Haven’t you heard that Kolkata is a city of temples? Here, among the vibrant colours and cultural values, stands the Shib Mandir. This Shiv mandir in Kolkata is one of the busiest places. The devotee crowd is always intense here. It does not matter if it is a festival or any other religious occasion.
Many devotees visit this Shiv mandir in Kolkata throughout the year. They believe that the idol of the deity here can grant any wishes. All you have to do is meditate or seek the blessings of the Lord with a pure heart. This Shiv temple in Kolkata sees a humongous crowd on occasions like Shivaratri and Gajan. Thousands of people reach this place to attend the special prayers. The roads are usually blocked during these festival seasons. Tight police security will be allocated to avoid mishaps.
Temples in India show beautiful architectural designs. They play an important role in maintaining the rich culture of this country. Kolkata has many temples. Hinduism has 33 crores of deities. You can find almost half of them here in these pilgrimage shrines. Every famous temple in Kolkata has its own significance. You can visit any of them to witness the rich and divine history of Hinduism.
Remember these temples are revered. A huge number of devotees come here to seek blessings. It is very important to dress modestly. You must maintain silence while you are on the premises. The temple priests of Kolkata stress these points very often.
One of the oldest temples of Kolkata is the Taraknath Temple. It was built in 1729. This Shiv mandir in Kolkata is one of the busiest places that you can go to. This temple is located on Taraknath Mandir Road. You will see a humongous crowd in this Shiv temple in Kolkata on occasions like Shivaratri and Gajan. Thousands attend the special prayers. The roads are usually blocked during these festival seasons. Tight police security will be allocated to avoid mishaps.
Another temple is the Durgeshwar Shiva Temple. It is located at 16 Md Ramjan Lane. It is an example of typical aatchala style of Bengal temple architecture. The temple was founded by the sons of Sri Madan Mohan Dutta of Hatkhola Dutta family about three hundred years ago in 1716.
The temple was once decorated with terracotta and artistic creations. Devotees can easily assume the age of the temple. Consider the roots of the banyan trees which covered the eastern side of the temple. With the passage of time most of the beautiful terracotta works and motifs are gone. However only a few traces of it still remain. The temple has three entrances in the west the north and the south. The Shiva linga is built in black stone. It measures about 10 ft in height. There is also an iron ladder. Devotees can pour water and milk on the linga.
The Rameshwar Shiva Temple is located at 52 Nandaram Sen Street. It is a classic example of aatchala style of Bengal Temple architecture. The massive bright red-coloured temple was founded by Nandaram Sen. The street is also named after him. The Shiva linga is about 6 ft tall. There are also the idols of Radha Krishna Debi Annapurna and Kali Mata.
Lastly there is the Baneshwar Shiva Temple. It is located at 2/5 Banomali Sarkar Street. The temple is built in aatchala style of Bengal Temple architecture. Most of the terracotta works have gone. Only a very few still survives the passage of time. The sanctum sanctorum contains the Shiva linga in the middle. It is made of touchstone. The linga is about three-and-a-half feet tall.
So as you leave the Shib Mandir may the blessings of Lord Shiva be with you. Remember the vibrant colours and the devoted hearts you’ve encountered here. Carry with you the peace and serenity of this sacred place. Let it remind you of the rich cultural tapestry that is Kolkata.