Tag: OdishaTourism

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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 – 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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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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Cuttack Heritage Walks November Edition

Cuttack Heritage Walks November edition started off with large gathering of History and Heritage enthusiasts . The history and glory of Barabati fort was shared by Shri Dipak Samantarai and Shri Anil Dhir , the members proceeded to Madhusmriti . Shri Samantarai passionately shared the some of the rare moments and sacrifices of Utkala Gauraba Shri Madhusudan Das , who played the most pivotal role in formation of Odisha. Very interactive sessions the members and speakers , the spirited young generations taking more interest in our rich heritage is a silver lining and a prudent hope.

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CHW Website Launched

Proving our apprehensions wrong, about thirty participants gathered for restarting the suspended Walk after a forced hiatus of six months. A clean warm Autumn sky welcomed them all. The enthusiasm was truly infectious.

Picture Courtesy by Kishore Bit

It happened to be the World Tourism Day (27th September 2020). Sri Subash Singh, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, launched the much awaited website of Cuttack Heritage Walks. http://www.cuttackheritage.com Inaugurating the website, Sri Singh said that the cause of heritage and history of the Millennium City is going to get a boost through this site. He observed that Cuttack Heritage Walks is playing a very important role in creating awareness amongst the youngsters towards heritage and should function as a pressure group.

Thanking him for gracing the occasion and doing the honours, Dr Dipak Samantarai presented Sri Singh a beautiful photograph of the iconic gate of Barabati Fort. The photograph has been clicked by a member of Cuttack Heritage Walks, Sri Bikash C Das.

Picture Courtesy by Bikash C Das
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ସ୍ଵାଗତ

ଆପଣଙ୍କୁ ସ୍ଵାଗତ କରୁଛୁ ଆମର ଏହି ନୂତନ ମଞ୍ଚକୁ। ବାରବାଟୀର ଡାକ ଆଜି ବିକଳ ଶୁଭୁଚି। ଓଡ଼ିଆ ସୌଯ୍ୟ ବୀର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଓ ଗୈାରବର ପ୍ରତୀକ ବାରବାଟୀ ସହ୍ୟ କରୁଛି ପ୍ରଚଣ୍ତ ‌ହତାଦର। ରାଜ ଉଆସ ଗଡଖାଇ ମନ୍ଦିର ସବୁକିଛି ମ୍ଲାନ ଓ ନିଷ୍ପ୍ରଭ। ଆସନ୍ତୁ ଐତିହ୍ୟ ହଜି ଯିବା ପୁର୍ବରୁ ସଚେତନ ଭାବେ ତାର ଦାୟିତ୍ବ ନେବା। ଅମା ଅନ୍ଧାର ଘୋଟି ଆସିବା ପୁର୍ବରୁ ଆସନ୍ତୁ ଦୀପଟିଏ ଜଳାଇବା। ବାରବାଟୀର ଡାକ ଶୁଣିବା।ଉଚ୍ଚାରଣ କରିବା ” ତମସୋ ମାଂ ଜ୍ୟୋତିର୍ଗମୟ”!

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Cuttack Heritage Walks , 6th Edition

On the occasion of Deepabali CHW promised to retrieve the light of our heritage and history from the darkness of ignorance and indifference. After covering the gems within the Barabati Fort we went to Christ Collegiate School, a dilapidated imperial structure of 1883 vintage. Our posts will tell you the pathetic story in instalments.

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500 Years Durga Puja History in Kataka (Cuttack)

Binod Bihari (Balu Bazaar) Chandi Medha – In the narrow by lanes of Binod Bihari near Naya Sarak ,Katata (Cuttack) , It is said that in the year 1512 to 1517 AD Chaitanya Deva had come to Cuttack, the capital of Gajapati Empire of Odisha and the then emperor of Odisha Gajapati Pratap Rudra Dev received him at Gadagadia Ghata situated near the river bank of Mahanadi very close to the kings palace popularly known as Barabati fort. In that year Shree Chaitanya Deva started Durga Puja at Binod Bihari temple presently known as Balu Bazaar.
Here Binod Bihari Devi’s sacred idol was installed in a small house. Thereafter the place became known as Binod Bihari which consisted of Balu Bazar, Bakharabad, Alamchand Bazar, Sahebazada Bazar and Nayasadak. Daily worship of the deity was performed in conformity with Vaishanav tradition. He stayed at Binod Bihari Temple. In the mean time autumn Durga Puja period arrived. He worshipped a brass Durga idol there. Thus it was the origin of Durga Puja in Cuttack.
Later the Thakur family began worshipping of the clay idol. The tradition contiued till date. It would continue as long as the Odia civilisation lasts. Akshaya Kumar Banerjee’s ancestors were true Vaishnavites. They had also visited Puri. But while returning they settled along the Kathajodi river in the same place Binod Bihari.
In 1517 AD the clay idol making evolved from the second day of the birth day of Lord Krishna emulating the Bengal Methodology. The whole responsibility lied on the Banerjee family from this day till immersion of the idols. The tradition remains in tact even now and generation after generation the Benarjee family rules the roost. Goddess Durga of Binod Bihari was thus addressed as the ‘Big Sister’.
Later five Puja Pendals were erected, clay idols installed and worshipped. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had introduced community Durga Puja in Odia Bazar. The Durga Puja has gone through many a transformation over the centuries and the zeal ramains undiminished, rather more visible.

– With References from Antiquity of Durga Puja by Shri Om Prakash , Worship of Goddess Durga in Cuttack – Shri Parikhit Mishra

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Silver Filigree Walks 2.0 , Dusshera in Cuttack

Silver Filigree Walk 2.0 completed this morning of Maha Saptami (5/10/19).
Photographs by the Hon’ble Members of Cuttack Heritage Walks.
The backdrops (Chandi Medhas) and silver filigree as well as gold ornaments looked absolutely stunning with the majestic images of Devi and her consorts.
In the earlier edition we had seen the backdrops and ornaments being made by the silver filigree artists and artisans with love and care.

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Cuttack Heritage Walks , 5th Edition

It was truly wonderful to be a part of this 5th edition of Cuttack Heritage Walks, 29th Sep, and meet the enthusiastic members . We had two Gentlemen visitors this time with us from Delhi and Shri Lalatendu Das Mohapatra , Director of Archives – Govt Of India Shri Anil Dhir , Eminent Historian who have extremely supportive and constantly encouraging us to highlight the rich history of this ancient capital .

The Walk extended to The Church of Epiphany , not very far from the Barabati fort. One of the Oldest Church in Odisha

Picture by Bikash R Das
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