200-year-old twin temples in sorry states
The two-century-old twin temples, Shree Shree Anandamoyee Shiva and Kali Mata Mandir, in Mymensingh's Muktagachha upazila is in dilapidated state for decades, thanks to the indifference of the authorities concerned.
Built in 1820 by Shreemoti Bimola Devi, mother of zaminder Maharaja Shashikanta Acharya Chowdhury, the twin-temple is awaiting the loss of its architectural beauty as any steps are yet to be taken to renovate it.
Another such temple is located in Kolkata of West Bengal, said Nayan Kumar Dey, president of the temple committee.
Located outside the palaces of Muktagachha zaminders in Kalibari area, the temple is also known as "Dhaksinashar Mandir" where religious functions including Durga Puja and sacrificial activities on the occasion of Kali and Monosha puja are held. It is oblong in shape with conical shape tops and small corridors on a high basement which is connected to the staircase leading to a large pond.
Special puja is also held during every full moon and new moon and on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh, said Nayan.
But it is the sign of utter negligence of authorities concerned for decades as the country's lone historic twin-temple has not been renovated yet, said Alok Saha, a member of the committee.
Plants have also grown on the temples and there is no initiative even to clean the temples and cracked developed on the temples' roof in recent years, said devotee Alok, 65.
The Department of Archaeology (DoA) under the Ministry of Cultural Affairs in 1993 listed the temple as an archaeological site for its proper preservation but nothing has been done yet.
DoA has taken charge of the temples but it had not taken a single step in the last 27 years, alleged local devotees.
On April 5 in 2006, the department has put up a signboard only to show its presence, said 71-year-old Dilip Saha, another member of the temple committee.
"We saw the temple in fine state in our boyhood where worships were held in flamboyant style but the present sorry state really saddened us much", said 72-year-old Dipak Kundu, also a member of the temple committee.
Devotees from home and abroad visit the temple on different occasions like Durga Puja, Kattiyani Puja, and Kali and Manasha Puja every year. Local people belonging to Hindu community, both male and female who throng to the pond for taking bath all the day also perform their daily worship at the temples.
As the present state minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid Babu is from Muktagachha, they are very hopeful of early renovation of the temple, said the local devotees.
According to sources, there are also some other ancient temples in and outside the district. These temples are also in pity state but no renovation work is done yet.
The temples include 'Tin Shib-er Mandir', 'Rajrajeswari Mandir' and the 'Bura Shib-er Mandir' in Muktagachha.
Contacted, Rakhi Roy, regional director of Department of Archeology, said a team of the department visited the temples on July 6. The renovation work may start this year.
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