| Temples & Legends of Bengal |
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| Temples & Legends Of India |
THE TEMPLES IN HOOGHLY |
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| TARAKESHWAR This village in Serampore subdivision is connected both by road and railway from Calcutta. The temple of Siva about 500 yards from the railway station is famous. "This shrine consists of two parts, the sanctum and the verandah or porch in front of it. The sanctum is plain inside, with the linga in the middle. Its outside is curved like a Bengali hut and has a duplicate with three spires over it.The porch is foursided, with three arched cusped openings, and the floor has a marble pavement;it is about 25 feet square and 30 feet high, with a railing over the roof. Facing this porch is a large open hall with a roof supported by pillars and a floor paved with marble. The temple is so much surrounded by houses on all sides that no good view of it can be obtained from outside. The Mahant lives in a house to the east, and to the north of the temple is a fair-sized tank much used by pilgrims. Close by is a large bazaar, which is paved with flagstones; and near the bazaar is a fine tank." 9 The temple attracts pilgrims on all days of the week. Monday considered the day most auspicious to Siva naturally attracts a bigger crowd. Several religious festivals are held periodically. The crowds on the Sivaratri (the night of Siva) are held on the night of the fourteenth tithi of the dark fort night in the month of Phalgun (February- March). At this time a fair takes place which lasts for three days, and on the night itself a crowd of about 30,000 or more gather at the shrine. Charak Sankranti, or the last day of Chaitra,takes place at present on 13th April, which is also the last day of the Bengali year. On this day also the crowd is great. Previously people used to swing from high poles. That has now been stopped. Thousands of people who have fasted throughout the Chaitra month on the day offer their pujah to Lord Siva. The mela in this connection lasts for several days. + Bengal District Gazetteers, Hooghly, by L.S.S. O'Malley. |
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| About Temples In Hooghly | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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