Hooghly Trip, 18 December, 2022

CSSS – Bengal Peace Centre is an initiation of AAMRA EK SACHETAN PRAYAS working for the victims of riot in Bhatpara, North 24 Paraganas.  Since our inception, it is our objective to know diversity and to promote multiculturalism in our society. We believe that, India is a country with a basic unity, but of great variety in language, culture, custom, religion, tradition. To know your neighbour, you need to know their culture. You have to know the diversity of their architecture, food habits, clothes and greetings. This trip to Hooghly is the continuation of our programme, ‘Know your India: Know Diversity’.

 Hooghly Imambara

Hooghly Imambara (1841) is a Shia Muslim congregation hall and mosque. It was founded by great Bengali educationist Haji Muhammad Mahasin. He also established Hooghly Mahasain College and played pivotal role in great Bengal famine of 1770. This Imambara is famous for its vaunted clock and also Sun-clock. Young participants got knowhow from Debasish Paul about Sun-clock. He said that sun-clock tells the time of day by the position of the shadow of some object exposed to the sun’s rays. As a philanthropist, Mahasin had done revolutionary work in contemporary Bengal; spread of education among the Muslim was his priority of work, Debasis Paul elaborated.

Hangseshwari Temple and Ananta Basudeb Temple

 

Hangseshwari temple (1802) is located in the industrial town of Bansberia, here deity is Kali according to Hindu mythology. The temple is renowned for its unique ratna architecture. Ananta Basudeb Temple (1679) is a temple of lord Krishna, this temple is noted for its exquisite terracotta works. Here terra cotta works depict different stories from the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. Local guide elaborates its history. Subha Protim mentioned about Terracotta Mosque of Hooghly at Adi Saptagram. Unique Terracotta pattern in Temple and Mosque shows our eternal tradition of coexistence, he added.

Bandel Church

Bandel Church (1599) or Basilica of the Holy Rosary is one of the oldest Christian churches in Bengal. It stands as a memorial to the Portuguese settlement in Bengal. This Church became nice-looking for its clock tower, church cross and for the statue of the virgin Marry. On a visit to Bandel shrine our youths saw popular Christian saints like Mother Teresa, Don Bosco, St Joseph, St Francis Xavier, St Ignatius of Layola, St Augustine. We got this history from a representative of Prior of Bandel Church. Children and youths of this trip took written notes from his conversation.

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