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Sri Siddhi Vinayak Sits On The Ancient Throne Of Jajati Keshari

Shri SiddhiVinayak , Kali Gali , Cuttack , Odisha sits on Shri Jajati Keshari II Singhasana ( Royal Throne) 1025 – 1040.
A journey to discover this masterpiece , an ancient royal throne belonging King Jajati Keshari -II (1025-1040) in the heart of Cuttack City in Kali Gali – Shri Siddhi Vinayak Temple has been an extremely exciting and a fulfilling and enriching experience .

We came across a very detailed research paper written by Shri Deepak Bhattacharya on the Keshari Dynasty Contributions and in particular about this Royal Throne. We would like thank him for this extensive work , somehow this has not received the lime light it deserves

A Capital City for 1000 years and yes a Royal Throne very well preserved to complete the statement . And now it has an extremely well deserved occupant to keep it intact and its sanctity for years to come. This is equally an extremely proud moment for all us who are connected to the place and its history.

Shri Siddhi Vinayaka was established by Raghujee Bhonsle (1695 -1755) during Maratha rule in Orissa. Raghujee is said to have given land & financial grant . The Temple Complex has a ekaka sevayat (one family) system, having the title of Dixit of Kasyapa gotra. We met with Shri Priyajit Dixit , who is continues the family tradition.

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Heritage Tour in Summer of 2018 – A revisit of those memorable 2 day event – 2nd Day

May 20th, 2018

The 2nd day tour began with five members – Ashish , Myself , Dilip Bhai , Dipak Bhai and Shibaji Babu . Nishi and his Son had some commitments and Hitesh couldn’t continue due some important work his end . Sun was already up and hitting us hard at 7:30 am in the morning , yet the spirit in each of us was to complete the day as much as we can .  A place ensconced in a tiny village near Ansupa lake was our next attraction . 

Sri Trutitiyadeva Temple , 14th Century , Subarnapur

A surprise awaiting us was Sri Trutiyadeva Temple , 14th Century built by the Gangas , dedicated to Lord Jagannath , his brother Baldev and Sister Subhadra . A monument so far which has remained intact , despite being next to the river Mahanadi at Subarnapur Village , near Ansupa Lake . A stunning piece of Kalingan Architecture ,  Probably one of most closest replica of Jagannath temple in Puri – and very well preserved . This was perhaps the 5th temple built by Ganga Kings on the Kataka side . A Rekha vimana and pidha jagamohana of Kalingan order and very complete. Gorgeously decorated with architectural motifs such askhakharamundis in talajangha, pidhamundis in the uparajangha, and rekhamundi designs in talagarbhika. The maithuna images mostly rajapana scenes are profusely carved in the jagamohana. Animals procession, with musicians also found on the jagamohana entrance. Seeing the Triad inside the sanctum was bliss.

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Heritage Tour in Summer of 2018 – A revisit of those memorable 2 day event – 1st Day

May 19th , 2018 

Tour of Salepur & Choudwar  –  It was a morning of excitement and lots of anticipation, when collectively 8 Heritage Enthusiastic  individuals’ took and endeavour to see some of the ancient treasures of Undivided Cuttack .  The ever consuming Summer heat and yet the brave enthusiasts were simple unstoppable .  

This day will go down the memory lane as discovering rich antiquities and artefacts and building the initiative and foundation  for  Cuttack Heritage Walks .  Shri Dipak Samantarai , Shri Dilip Das, Shri Shibaji Nayak, Shri Hitesh Seth, Shri Nishikant Mohanty , Master Abhigyan Mohanty , Shri Ashish Sarangi and Myself.  An age group spread from 14 years to 72 years and what a group it was indeed.

Picture Courtesy – Sri Hitesh Seth at the ruins of Sri Dadhi Baman Temple, Gopinathpur

Our first stop – was Sri Chateswara Temple , A 13th Century built by the Gangas in Kishnapur Village near Salepur. The Stone Inscription by Shri Ananga Bhima Deva – III well kept , chronicled with the achievements and victories he made as the Ruler of Kalinga from 1211 A.D.   While he thwarted the enemies in Bengal and drove them away, he had swiftly conquered the Kalachuris in the West and built a strong alliance , expanded his Kingdom until Rajamundry in the South .  

Architecture

On the basis of a number of detached sculptures of different faiths like Saivite and Sakta, the original temple can be assigned to the Eastern Ganga dynasty rule during 12th Century AD. A miniature four- armed Vishnu, broken images of Chamunda, Surya and Buddha, Udyotasimha, Nandi, miniature temple and other architectural members.The temple is pancharatha on plan and the bada has multi-segmented horizontal mouldings in elevation. 

Sri Chateswara Temple – Stone Inscription
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Shahi Qila Masjid/Fateh Khan Rahim Masjid Qila Fort Cuttack

G Arnold Toynbee has recorded his impression regarding Barabati Qila “The great arched gateway of the eastern as Stirling calls it, and a fine old mosque called Fateh Khan Rahman, are almost the only objects of antiquarian interest which remains intact.”
Controversy surrounds the identity of the real builder of this beautiful mosque. Historians Dr K C Panigrahi and Dr Jagannath Pattnaik state that this was built by the Nawab of Bengal, Alwardi Khan in 1707 AD. Prof P K Mukherjee and Dr R P Mohapatra opine that this was built by Fateh Khan Rehman. Dr B C Roy thought that some Muslim governors of Barabati Fort might have built it.


According to Sri Kedarnath Mohapatra “the mosque within the Barabati Fort was constructed by a Faujdar, Fateh Khan Rahman”. The epitaph of the tomb of Fateh Khan inside Qudam-e-Rasool reveals that he died in Hijri year 1128 (1768-69 AD).


In 1766 AD, Lord Robert Clive, sent an English officer named Thomas Mottee to the Maratha Subedar of Sambalpur, Raja Bhawani Pandit. While navigating in river Mahanadi, he saw the impressive sight of Shahi Mosque from the other side of the river.
Most probably, the Mosque was constructed by Fateh Khan before 1767 AD. Shahi Qila Masjid resembles Jama Masjid (Balu Bazar) and Tatar Khan Masjid(Dewan Bazar) in structural design. The dates of their construction indicate these mosques were built during the reign of Nawab Shuhauddin Khan, the Nizam of Odisha. He was as per the records a pious and benevolent soul apart from being a royal dignitary.

Photographed by Sri Taranisen Patnaik


Shahi Qila Masjid was obviously built to facilitate prayers by the members of the armed forces stationed there. Time had taken a heavy toll on the mosque as well. Professor Altaf Hussain has said that the mosque remained in disuse for sometime and was used as a magazine during the British rule of Odisha as it is apparent from the two Mihrabs on the flanks which are bricked up. The State Archeological Department renovated the mosque after it was declared as a heritage monument. A Managing Committee is in charge of the upkeep of the mosque now.


Shahi Qila Masjid did have a few inscriptions which are missing now.
There is only one inscription written in Arabic containing Surah Yaseen from the Holy Quran on the wall of the place demarcated for the Imam at the centre of the prayer hall.
A beautiful landmark of the Millennium City

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GORA KABAR , Cuttack

Walk Organised by CHW on 28th February 2021

Growing CHW family –
Photo Courtesy – Kishore Bit

This Sunday (28th February ) saw an increase in the number of heritage lovers near the Barabati fort. There was intimation with many new faces who brought with them their own share of knowledge and love for Cuttack and its heritage. After a brief intro we departed for the Gora Kabar, Tulsipur , Cuttack or White Man’s Cemetery as it is famously called. We were graciously welcomed by the President and Secretary in charge of the Cuttack Odia Baptist Church that oversee the management of Gora Kabar too. After a word of blessing by the Pastor, the President made us aware of the cemetery’s rich history.

Gora Kabar Panview

 The Gora Kabar, one of the biggest and oldest cemeteries in Odisha was set up in a 5 acres land by the banks of River Mahanadi on the outskirts of city then by the East India Company (EIC) in 1822. It is mainstream knowledge that by the end of 1803, the EIC had defeated the Marathas and captured Barabati. The presence of English officials and their families became significant after this occupation. Rev. William Bampton and Rev. James Peggs were the first English General Baptists Missionaries to arrive in Cuttack in 1822. They interacted with Sundernath Baba and his disciples in his ashram at Choudwar and found that they share a common goal. Infact, Gangadhar Sarangi, a Brahmin follower of Baba was the first to accept Christianity and his baptism took place in the Mahanadi River. Slowly, the followers rose from 7 in 1822 to over 209 by 1840s and by 1890s, the Cuttack Odia Baptist Church had already become an autonomous church body.

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କଟକର ସୁଭାଷ

ମୋର ସଂପୁର୍ଣ୍ଣ ସ୍କୁଲ ଶିକ୍ଷା ରେଭେନ୍ସା କଲିଜିଏଟ୍ ସ୍କୁଲରେ। ଚତୁର୍ଥରୁ ଏକାଦଶ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ। ୧୯୬୫ ମସିହାର କଥା। ଆମକୁ ଶିକ୍ଷକମାନେ କହିଲେ ଆମ ସ୍କୁଲରେ ଗୋଟେ ସିନେମା ସୁଟିଂ ହେବ। ଆମ ବୟସ ସେତେବେଳକୁ ଆଠ/ନ‌ଅ ବର୍ଷ। ସିନେମା କ’ଣ ଜାଣି ନଥାଉ। କିନ୍ତୁ କ’ଣ ଗୋଟେ ବିଚିତ୍ର କଥା ଘଟିବାକୁ ଯାଉଛି ଭାବି ବହୁତ ଖୁସି ଥାଉ।
କିଛିଦିନ ପରେ ଦଳେ ଲୋକ ଆସି ସ୍କୁଲରେ ପହଞ୍ଚିଲେ। ଆମର ଦୁଇ ତିନି ଜଣ ଶିକ୍ଷକ ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ଶ୍ରେଣୀଗୃହ, ଖେଳ ପଡିଆ ବୁଲାଇ ଦେଖାଇଲେ। ତା’ପରେ ସେମାନେ ଆମ କ୍ଲାସକୁ ଆସି କହିଲେ କୋଉମାନେ ସିନେମା କରିବ ହାତ ଉଠାଅ। ସମସ୍ତେ ହାତ ଉପରକୁ ଟେକିଲେ।
ତାପରେ ସେମାନେ କହିଲେ କେଉଁମାନେ ଧୋତି ପଞ୍ଜାବୀ ପିନ୍ଧି ଦୌଡି ପାରିବ କୁହ। ଆମେ ସବୁ ପରସ୍ପର ମୁହଁକୁ ଚାହିଁଲୁ। ତାପରେ ଅଳ୍ପ କେତେଜଣ ହାତ ଟେକିଲେ। ଆମେ ସମସ୍ବରରେ ଆମ ଶିକ୍ଷକଙ୍କୁ କହିଲୁ “ସାର୍ ଆମେ ସିନେମା ସୁଟିଂ ଦେଖିବୁ”। “ହଁ, ଦୁରରୁ ଚୁପଚାପ୍ ଠିଆହୋଇ ଦଖିବ, ବିଲକୁଲ ପାଟିତୁଣ୍ଡ କରିବନି। ହେଡସାରଙ୍କୁ କହି କ’ଣ ଗୋଟେ ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥା କରିବା।”


ସିନେମା ସୁଟିଂ ଆରମ୍ଭ ହେଲା। ବଡ଼ ବଡ କ୍ୟାମେରା, ବଡ ବଡ ଟିଣ ଚଦର, ଛୋଟ ଛୋଟ ରେଳ ଧାରଣା ଆହୁରି ଅନେକ କେବେ ଦେଖି ନ ଥିବା ଚିଜ ଦେଖି ଆମେ ସବୁ ଆଶ୍ଚର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଚକିତ ହୋଇଗଲୁ।
ଶ୍ରେଣୀଗୃହ ଭିତରର ଦୃଶ୍ୟ, ସ୍କୁଲ ଛୁଟି ବେଳର ଦୃଶ୍ୟ ସବୁ ସୁଟିଂ ହେଲା। ହେଲେ ଚିତ୍ରଳୟବାଲା ଯେଉଁମାନଙ୍କୁ ଧୋତି ପଞ୍ଜାବୀ ପିନ୍ଧାଇ ଥିଲେ ସେଇମାନେ ହିଁ କ୍ଲାସରେ ବସିଲେ, ସ୍କୁଲ ଘଣ୍ଟି ବାଜିଲେ ଘରକୁ ଯିବା ଲାଗି ଦୌଡିଲେ।
ମୋର ବନ୍ଧୁ ପ୍ରଦୀପଙ୍କୁ (ଗରାବଡୁ) କିଛି ଛୋଟ ଛୋଟ ଭୁମିକାରେ ଅଭିନୟର ସୁଯୋଗ ମିଳିଥିବା ମୋର ମନେ ଅଛି।
ପିୟୁସ ବୋଷଙ୍କ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶିତ “ସୁବାଷ” ଚଳଚ୍ଚିତ୍ର ୧୯୬୬ ମସିହାରେ ମୁକ୍ତିଲାଭ କରିଥିଲା। ଏହି ଚଳଚ୍ଚିତ୍ରଟି ଉଭୟ ବଙ୍ଗଳା ଓ ହିନ୍ଦୀ ଭାଷାରେ ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତ ହୋଇଥିଲା। ଏବଂ ଯଥେଷ୍ଟ ଲୋକପ୍ରିୟତା ହାସଲ କରିଥିଲା।
ସୁଭାଷ ବୋଷଙ୍କ ପିଲାଦିନ ଅତି ସୁନ୍ଦର ଭାବରେ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣିତ ହୋଇଥିଲା ଏହି ଚଳଚ୍ଚିତ୍ରରେ। ଆଜି ମଧ୍ୟ ସମୀକ୍ଷକ ମାନେ ଏକଥା ସ୍ବୀକାର କରନ୍ତି।


ହଁ, କଥାଟି ହେଲା ଏହି ଚଳଚ୍ଚିତ୍ରର ସୁଟିଂ ‌ସରିବା ପରେ ‌ସୁଭାଷ ବୋଷ ଆମ ପାଇଁ ହିରୋ ପାଲଟିଗଲେ। ସ୍କୁଲ ଗେଟ ଖୋଲି ପଶିବା ମାତ୍ରେ ଡାହାଣ ପଟେ ପଡେ ସୁଭାଷ ବୋଷଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତିମୂର୍ତ୍ତି। ଏଣିକ ସେ ମୁର୍ତ୍ତି ଉପରେ ଆଖି ପଡିବାକ୍ଷଣି ଆପେ ଆପେ ହାତ ଉଠିଯାଏ ନହେଲେ ମୁଣ୍ଡ ନ‌ଇଁ ଯାଏ।
ସୁଭାଷଙ୍କ କଥା ଆମକୁ ଶିକ୍ଷକମାନେ ମଝିରେ ମଝିରେ କୁହନ୍ତି। ସେମାନଙ୍କ ସ୍ବରରେ ଅଭିମାନ ଓ ଗର୍ବ ଭରି ରହିଥାଏ। ଆମେସବୁ ତାଙ୍କ ବିଷୟରେ ଅଧିକ ଜାଣିବା ପାଇଁ ସ୍କୁଲ ପାଠାଗାରରୁ ବହି ଆଣି ପଢୁ। ସଭାସମିତିରେ ଆମନ୍ତ୍ରିତ ଅତିଥି ମାନେ ବି ତାଙ୍କ ଗାରିମା ବଖାଣନ୍ତି ଆଉ ଆମମାନଙ୍କୁ ବହୁତ ଖୁସି ଲାଗେ।
ଆମ ଘରଠାରୁ ଅଳ୍ପ ଦୂରରେ ଥିଲା ନେତାଜୀ ସେବା‌ ସଦନ।


ମୋ ‌ମାଙ୍କ ସହିତ ରିକ୍ସାରେ ବସି ସେଠିକି ଦୁଇ ତିନି ଥର ଯିବା କଥା ମନେ ଅଛି। ମା କୁହନ୍ତି ଜାଣିଚୁ ଏଇ ଘରେ ସୁଭାଷ ବୋଷ ଜନ୍ମ ହୋଇଥିଲେ। ମନଟା ଖୁସି ‌ହୋଇଯାଏ। ହେଲେ ସେଠି ବୁଲିବାକୁ ଇଛା ଥିଲେ ବି ବୁଲି ହୁଏ ନାହିଁ। ହାସପାତାଳର କଟକଣା ଆଉ ମାଙ୍କର ବାରଣ ଯୋଗୁଁ।
ଜାନକୀନାଥ ଭଵନ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ବଜାର କଟକ ଏହି ଠିକଣା ଆଜି ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ମୁହଁରେ। ନେତାଜୀଙ୍କ ଜନ୍ମସ୍ଥାନ ପାଲଟିଛି ଏକ ତୀର୍ଥସ୍ଥଳୀ। ସେଠାରେ ଗଢି ଉଠିଛି ଏକ ଭବ୍ୟ ସଂଗ୍ରହାଳୟ। ପ୍ରଦର୍ଶିତ ହେଉଛି ନେତାଜୀଙ୍କ ଦ୍ବାରା ବ୍ୟବହୃତ ‍ବିଭିନ୍ନ ସାମଗ୍ରୀ, ତାଙ୍କ ଘଟଣା ବହୁଳ ଜୀବନର ଅସଂଖ୍ୟ ଫଟୋଚିତ୍ର ଓ‌ ମୁଲ୍ୟବାନ ଦସ୍ତାବିଜ।


ନେତାଜୀଙ୍କ ଜନ୍ମସ୍ଥାନ ସଂଗ୍ରହାଳୟ ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠିତ ହେଲା ୨୦୦୪ ମସିହାରେ। ଏହା ନିଶ୍ଚିତ ଭାବେ ଏକ ଜାତୀୟ ସ୍ମାରକୀ। କନ୍ତୁ ଦୁଃଖର କଥା ଯେ ଏହି ସଂଗ୍ରହାଳୟର ଯେଭଳି ପ୍ରଚାର ପ୍ରସାର ‌ହେବାକଥା ତାହା ହେଉନାହିଁ। ପାରିପାର୍ଶ୍ବିକ ପରିସ୍ଥିତିର ଉନ୍ନତି ନ ‌ହେବା ଫଳରେ କିଛିଦିନ ଚାଲିଥିବା ଲାଇଟ ଆଣ୍ଡ ସାଉଣ୍ଡ ସୋ ଅଚଳ ହୋଇଯାଇଛି।
ନେତାଜୀ ତାଙ୍କ ବିଦ୍ୟାଳୟ ଶିକ୍ଷା ଆରମ୍ଭ କରିଥିଲେ କଟକସ୍ଥିତ ପ୍ରୋଟେଷଣ୍ଟାଟ୍ ମିଶନାରୀ ସ୍କୁଲରୁ, ୧୯୦୨ ମସିହାରେ। ସେହି ସ୍କୁଲର ନାମ ପରବର୍ତ୍ତୀ ସମୟରେ ଷ୍ଟୁଆର୍ଟ ‌ସ୍କୁଲ ହୋଇଥିଲା।

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