Shri Laxminarayan Temple, Kolkata
Shri Laxminarayan Temple, Bhawanipur, Kolkata is a Hindu temple located in South Kolkata at Sarat Bose Road in Bhawanipore locality Kolkata. It was established in 1952 by Gujarati Vaishnav community of town. The temple houses deities of Lakshmi Narayana, Rama - Sita - Lakshmana and Shiva Lingum in main Garbhagriha. Also there are idols of Hanumanji, Ganesha in side panel.[1][2][3][4]
The temple complex also houses Dharamshala offering budget lodging facilities and also has large hall, which they offer at rent for functions like social meeting, marriage and religious discourse and ceremonies. It is managed by a non-profit charitable trust founded by Gujarati diaspora of town.[5]
In 1950 the Gujarati Vaishnav community had organized a Bhagavata Purana discoursed by Dongre Maharaj in Calcuuta, in which a lot of funds was collected as way of donation.[5] The people wanted that funds should be used for religious purpose only. Chhagan Bapa, a noted social worker from Gujarati community, who at that time lived in town, advised that a temple be built from these money.[5] He took further initiative to collect more funds and to lay the foundation of trust and to buy land for temple.[5]
In later years Gujarati people donated more money to build the Dharamshala and community hall.[5] This complex built within the temple campus was founded in 1978 and was named in memory of Chhagan Bapa, as Chhagan Bapa Athithi Gruh[5]
In same year in 1978, Shrimad Sudhindra Thirtha Swamiji camped in Lakshmi Narayan Temple Guest House and organised discourse, thus bringing together South Indians living in Calcutta to come together to bring an association for themselves[6][5] Ever since many religious discourse have been held here and many saints have visited the temple.[5]
During elections temple is popular place to hold election rally to address Gujarati people who have significant population in Bhawanipur area of Kolkata.[3][7]
Gujarati people of city organize their traditional Dandiya Raas an Garba every year in Navratri started in late 1950s in the temple campus keeping alive their tradition.[8] Also every year on eve of Hindu New Year the community assembles to greet each other on new year.
The complex also houses a canteen, which serves purely vegetarian Gujarati cuisine only.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "লক্ষ্মী-নারায়ণ মন্দিরে গিয়ে আরতি মমতার". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd (in Bengali). Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^ "CM Mamata offers prayers at Laxmi Narayan Mandir in Bhabanipur". Yahoo News. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Bengal: Mamata Banerjee campaigns in poll-bound Bhabanipur, visits temple | Indiablooms - First Portal on Digital News Management". Indiablooms.com. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^ "मस्जिद के बाद दीदी की मंदिर में दस्तक: गैर बंगालियों के बीच कहा- हिंदुस्तान को तालिबान नहीं बनने देंगे". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Natwarlal Devram Jethwa (1998) Diary of Golden Days at Jharia – A Memoir & History of Gurjar Kashtriya Samaj of Kutch in Coalfields of Jharia. Raja Pawan Jethwa (ed.). Calcutta. Lifesketch - ShriChhaganlal Karamshi Parekh (1894-1968) page.28
- ^ Nair, P. Thankappan (2004). South Indians in Kolkata: History of Kannadigas, Konkanis, Malayalees, Tamilians, Telugus, South Indian Dishes, and Tippoo Sultan's Heirs in Calcutta. Punthi Pustak. pp. 98, 103. ISBN 978-81-86791-50-9. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^ "मस्जिद के बाद दीदी की मंदिर में दस्तक: गैर बंगालियों के बीच कहा- हिंदुस्तान को तालिबान नहीं बनने देंगे". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^ "Innovation with tradition: Kolkata's expansive Garba culture". www.telegraphindia.com. The Telegraaph India. Retrieved 17 December 2023.