Sovabazar Rajbari Durga Puja, North Kolkata 2024
The name Sovabazar Rajbari is inseparably connected with the history and heritage of Kolkata.The Durga puja of Sova Bazar rajbari also carries the same. Raja Nabakrishna Dev established this Palace.
The Sovabazar area of North Kolkata is one of the best places to visit in the city, especially during the Durga Puja. Swami Vivekananda, Ramkrishna Paranhansadev, Sister Nivedita, Rabindranath Tagore, and so aristocrats and Jamindars witnessed the glory of the Palace.
The Durga puja, especially in West Bengal, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Orissa, Delhi, Pune, etc. Even abroad, like New York, Japan, London, Durga Puja in Australia, New Jersey, Switzerland, the UK, and Bangladesh have grand celebrations.
North Kolkata Sovabazar Rajbari Durga Puja
Location of Sovabazar Rajbari
Sovabazar Rajbari is located at Shyambazar at the extreme North of Kolkata. There are two places. The first one was given to Raja Gopimohan Deb son of Raja Nabakrishna Deb. Later, he built another palace just opposite his existing palace for another son, Raja Raj Krishna Deb.
Address: 36 Naba Krishna Street, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700005, India.
How to Reach Sovabazar Rajbari Durga Puja
The palace is a few meters away from the Sovabajar Sutanuti metro station. You can also reach Sovabazar Rajbari by bus and Auto. The nearest bus stop is Lal Mandir, near Jaipuria College. Sovabazar Rajbari is well connected with road and metro rail transportation.
Shobhabazar Rajbari Kolkata Entry Fee and Timings
No entry fee is there for visiting Sovabazar Rajbari. During Durga puja, Sovabazar Rajbari remains open for visitors from morning 8 am to 8 p.m.
History of Sovabazar Rajbari’s Durga Puja
The first Durga puja of Sova Bazar Rajbari took place in 1757, just after winning the battle of Palasi. Since the beginning, the Durga puja of Sovabazar rajbari has followed its distinct culture and tradition.
The central essence of this puja is the distinct tradition and rituals. Every year, the same size and pattern of the idol is maintained. The pattern of pratima is called ‘Ekchala’. The attire of the pratima is called ‘ Daker Saj’. In Bengali, ‘Dak’ means post. In Sovabazar rajbari, the lion is replaced with Gotokmukhi Singha; the body is of the lion, and the face is of a horse.
The Puja’s essence begins with worshipping the structure (kathamo puja). On the day of Krishna Nabami, the inauguration(Bodhon) of the Devi takes place on the ‘thakur dalan’ of the palace. From that day, the Bramhans started the Chandipath, Ramayan, and Madhusudhan paths, which continued until the Durgapuja’s beginning.
The idol painting method of the Rajbari is also very different. The idol has its specific features. Special artists used to be appointed to maintain the traditional look of the Pratima.
The tradition is still followed, though few modifications were done to match the present time. The Devi is worshipped with sweets (mishtanna bhog). Specially trained workers used to come and stay there to make the sweets. The tradition is continuing.
The formal Puja begins in the evening of Sasthi. The pot (ghot) is placed before the devi. The Devi Idol is ornamented with gold jewellery. In both the rajbari, Maa Durga is worshipped as Vaishnavi. The emergence of the Devi brings a new sparkle to every corner of the palace.
The royal puja is embedded with rituals. On the dawn of Saptami, the ‘Kalabou snan’ ritual is in the palace. The procession with ornamented Kalabou goes to Ganga for the bath. The women sing during the procession. An umbrella made of red velvet was held on the head of the Kalabou.
In those days, the intense firing of cannons was used to mark the beginning of the Ashtami puja. But with the flow of time, Canons have been replaced by guns. The Ashtami puja begins with the firing of the gun. 108 lamps are lit up in the Thakur Dalan.
The Matri Vandana Begins. On the last day of Dashami, the rituals of ‘Kanakanjali’ are present. The rituals of worshipping the horses were also present. But now, the rituals are maintained by feeding chickpeas to the horse.
The process of immersion of Deity is also unique. Two boats go in the middle of the Ganga, placing the Idol in the middle. The boats are set apart, and the idol is immersed in the river.
Now, the glory, the culture, and the traditions have crossed the religious borders, and Durga Puja is a Universal Utsav. The bricks of the rajbari have witnessed the footsteps of so many legends.
Along with the touch of modernisation, the Sovabazar Rajbari’s puja still holds the fragrance of History as if the rajbari celebrates history and the great beginning every year.
Durga puja Near Shobhabazar Rajbari
There are many pujas near Sovabazar rajbari, that can be visited. Beniatola Sen Bari, Dhar barir puja, Aahiritola sarbojonin, Kumurtuli etc,
History of Sovabazar Rajbari
Sovabazar Rajbari is well known as the heritage palace of Kolkata. The name ‘Sovabazar’ derives from ‘ Subahar Bazar’ long before the establishment of Sovabazar Rajbari. Raja Nabakrishna Dev established Sovabazar Rajbari.
Sovabazar Rajbari is also called ‘Bagh wala bari’, indicating the symbol of aristocracy. At the hands of Nabakrishna Dev’s father, the Dev family initially gained social and financial fame. After his father’s sudden death, Naba Krishna Deb’s mother stayed at Sovabazar permanently.
Nabakrishna Dev was intelligent and acquired proficiency in English, Urdu, Arabic and French at a very young age. He was appointed as a Munshi of Derek Saheb and later as a French teacher of Warren Hastings. Nabakrishna Dev’s loyalty and friendship with the British grew from this time.
He played an important role in the British activities in India and even in the war of Palasi. After the defeat of Siraj-ud Daullah in the battle of Palasi. After the battle of Palasi, Raja Nabakrishna Deb built a new palace and started celebrating Durga puja. Many important delegates, including the British, used to attend and participate in the Durga puja.
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