Janbazar
| Janbazar | |
|---|---|
| Neighbourhood in Kolkata (Calcutta) | |
|
House of Rani Rashmoni | |
  Janbazar Location in Kolkata | |
| Coordinates: 22°34′N 88°21′E / 22.56°N 88.35°ECoordinates: 22°34′N 88°21′E / 22.56°N 88.35°E | |
| Country |
 India |
| State | West Bengal |
| City | Kolkata |
| Ward |
|
| Metro Station | Esplanade |
| Elevation | 36 ft (11 m) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| PIN | 700017 |
| Area code(s) | +91 33 |
Janbazar (Bengali: জানবাজার) is a neighbourhood in central Kolkata, earlier known as Calcutta, in the Indian state of West Bengal. The two century-old house of Rani Rashmoni, the central attraction in Janbazar, is still used by descendants in the family.
"BISWAS BARIR DURGA PUJA" Bonedi Barir Durga puja in sagardighi, Murshidabad shree Gourhori Das (Cashier of Nawab Alibordi Kha ,and also Nawab Alibordi kha gave Biswas titel for his honesty) who hails from Biswas Bari inaugarated this puja in the year 1750 and till date the 10 descendent of the family members -Shree Nandan Das Biswas, Amar Das Biswas, Goutam Das Biswas ect is carrying the tradition forward About Pratima : The pratima is made on a single katahamo and also a single chalchitra is the image of loard shiva and kali. The entire dress of the pratima is made of "Daker sajh" and also the pratima is decorated by gold and jewellary The puja : The goddess is wellcomed home at "Bodhon" .On Mahashasti the puja start with "Nabapartika Puja" . On the Maha Saptami the puja start with the " Kalabou snan" at Dighi ( which is situated near sagardighi bus stand) . On the next day "maha asthami is held. At the time of "Sandhi puja " the 108 maha pradeep is lightend by family members . The " Chandi path " and Arati is held on all three days (saptami, Asthami and Nabami) The " Maha bhog " of the puja consists of " luchi, aluvajha. chal kumror tarkari, pach tarkari without salt, narkel naru . On the next day nabami start with jogga and also held "Sidur khala" ( an important role paly " the ladies of the family) At thetime of dusk the immersion of the pratima is done with Spacility is that the pratima is taken to the "Dighi" on. the shoulders where the family members join with " Kahar " at this is considered to be holy ritual .
Geography
Janbazar is broadly spread across Ward Nos. 52 and 46 of Kolkata Municipal Corporation.[1]
The road from Chowringhee to Circular Road, about a mile long, was called Jan Bazar Road till the end of the 19th century. It was then renamed Corporation Street[2] and was further renamed Surendranath Banerjee Road.
In olden days, Kolkata streets had oil lamps. Then came the gas lamp and electricity. For sometime there was a tussle between gas lamps and electricity. In 1914, high-powered Keith lamps of 1,000 candle power were fixed on Corporation Street, and Chowringhee Road. Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation bore the cost to demonstrate the advantage of electricity.[3]
Janbazar is served by New Market Police Station of Kolkata Police.[4] The police station is located in Janbazar.
Rani Rashmoni's house
The most famous resident of Janbazar was Rani Rashmoni. Married at the age of 11 to Raj Chandra Das (Marh), the zamindar of Janbazar, she constructed Dakshineswar Kali Temple and engaged in numerous philanthropic activities.[5][6]
What is now known as Rani Rashmoni's house at the crossing of Rani Rashmoni Road and Surendranath Banerjee Road, was initially 70&71 Free School Street. Rani Rashmoni's father-in-law, Pritiram Das, started constructing this house in 1805. It took some 7–8 years to complete construction of the big house.[5]
Rasmani used to celebrate Durga Puja at her residence with traditional pomp, including all-night jatras (folk theatre), rather than by entertaining the sahibs with whom she carried on a running feud… After Rasmani's death in 1861, the sons-in-law took to celebrating Durga Puja in their respective premises. Amalnath Das, fifth generation descendant from the eldest daughter, worships his paternal forefather's Durga brought from Sinthi. One branch of the family moved across the street about a century ago and began holding their own puja. Unlike the Dases, they sacrifice seven goats. The modeller comes from Chandannagar, and the dresser from Bardhaman, The Choudhuri Babu's magnificent image wears a tall shola crown.[7]
Jaya Chaliha and Bunny Gupta
Rani Rashmoni did not have a son, she had four daughters – Padmamani, Kumari, Karunamoyee and Jagadamba. Karunamoyee died two years after her marriage. Mathuramohan Biswas, the widower, was married to Jagadamba. The house is now divided into three parts. Jagadamba's descendants live in 13 Rani Rashmoni Road, Kumari's descendants live in 18/3 Surendranath Banerjee Road, and Padmamani's descendants live in 20 Surendranath Banerjee Road.[5]
Rani Rashmoni was a pillar of strength in the male dominated society of mid-nineteenth century. Almost all the rooms of her house are occupied or are still in use. There is a natmandir in front of the verandah, where the famous Durga Puja is held. The family is finding it difficult to maintain the house and although Kolkata Municipal Corporation has declared it a heritage building, it has no funds needed for restoration.[8] Parts of the house are collapsing.[9]
Traffic
The traffic along Surendranath Banerjee Road, across Janbazar, is extremely heavy. Normally, it is a scene of chaos and when a mishap takes place, it is further chaos.[10]
Around Janbazar
Jan Bazar 2007
Hogg Street with Futnani Chambers on the left and Corporation building on the right, declared a heritage building by KMC
References
- ↑ Map nos 29 and 33, Detail Maps of 141 Wards of Kolkata, D.R.Publication and Sales Concern, 66 College Street, Kolkata – 700073
- ↑ Cotton, H.E.A., p 248
- ↑ Nair, P. Thankappan, Civic and Public Services in Old Calcutta, in Calcutta, the Living City, Vol. I, p. 231
- ↑ "New Market Police Station". Kolkata Police. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 10 August 2007.
- 1 2 3 Bandopadhyay, Debashis, Bonedi Kolkatar Gharbari, (Bengali), Second impression 2002, pp. 45-6, Ananda Publishers, ISBN 81-7756-158-8
- ↑ Deb, Chitra, The 'Great Houses' of Old Calcutta, in Calcutta, the Living City, Vol. I, p. 61
- ↑ Chaliha, Jaya and Gupta, Bunny, Durga Puja in Calcutta, in Calcutta, the Living City, Vol. II, edited by Sukanta Chaudhuri, first published 1990, 2005 edition, pp. 334-335, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-563697-X.
- ↑ "Pillars of strength, then and now". Kolkata Plus. The Statesman, 7 May 2003. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 10 August 2007.
- ↑ "Trapped in heritage cave-in - Water tank collapse linked to heavy showers". The Telegraph, 5 October 2006. Retrieved 10 August 2007.
- ↑ "9-yr-old run, mob torches 3 buses". Page One. The Statesman, 2 October 2002. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 10 August 2007.