Dhakeshwari Mata Temple, Kumortuli, Hindu temple in Kumortuli, Kolkata, India
Dhakeshwari Mata Temple is a Hindu temple in Kumortuli, Kolkata that houses a sacred statue of Devi Durga with ten arms. The figure depicts the goddess riding a lion, surrounded by representations of Laxmi, Saraswati, Kartik, and Ganesh as accompanying deities.
The temple was founded after the sacred Devi Durga statue was transported from Dhakeshwari Temple in Dhaka to Kolkata during the 1947 Partition of India. The new temple was completed by 1950, marking an important moment in the continuity of worship after displacement from Bangladesh.
The temple observes Northern Indian Navratri rituals rather than traditional Bengali Durga Puja celebrations, maintaining distinct worship practices within Kolkata. This difference is visible in how visitors experience the seasonal festivals here, which follow a different rhythm than the major Durga Puja events across the city.
The temple is managed by the Tiwari family from Azamgarh who conduct daily worship services, continuing a long tradition of devotion. Visitors should know they are entering an active place of worship with regular rituals performed at specific times.
Before the current temple building was constructed, the sacred statue resided in the home of Debendranath Chowdhury for several years after arriving from Bangladesh. This period of refuge in a private household is a lesser-known chapter in the sanctuary's journey.
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