Jogamaya Kalibari – the more than a century old temple in Belonia under South Tripura is readying for the Kali Puja.
Renovation, decoration, cleaning and painting works are going on in full swing. Over the years, Kali puja at Jogamaya Temple started drawing huge enthusiastic revelers and devotees – thanks to initiatives of local people, said secretary of the Mandir Committee ParitoshBhattacharjee.
“It was around 132 years ago, late Gagan Chandra Majumder brought a Kali idol to Belonia from Kashi and installed the idol in a hut under a banyan tree behind the present-day temple”, Paritosh Bhattacharjee said while talking about the history of the temple which many of the young generations is unheard of.
An eminent person of Belonia, late Gagan Chandra Majumder was the father of noted Headmaster of BeloniaVidyapith School, Ananta Kumar Majumder and grandfather of Dr Tapas Majumder who is discharging his medical duties in Belonia, at present. The Majumder family is close to the hearts of people because of its long legacy of philanthropic activities.
Initially, the idol was put up in a hut with four-sided corrugated slanted tin roofs under a big banyan tree and from there the journey of the Jogamaya temple started.
Being inspired by the founder and his son Late Ananta Kumar Majumder, local people helped in constructing a concrete temple with Naat Mandir where devotees sit and watch the puja. Along with local people, public representatives of Belonia also played a role in developing the temple to present condition.
Even before the partition, every year melas during the Durga Puja, Kali Puja and Rathyatra would attract a large crowd.
The same tradition and enthusiasm continued after the partition. During the festive season, Jogamaya Kalibari would become a thriving business zone where traders from different parts of the State would come and sell different items.
Gradually the attraction of the temple and mela started fading away.
However, the religious fervour and zeal of local youth brought back the lost glory around 22 years ago – and once again, Jogamaya Temple has emerged as a major attraction during festivities for its puja and colourful 3-day mela.
“Things were going good but Corona Pandemic has spoiled the jovial moments. Like previous year, we have decided to refrain from holding melas during Kali puja owing to Covid restrictions,” Bhattacharjee said.
Even as the Temple committee and the people will, once again, miss the hobnobbing of crowds and traders during Kalipuja this year, Temple Committee members are hoping that situation will improve.
Diwali is the festival of lights that drive darkness – let by the grace of Maa Kali, all the evils and darkness from our minds and society wash away, Bhattacharjee signs off with the prayer.
