Indian PM Shri Narendra Modi worships Ma Kali at "Jeshoreshwari" Bangladesh

It lasted only 14 days ~ in the battle of Padma, nearer Jessore, Squadron leader Kumar gets ejected from his fighter aircraft and lands in an area, with full presence of Paki military.  Pak committing atrocities on locals takes custody of Indian Squadron leader.  He is tortured by Capt. Mohammad Sultan of Pak army, in whose veins hatred against India runs.  When Pak surrenders – Sultan takes Kumar out, and shoots him in his stomach, minutes later, he is arrested by advancing Indian troops who provide medical aid to Sultan .. .. that is ’14 naatkal’ [14 days] novel of Sujatha, depicting the Bangla war  in the eyes of a Pilot commander.

 

Bangladesh on Wednesday kickstarted the golden jubilee celebrations of independence from Pakistan, along with the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation 'Bangabandhu' Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The South Asian nation is organising a 10-day programme till March 26 to mark its liberation from Pakistan after the 1971 war.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji  is on a two-day visit to Bangladesh participating in a wide range of programmes aimed at furthering cooperation between the two countries.  On Friday, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi,   recalled that he had participated in a satyagraha for the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971. Delivering a speech in Dacca, Modi said the satyagraha for Bangladesh was one of his first protests and revealed that he had been arrested for it. .. .. and in a hasty tweet where his mind voice became louder – Congress Sashi Tharoor admonished Nation’s PM.  A day after slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his speech in Bangladesh, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor today took to Twitter again aplogising that he doesn't mind admitting when he is wrong.  That is politics of hate and this is no political post !

 

Worshipping Ma Kali is famous in Bengal.  Kalighat Kali Temple is a very famous temple in Kolkata and  is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas. Kalighat was a Ghat (landing stage) sacred to Kali on the old course (Adi Ganga) of the Hooghly river (Bhāgirathi) in the city of Kolkata. The name Kolkata is said to have been derived from the word Kalikata devi of Kalighat Temple. The river over a period of time has moved away from the temple. The temple is now on the banks of a small canal called Adi Ganga which connects to the Hooghly. The Adi Ganga was the original course of the river Hooghly. Hence the name Adi (original) Ganga.

There is another famous Kali temple in Calcurtta.  Dakshineswar Kali Temple is a navaratna temple located at Dakshineswar. Situated on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, the presiding deity of the temple is Bhavatarini, a form of Kali, otherwise known as Adishakti Kalika.  The temple was built in 1855 by Rani Rashmoni, a philanthropist and a devotee of Kali. The temple is known for its association with Ramakrishna and Ma Sarada Devi, mystics of 19th Century Bengal. The temple compound, apart from the nine-spired main temple, contains a large courtyard surrounding the temple, with rooms along the boundary walls. There are twelve shrines dedicated to Shiva —along the riverfront, a temple to Radha-Krishna, a bathing ghat on the river, a shrine dedicated to Rani Rashmoni. 'Nahabat', the chamber in the northwestern corner just beyond the last of the Shiva temples, is where Ramakrishna and Maa Sarada spent a considerable part of their lives.

Across the border there is another famous Kali temple – “Jeshoreshwari Kali Temple” located in Ishwaripur, a village in Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira. The name "Jeshoreshwari" means "Goddess of Jeshore".

Jeshoreshwari is regarded as one of the 51 Peeth of Sati;  it is where the various parts of Sati's body are said to have fallen. Jeshoreshwari represents the site where the palm of Sati fell. Legend says that the General of Maharaja Pratapaditya discovered a luminant ray of light coming from the bushes, and came upon a piece of stone carved in the form of a human palm. Later, Pratapaditya started worshiping Kali, building the Jeshoreshwari Kali Temple. As to be the "Goddess of Jessore", it was named after Jessore. The occurrence  of Daksha yaga and Sati's self-immolation is the story behind the origin of Shakti Peethas. Shakti Peethas divine places or holy abode of the Mother Goddess(Parashakti).   The Shakti of this shrine is addressed as Jeshoreshwari and Bhairava as Chanda.

It is believed to have created by a brahman named Anari. He created a 100-door temple for the Jeshoreshwari Peeth. But the timeline is not to be known. Later it has been renovated by Lakshman Sen and Pratapaditya in their reigning periods. Before 1971, there was a daily routine of worship. Every year on the day of Kali puja, the present Caretakers of the temple conduct a ceremony.   

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited  the Jessoreswari Kali Temple in Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira  and offered worship. Shyamnagar was being decorated around the arrival of Modi in this historical temple located in Ishwaripur of the upazila.  This is the first visit of a head of government of any country to Shyamnagar, though ministers and dignitaries from different countries have visited Jessoreshwari Kali Mandir before.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is on a two-day visit to Bangladesh visited Jeshoreshwari Kali temple today and  prayed for the human race to get rid of COVID-19 as early as possible. PM Modi also stated that he got the opportunity to visit one of the 51 Shaktipeeths and feels fortunate to visit the goddess just ahead of the Chaitra Navratri. Talking to ANI, PM Modi said, "After few weeks Chaitra Navratri will start. Before the start of this holy festival, I am fortunate enough to visit one of the 51 shaktipeeths.  When I visited Bangladesh in 2015, I got the opportunity to seek blessings from Ma Dhakeshwari."

PM Modi on his visit to Jeshoreshwari Kali temple was seen wearing a mark as he was welcomed in the temple, which was renovated on the occasion of his visit. He also offered a hand-made, gold-plated silver crown to the deity. "A number of devotees come here during Kaali Puja. So a multi-purpose community hall is needed here, which can become a shelter house during any disaster, especially cyclone. The Indian government will construct a community hall here. I express my gratitude to the Bangladesh government that it has also wished us well for this work," added PM Modi.  

On his second day in Bangladesh, PM Modi is also scheduled to visit Gopalganj's Orakandi temple. The Orakandi temple is home to hundreds of the Hindu Matua community, most of them being Indian residents. PM Modi on Thursday had said in a statement, "I am particularly looking forward to my interaction with representatives of the Matua community at Orakandi, from where Sri Sri Harichandra Thakur Ji disseminated his pious message." 

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
27.3.2021.

  

Durga Pooja 2020 ~ Kolkata and elsewhere

                     Needles and thimbles do not seem to serve their purpose anymore. Red, blue and green threads no longer appear vibrant. Sequins and zari do not shimmer. For artisans and karigars, life isn't as colourful as it was prior to the coronavirus pandemic. For those artisans, there is no work from home !   

The most  prominent feature of Durga Puja celebration is the gorgeous Pandal or Durga dalan in which the worship is conducted.  Durga Puja is meant for public worship, in which a large number of people participate. Its rituals and paraphernalia are quite expensive.  Formerly only kings and aristocratic families could afford to celebrate such public worship.  But in modern times Durga Puja is done through organized community effort.  People of a locality or street form a celebration committee, take collections and put up the imposing pandal. Sadly that too is affected by Covid 19 pandemic.  This is the time when Kolkata turns totally different – a bakth State.  A visit to Kalighat Temple is a must !

a photo taken during an earlier visit to Calcutta nearer famous Kali Temple

not during Durga Puja but during normal days ! 

Autumn (Sharat) is regarded as one of the best seasons in India.  The sun is on his southward journey and, as his blazing rays begin to slant, the subcontinent feels freedom from the oppressive heat of summer months.  The monsoon has infused new life into trees, shrubs, creepers, herbs, grass, moss and lichen; and Gaia, the Earth Goddess, shows herself off in her richly embroidered green apparel of lush vegetation everywhere.   In the villages there is a look of plentitude and peace.  The granaries are aplenty with freshly garnered grain, the fields offer large open spaces with cattle grazing here and there, and along the borders of fields one can see rows of white and light pink kashphool(flowers of a kind of tall grass) tassels waving triumphantly in the breeze.  Overhead, the sky is deep blue with an occasional white cloud sailing across lazily to an unknown destination.  A kind of mystic silence pervades the air, broken only by the laughter of children playing here and there.  It is as if Nature has prepared herself for the advent of the Divine Mother.  Indeed, which other season can be a better one to welcome the Divine Mother than autumn? And Durga Puja is about the advent of the Divine Mother.

Worship of the Divine Mother is one of the oldest forms of worship known to humanity.  In prehistoric times, God was worshipped as the Divine Mother all over the world.  Though evidences exist of the  Mother Worship in  different places in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia; in our Maha Barath,  Mother worship is beyond the framework of a cult and became a full-fledged living religion supported by an advanced theology, scriptures, rites, customs and festivals which are followed by millions of people even in modern times.  And in Bengal, worship of God as Mother attained the highest form of a cultural refinement and ritual sophistication, and became the dominant faith and practice of the people.

The nine days from the first day after the new moon (known as Mahalaya) in the Indian month of Ashwin to the 9th day constitute the festival of Navaratri which is observed all over India.  During this period, the Divine Mother is worshipped in some form or other.  The majority of Hindus who cannot conduct such worship at home visit Mother's temple in their locality after taking bath and putting on new clothes.  The tenth day is known as Dassera.   The most striking aspect of Durga Puja is the image of the Divine Mother as Mahishasura-mardini.  Here the Divine Mother is seen as having ten arms, each wielding a weapon.  Once the image is consecrated, and the Deity is invoked in it, it undergoes a transfiguration.  It is no longer a clay image but the living Goddess, radiating power, knowledge, love and joy, the benign Mother of the Universe who has come to bless Her children and to assure them of Her love, help and protection.

Though the primary goddess revered during Durga puja is Durga, the celebrations also include other deities of Hinduism including Goddess Lakshmi Devi; Saraswathi Devi, Ganesha. The festival is preceded by Mahalaya, which is believed to mark the start of Durga's journey to her natal home. Primary celebrations begin on the sixth day (Shasthi), on which the goddess is welcomed with rituals. The festival ends on the tenth day (Vijaya dashami), when devotees embark on a procession carrying the worshipped clay sculpture-idols to a river, or other water body, and immerse them, symbolic of her return to the divine cosmos and her marital home with Shiva in Kailash.  Over the years, Durga puja has become an inseparable part of Indian culture with innumerable people celebrating this festival in their own unique way while pertaining to tradition.

Year 2020 has dawned differently and is yet to sync with the other normal years. The Durga Puja celebrations are muted yet .. ..

The Government of Jharkhand issued guidelines to be followed for the observance of Durga Puja and Dussehra in the view of Covid-19. According to guidelines, at any given point of time, there shall not be more than seven persons including organizers, priests and support staff present in any Durga Puja Pandal/Mandap.  Issuing guidelines, the state government said that Durga Puja will be permitted this year only at homes, temples and small pandals without public participation.

                 As opposed to the previous news of Durga Puja celebrations being held in abeyance, the Uttar Pradesh government has now allowed the festivities to continue but in strict accordance with the issued COVID-19 norms. The government officials on Thursday publicized the 're-open' guidelines, which includes the provisions of public celebrations and gatherings. This further means that Durga Puja, Ramleela, political activities, elaborate marriage functions and so on, will be allowed in the state.  Of course the main attraction is West Bengal.

Reports suggest that Durga Puja will be a restrained and staggered affair in West Bengal this year. In an attempt to curb the Covid-19 spread during Durga Puja, the West Bengal government has banned cultural programmes at puja pandals and has urged the organisers to stagger the festivities over additional days so that people can participate while maintaining social distancing.

Here is a look at West Bengal govt guidelines for Durga Puja 2020:

Spacious open pandals: The state government has directed all organisers to ensure that puja pandals are spacious and are open from all sides, with separate entry and exit points for visitors.

Masks and hand santisers: The organisers will have to ensure that all visitors wear masks at all times and use hand santisers before entering the puja pandal. The organisers will have to distribute masks and santisers in the close vicinity of the pandal for people who might have come to puja without one.

Decongested rituals: Puja organisers have been asked to stagger rituals so that people can attend in smaller groups. The priests will use microphone while reciting prayers to ensure people can hear them while maintaing social distancing. Visitors have also been encouraged to bring their offerings like flowers from home to avoid crowds at stalls near pandals.

No cultural programme: The government has banned cultural programmes inside or near the puja pandals.

No carnival: The state government has cancelled the state carnival this year and has banned any fair or carnival near the pandals.

Spacing out festivities over larger number of days: The government has suggested that puja organisers can plan to space out festivities over a larger of number of days to ensure that all rituals can be carried out with small crowds. Puja committees should make necessary advance planning that facilitates visit Puja pandals from Tritia itself, the state government guidelines said.

Low-key award judging: The government guidelines advocate for virtual judging of pandals. But if there has to be a physical visit by the judges then the number will have to be limited. Maximum two cars of the judging party can visit the pandal at a time.

Emphasis one electronic and social media: The state government, in its guidelines for Durga Puja 2020, has asked the organisers to use electronic and social media as far as possible to reach out to devotees, curbing the need for them to visit pandals.

Low-key inaugurations and immersions: The government has asked participants to keep inauguration a minimalist affair with no pomp and grandeur. For immersion, the organisers will have to follow pre-allotted ghat timings. The Durga idols will have to be taken directly to the ghat without any stopovers.

Online permission: The state government has directed concerned departments to make permission -obtaining procedures online.

To facilitate puja in a Covid restricted environment, the Mamta Banerjee government has offered a slew of benefits for the puja committees.   Lest you forget 2021 is going to be an election year in West Bengal and .. ..

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced multiple benefits including waivers for puja organising committees ahead of Durga Puja as the coronavirus pandemic continues to dampen the festive mood in the state. From giving free fire brigade services to granting permissions to puja organisers for next few years, Mamata Banerjee has announced several benefits for the puja committees ahead of assembly elections next year. She has also announced massive waivers on the electricity and municipal taxes.  Mamata Banerjee said, "I can do 3 things on my part. I can understand your situation. Getting sponsorships might be tough this year. This is a bad situation. The puja committees are in great trouble. Fire brigade would be free, corporation or panchayat would not be taking any taxes.” “CESC would be 50 per cent free, even West Bengal Electricity supply corporation would be 50 per cent free. The places that haven’t been getting permission for 10 years now to hold puja but are suited, I will ask the police to permit them. I know the puja committees are facing a lot of problems. We provide basic help to you every year. But since this year the problems are deeper, Rs 50,000 would be paid to all the puja committees from the state government,” Banerjee added.

Mamata  also announced that civil workers will get three lakh pension after retirement and added that around 81,000 hawkers in the city will be given Rs 2,000.  “The hawkers are very poor. We have got a list of 81,000 hawkers. (During) During puja we have decided to pay the families of those hawkers with Rs 2,000 each so that their children can buy new clothes for the puja."  

Lashing out against Mamata, BJP’s Bengal in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya tweeted: “Mamta government took special care of madrasas and clerics for 9 years! But, in the tenth year, she started remembering Mother Durga and the priest (Brahmin)! It is also true that people remember god at the end!”

Jai Kali, Jai Durga Mata ~ Happy Durga Puja Celebrations 

with regards – S. Sampathkumar
2.10.2020.