Country India District Dakshin Dinajpur Lok Sabha constituency Balurghat Area 310.5 km² | State West Bengal Time zone IST (UTC+5:30) Vidhan Sabha constituency Kushmandi | |
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Kushmandi (community development block) is an administrative division in Gangarampur subdivision of Dakshin Dinajpur district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Kushmandi police station serves this block. Headquarters of this block is at Kushmandi.
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Geography
Kushmandi is located at 25°31′20″N 88°21′26″E.
Kushmandi community development block has an area of 310.50 km2.
The Tangon River flows through the Kushmandi block.
Gram panchayats
Gram panchayats of Kushmandi block/ panchayat samiti are: Akcha, Berail, Deul, Kalikamora, Karanji, Kushmandi, Maligaon and Udaypur.
Ayra forest
A forest situated near the India-Bangladesh border,has many ponds and old trees. It is very beautiful place where many people come for picnics in winter. On X-mas day and New year day the place becomes crowded by the travelers for enjoying nature's beauty of the place and Mahipal dighi.
Mahipal Dighi
Mahipal dighi, a large lake, is located in Kushmandi block. It has a length of 4 km approx and a diameter 0.6 km. It was dug by King Mahipal II of the Pal dynasty. There are debris of a nilkuthi on the northern bank of the Lack which was established by Mr. Thomas, an indigo merchant, a friend of William Carey
During winter migratory birds flock to this lake in large numbers. One of the most attractive things is lotus. The whole lake is covered with lotus.
Mahipal High school is situated on the western bank.
Temple of Lord Shiva
An ancient temple situated at Aminpur. This is "Panchamukhi" (Five headed) Shiva temple, which is very rare in India. This temple is constructed by Zamindar of Aminpur. Famous Maatia Maa Kali temple is also situation nearby.
Mask of Bengal-Mahishbathan
Mahishbathan in South Dinajpur's Kushmandi block is famous for bamboo masks based on popular folk and mythological characters like Moshan, Narorakshas, Hanuman, Chamkali, Chamunda etc., with bamboo vases, trays, incense stands, pen stands also being manufactured by the artisans here.
Mask-making began not too long ago, when artisans across the region practiced this art form; from 1990 attempts were made to unify them under the wings of the Mahishbathan Gramin Hostoshilpo Samiti, and scholars from different parts of the world come here to observe the age-old intricate process of bamboo-carving. Bamboo pieces are kept submerged in large reservoirs containing water mixed with mulberry gum powder, bleaching powder and sal; the pieces are taken out after a week and sun-dried. The price of a mask depends on the type of wood it is carved from - with timber varieties such as Gamari, Sal, Mango, Pakur, and Mahogany mainly being used. The wooden masks are meant for use in Gambheera dances or Palas (musical folk theaters), as the carvers, or the performers, treat each mask philosophically, by considering it as the Mukha (face), rather than a Mukhosh (mask) – the belief being that it comes alive as soon as one puts his face behind it. These ornate wooden masks adorn a large number of homes in Bengal and beyond, with a large number of these masks being exported to the USA, and even enjoying pride of place at the annual State Handicrafts Fair.
Demographics
As per 2011 Census of India Kushmandi CD Block had a total population of 198,752 all of which were rural. There were 100,317 males and 98,437 females. Scheduled Castes numbered 88,967 and Scheduled Tribes numbered 15,622.
Literacy
As per 2011 census the total number of literates in Kushmandi CD Block was 113,240 out of which 62,611 were males and 50,629 were females.
Education
One of the well known schools is Kushmandi High School, established in 1927. There is Kushmandi Kishalaya K.G School which is very popular in the town.Another school is Mahipal High School. Aminpur High School was established in 1897.
There is a Government college(Arts).
There are some schools which have both science and arts subjects