a 1.20m high platform, and is about 20m high. The moth is divided into three stages. The lower square part is the main shrine. On its south side there is an entrance with pointed arch, flanked by a rectangular panel on its either side; while each of the other three sides contains three rectangular panels in plaster, of which the central one is bigger than the flanking ones. Over the lintel level, all four sides are relieved with two semi-circular arches - one above the other - set within a rectangular frame under a large semi-circular arch. A sun emblem in plaster is depicted in the small arches.
The entire surface of the walls were originally plastered, but now have fallen at places. The shrine is covered by a dome, over which the base of the tapering shikhara (spire) is transformed into an octagonal shape at its second stage. Internally, the dome is supported on half-domed squinches and multi-cusped corner arches, while the side walls are relived with ornamented arched panels. Above these arched panels and corner arches medallions are depicted. The interior of the dome is ornamented with two bands of floral motives at the base.
At the octagonal second stage there are eight pilasters on the eight corners. The large rectangular area in each side is decorated with large window panels with closed shutters. Above the window panel runs panels containing a group of serpent hoods and floral leaf pattern alternately around the eight sides. Above each of the eight sides there is a curved chala decoration, from which the uppermost stage of the math rises in a tapering mass. The shikhara was once crowned with kalasa finial, but is now missing, although the iron trishul (trident) is still standing.
It is a typical single shikhara type of math with a series of repeated curved vertical mouldings, similar to the sonarang twin temples.
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[name] => {:en}Gunjanath Temple{:}{:bn}গুঞ্জনাথ মন্দির{:}
[post_id] => 5433
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/gunjanath-temple/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/offroadbangladeshlogo2-300x178.png
[post_content] => {:en}
Gunjanath Temple is located in Boro bazar of Kaliganj Upazila of Jhenaidah district. The Gunjanath temple was built in 17th century by the then King in Kaliganj Upazila. There are other old temples in that locality. This place can be reached from Naldanga also.
{:}{:bn}ঝিনাইদহ জেলার কালীগঞ্জ উপজেলার বড়বাজারে গুঞ্জনাথ মন্দির অবস্থিত। ১৭শ শতাব্দীতে নির্মিত এই মন্দিরটি কালীগঞ্জের আরেকটি দর্শনীয় স্থান। এখানে আপনি নলডাঙ্গা থেকেও আসতে পারবেন।{:}
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[name] => Vatodara Shiv Mandir
[post_id] => 17660
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/vatodara-shiv-mandir/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Vatodara-Shiv-Mandir2-300x225.jpg
[post_content] =>
Vatodara Shiv Mandir (ভাটোদাড়া শিব মন্দির) is located in Dighapatia near the Dighapatia Rajbari. This temple was established near a 100 years ago, as the local says. Whereas, Vatodara Kalibari, mainly uses for worshipping in various occasions, was built recently. In various occasions like Durga Puja or Kali Puja, people from Hindu religion of this locality greatly celebrate their rituals here. Although, Vatdara Shiv Mandir remains almost dysfunctional and out of care, people of the area largely come and worship in Kalibari.
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[name] => Radha Krishna and Shiva Kali Temple
[post_id] => 9111
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/radha-krishna-and-shiva-kali-temple/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/shib-kali-1-169x300.jpg
[post_content] =>
Radha Krishna and Shiva Kali Temple is a Hindu religious Architecture situated in Munshiganj Sadar, which is very near to destruction.About 100 years old (now rebuilt) Radha-Krishna Temple and the other one is about 190 years old (locally informed) Shiva temple at Atpara, Sukhbaspur, Munshiganj Sadar Upazila. Adjacent to this temple there are two more temples which appear to have been erected recently. It is a 'Pancha ratna' temple resting on a square sanctum. Its south-east corner ratna along with large portion of the body is missing.
Architectural property of Temple:
The four turrets are set on the roof top corners while the large fifth central sikhara rises above those. The wall of the temple is 63cm thick. The temple has sharply curved cornices and an arched shape entrance on the south but its lower portion is in a dilapidated condition.
The char-Chala central ratna rests upon its rectangular base which has an arched entrance and panel decoration. The south and other sides are relieved with imitation doorway design and paneled bands. The central tapering tower rises above and terminates in an iron shike. The four miniature corner turrets are similar to the central one and have four openings each.This variety is the most popular type of temples that flourished in Bengal in the 19th century AD.
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