Visiting Kalikapur Rajbari during Durga Puja amidst COVID-19

 

Our most favourite festive season is now over. Yes, this is not totally over yet. There are Kali Puja, Bhai-Dooj, Jagadhatri Puja etc. to be followed, but, the thrill of Durga Puja is nodoubtly greater than anything else.

But, this year is not like other years, there is COVID-19 pandemic going on. Due to Coronavirus, we faced a nationwide lock-down, which has affected the economy of our country; many people have lost their jobs. 

It affects our daily life; there is obvious change in our daily working, shopping, banking life. Our home now becomes new workplace. Educational institute remains closed till now.

In this scenario, when our Durga Puja was at doorstep, everyone was scared about infection spreading rate of COVID-19 during festive season. West Bengal government has to launch a guidelines as COVID-19 preventative measure for Durga Puja (as it is the biggest festival of West Bengal, so, I prefer to write on West Bengal only). My previous article also stated some steps towards the festive seasons amidst pandemic.

In this time when the graph of recovered cases from Coronavirus was downward and the graph of per day infection rate getting upward, it was a very bold decision of high court to stop the gatherings at puja pandals.

In this context, my family and me have decided to stop the pandal hopping for this year. A very different puja we lead this time without any boredom. I can’t explain, how swiftly the four days passed.

This article brings you the knowledge about three place we visited during Durga puja, specially Kalikapur Rajbari in Burdwan and Palashbasini, Dwarbasini situated in Birbhum. 

In the Durga corridor of Kalikapur Rajbari

Visiting Kalikapur Rajbari (Palace)

We have visited Kalikapur Rajbari (palace) situated at Burdwan, West Bengal, India, 26 kilometres from Bolpur (Shantiniketan) and  is a heritage place. We reached the palace by car during Saptami afternoon.  It was a great feeling.

Kalikapur Rajbari/Palace

The building is about 400 years old. It includes a Durga corridor and two terracotta Shiva temples adjacent to the palace. But, now this place is almost destroyed due to lack of maintenance. 

Shooting of many important Bengali and Hindi movies were done here, like Goynar Bakso, Noukadubi, Gosai Baganer Bhoot, Guptadhaner Sandhane etc. Beside this, shooting of Amitabh Bachhan acted film “Teen” was also done here. Durga puja is arranged mainly by the income from the movie shootings.   

Durga idol of Kalikapur Palace

About 400 years ago Paramananda Roy, dewan of King of Burdwan and proprietor of Kalikapur, build this palace for his seven sons. About 380 years ago, he started Durga Puja here.

This traditional festival continues till now by the descendants of Paramananda Roy, but the traditional glory of this festival has been decreased a bit. Majority of the family members live outside of this palace.   

Entry of Kalikapur Rajbari

It is a very beautiful place to visit, mainly during Durga Puja. You can spend 1-2 hours here. Gathering of devotees are quite generally high. But, this year, due to COVID-19 pandemic, very less crowd was seen. During our visit, there was only 5 to 6 persons.

Kalikapur Rajbari Complex

A refreshing environment, view of goddess Durga and the building with years old historic importance is surely going to amaze your mind. Don’t forget to click amazing pictures.

Here some pictures we took their:

Traditional Palki for Kolabou

Terracotta Shiva Temples

Directions

If you are coming from Kolkata, then start your journey at Panagarh-Moregram road towards Illambazar up to 11 mile bus stop, turn right towards Guskara and after some time turn left towards a soil road, there you will find the Kalikapur village.

At Palashbasini Field

Visiting Palashbasini and Dwarbasini

During Navami and Dashami, we visited Palashbasini and Dwarbasini temple in the lap of nature, near Suri, Birbhum, West Bengal, India.

Palashbasini, goddess Durga known here with another name Palasi, situated in the Fullaipur village in Birbhum district. It is a very auspicious place. During puja, it host to feed a crowd of 1000-1500 people on Vijaya Dashami.

Scenic beauty of Palashbasini is in it’s rocky environment. You will love to see the sunset from here. It is a very mesmerizing feeling. The childhood memory of my husband related to the place is a boon. 

The only small scale industry located at Fullaipur, Birbhum is the first business endeavor of my father-in-law. It consists of Husking machine, Atta Chaki, Jaggery mill, Oli extractors etc.. However, it is now owned by his friends there.

We clicked some pictures there are as follows:

Sunset at Palashbasini

Scenic beauty of Palashbasini

Visiting Dwarbasini 

Dwarbasini is also a temple situated in the jungle of Eucalyptus, Shaal, Segun. To avoid gatherings we didn’t enter the temple, just going to feel the beauty of nature.

 

                                               At Dwarbasini, in the lap of nature

These three small trips help a lot to cut out the boredom during puja. It assist to dilute the sadness of no pandal hopping this time. It works for me like a magic. If you like it then comments below and do visit this places for one time.

*All pictures are captured by me and Kuntal

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