Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[name] => Dhakeshwari National Temple
[post_id] => 1455
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/dhakeshwari-national-temple/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Dhakeshwari-National-Temple-3-300x225.jpg
[post_content] =>
Dhakeshwari National Temple is a Hindu temple in Dhaka city. It is state-owned, giving it the distinction of being Bangladesh's 'National Temple'. The name "Dhakeshwari" means "Goddess of Dhaka". Since the destruction of Ramna Kali Mandir in 1971 by the Pakistan Army during the Bangladesh Liberation War, the Dhakeshwari Temple has assumed status as the most important Hindu place of worship in Bangladesh.
The Dhakeshwari temple was built in the 12th century by Ballal Sen, a king of the Sena dynasty, and many say the city was named after this temple. The current architectural style of the temple cannot be dated to that period because of the numerous repairs, renovations and rebuilding which have taken place over time. It is considered an essential part of Dhaka's cultural heritage. Many researchers said that the temple is also one of the Shakti Peethas, where the jewel from the crown of the Goddess Satihad fallen. Although there is not enough historical context to establish this as a fact, researchers were directed to this site while trying to locate the particular Shakti Peetha. Since ages, the temple has been held in great importance. The original 800-year old statue was taken to Kumartuli, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. There remains the replica of original idol in Dhaka. The temple was further damaged during the Muslim mob attacks of 1989–90.
It is widely believed that the Queen, wife of King Bijoy Sen, went to Langolbond for bathing. While coming back, she gave birth to a son, known to historians as Ballal Sen. After ascending to the throne, Ballal Sen built this temple to glorify his birthplace. Legends say that Ballal Sen once dreamt of the deity covered under the jungle. Ballal Sen uncovered the deity from there and built a temple, named for Dhakeswari. Whatever the legends describe, Hindu religious consider Dhakeswari to be the presiding deity of Dhaka, which is an incarnation or form of Goddess Durga the Adi Shakti . The idol of Durga is called Dhakeswari.
Within the premises of the Dhakeswari there are temples of two types of architecture. The ancient one is of the Poncharotna Goddess Durga’s which lost its actual look after the renovation work. Bradly Bird wrote this at the beginning of this century. The present temple is two hundred years old which was built by an agent of East India Company. Most probably he had renovated the temple. Other than this there are four Shib Temples. According to hearsay, in the 16th century King Mansing built these temples by laying four Shib Lingas there. But this information seems to be unreliable. The fusion of Bangla chowchala and shikor temple is notice in the architecture of Dhakeshawri. Ratan Lal Chakraborti in an article mentioned that “ the structure and architecture of it is like a BuddhistPagoda”. He opined that it was probably a Boddist pagoda which was turned into a Hindu temple later. From this, he assumed that the temple was probably built in the 10th century.
How did Dhakeshari temple look like in the 19th century? Ridoynath Majumder described about the temple. At that time the temple was covered by jungle and in its north the Urdu road went westward towards Pilkhana and at its south west was Mirpur road. At its south there was a wood and Urdu bazaar was at the east.
)
[1] => Array
(
[name] => Gouri Moth
[post_id] => 18737
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/gouri-moth/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_20150906_105800133.jpg
[post_content] =>
Gouri Moth (a sacred place dedicated to the culture of Krishna lifestyle) was established in 1943 in Barodia, Kalia, Narail. After a couple of renovations, it is still there to welcome the devotees of Lord Srikrishno. There are some other Gourio moths in entire Bangladesh too. The most prominent one is in Dhaka at Narinda/Wari area.
In 1943, Turyaswami established the original temple after which he put the idol of Radha-Krishno in it. In 1971, during the liberation war of Bangladesh, Pakistani Army destroyed almost everywhere temple in Bangladesh but luckily the Narail area was a base of Bangladeshi Freedom Fighters so that they did not manage to destroy the temple. However, the temple needed renovation, so another Guru (religious preacher) Santo Goswami made a reconstruction of the temple complex.
25 years ago, from Rajstan (India), a White Shiv Lingam has bought in here. Now it is a Shiv Temple too and people come to worship the lingam. It is made of White Marble which is only one of the tenth of its entire criterion in Bangladesh. To see another marble made white Shiv lingam, you need to visit the Rajshahi Barenda Museum or Khulna Divisional Museum.
Few years back, idol of new Radha-Krishno was brought into this temple as well. So, now the temple looks almost as a new structure but many people did not know that it is a historical place and also a heritage sight of Bangladesh especially for the hindu religious people. It is basically a Krishna Temple that means they worship Krishna mainly. In every year during the eve of Krishna's Birthday (Jonmastomi) they arrange a three days program to celebrate it. About 1000 local Hindu people attends the dinner (bhog/prosad) and they sings the holy krishna songs for the entire night.
)
[2] => Array
(
[name] => Joy Kalibari Temple
[post_id] => 18211
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/joy-kalibari-temple-2/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Joy-Kalibari-Temple9-300x225.jpg
[post_content] =>
Joy Kalibari Temple, one of the oldest temples in Natore, is located in Natore Sadar Upazila at Lalbazar area. This temple is approximately 300 years old, was built around the beginning of 18th century by Dayaram (দয়ারাম) Roy (1680-1760), the great and influential Dewan of Queen Bhabani (1716-1795) of Natore and the establisher of Dighapatia Royal Family. This temple has 2 buildings. Alongside the main building, in the right, there is a Shiv Mandir. Every weekend, people from all over the district come to this historical and beautiful temple to worship and pay their respects. There are various religious occasions like Durga Puja, Kali Puja etc. which are being celebrated here every year with much pomp and splendor.
)
[3] => Array
(
[name] => Gopinath Jiu Mondir
[post_id] => 22029
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/gopinath-jiu-mondir/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/P_20151017_160733_1_p-169x300.jpg
[post_content] => {:en}In 1900, Kushtia belonged to Jessor District and ruled by Maharaja Pramath Vushan Debroy. He donated a land on where local business people built the Gopinath Jiu Temple. The Rath-yatra and Mela (fair) started to occur from 1905 in memory of the beloved wife of Maharaja Devroy. 7 years after that, a local rich businessman named Makhan Roy funded to made a large Rath (Replica of Mythical vehicle) made out of Brass. At that time, this was the only and largest Metal made Rath among the whole Indian subcontinent. The Rath is still placed inside the Temple and many people come here to visit the historical Rath. In 2015, a renovation work of the temple began.{:}{:bn}কুষ্টিয়া শহরে ১৯০০ সালে যশোর জেলার নলডাঙ্গার মহারাজা প্রমথ ভূষণ দেবরায় কর্তৃক দানকৃত জমির উপর স্থানীয় ব্যবসায়ীদের চাঁদার টাকায় এ মন্দিরটি নির্মাণ করা হয়। ১৯০৫ সালে মহারাজা প্রমথ ভূষণ দেব তার স্ত্রীর স্মৃতি রক্ষার্থে বর্তমান রথখোলা গোপীনাথ জিওর মন্দির ও রথের মেলা প্রচলন করেন। ১৯১৩ সালে ধনী ব্যবসায়ী মাখন রায় অপূর্ব কারুকার্য খচিত বিরাট আকৃতির একটি পিতলের রথ নির্মাণ করে দেন যা সমগ্র ভারতবর্ষের একমাত্র রথ ছিল।{:}
)
)
