Smita's Kolkata Chronicles

The deity of Kali is almost synonymous to the city of Kolkata (Calcutta) so much so that the Goddess is affectionately referred to as Kali Kolkatta-wali . Her presence is felt all over the city as a guardian deity since ancient times. She is revered for her fierce appearance while her feminine maternal form imparts a feeling of security. The multitude of stories about Shiva and Shakti is endless in Hindu mythology. Kolkata is one of the 51 Shakti peeths . Her various forms have been mentioned in folklores and literature as well. The legacy of Dakat Kali or The One worshipped by the Bandits has been immortalized in the literary work Devi Chaudhurani by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. One also finds mention about the ferocious form worshipped by Kapaliks and Tantriks in the novel Kapalkundala by the same author. Preaching by saints like Ramprasad Sen and later by Sri Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa invoked the feeling of protective maternal form rather than her atrocious nature. A popular g...

The Sabarna Roy Choudhury family of Barisha boasts to be one of the oldest families of Kolkata famed for leasing the villages of Sutanuti and Gobindopur to the East India Company . They are linked with pioneering events in Kolkata such as construction of first road, pucca house , observance of first Durga Puja, construction of Kalighat Temple Complex .  The family lineage can be traced back to Maharshi Sabarno whose descendent Sage Vedagarbha settled in Bengal region in 10 th   century accepting invitation of King Adishura . The ‘Saborno’ Gotro of the family and the ‘Roy Choudhury’ title obtained later now defines the lineage as ‘Sabarna Roy Choudhury’. Later descendants adopted the title Gangopadhyay. Panchanan Gangopadhyay , was a skilled warrior, employed as a General in Mughal Emperor Humayun’s army . He won battles for the emperor, notably those with Bengal Chieftain Sher Shah Suri, and was thus awarded the title ‘Shakti Khan’ or the powerful and Jaigirdari of 85 villa...

District Judge Court, the longest building in West Bengal  St. John the Baptist Church was built in 1695–1697 . It is the second oldest Christian church in  Bengal , and the oldest Armenian church in India. The Dutch Cemetery

According to legends, dacoits attacked a household and were temporarily blinded by the ferocious Goddess Kali, the worshipped ancestral deity. On the next morning, these dacoits prayed for their lives to the head of the family. Upon being sprayed by sacred water they regained their eyesight. This household is known as Ramananda Bati , located at Ilipur area, Seakhala panchayat, Jangipara Bidhan Shabha of Hugli District, West Bengal.  Kali pujo is being performed with much grandeur for the past 560 years. People throng from near and far in huge numbers during this auspicious occasion.  The Maharaja of Burdwan was taken seriously ill on his visit to village Kashipur (present day Cossipore). He was miraculously cured by Kabiraj (Ayurvedic doctor) Kalika Thakurani. The King gifted him a huge plot of land including 7 ponds. Thus, the house is also known as Kabiraj bati till today.  The land was dedicated to Mother Kali and is not owned by any person, a concept commonly known...