Country India Population 138,235 (2001) Languages spoken Bengali, English | State West Bengal District Nadia | |
Colleges and Universities Santipur College, Santipur B.Ed College | ||
Shantipur is a city and a municipality in Nadia district in the Indian state of West Bengal. This small town has been declared a city recently. The fort area of this city, also known as Daak-Gharh (calling or gathering room) is thought to have been built by Raja Krishnachandra of Nadia.
Contents
Map of Shantipur
My trip to shantipur of west bengal
Geography
Shantipur is located at 23.25°N 88.43°E? / 23.25; 88.43. It has an average elevation of 15 metres (49 feet).
Santipur is famous for handloom sarees from ancient times. After the partition of India, many weavers came from Dhaka of Bangladesh and started to reside here in Phulia region, which is a Panchayat area of Santipur.
Economy
Since ancient times, Shantipur and the surrounding region has been famous for handloom saris (sah-ree). The handloom weaving style unique to this region are famously known as Santipuri Sari. After the partition of India, Bengal was split into two major regions. West Bengal became a part of India and East Bengal became East Pakistan (Bangladesh). Many skilled weavers from Dhaka, in current day Bangladesh, migrated into West Bengal and settled around the cities of Shantipur and Kalna (Ambika Kalna) of Bardhaman district. Both are traditionally renowned centers for producing hand-woven fabrics sold throughout the country. Through government support for Indian handicrafts and arts, the weaving community slowly grew and thrived. Saris and finely woven feather-touch textiles are still being produced in the same traditional method today. One can find the patterns and colors found in ancient times still reflected in the garments produced in the vast textile belt of Shantipur, Phulia, Samudragarh, Dhatrigram and Ambika Kalna. Each center produces superb fabrics in its own variation of the Shantipuri style of weaving. Shantipur is especially known for super-fine-weave dhotis and jacquards. These textiles are marketed through co-operatives and various commercial undertakings.
Religious History
Shantipur is famous for "Rasutsav" and "Dolutsav" which is thought to have begun by Mathuresh Goswami, the great grandson of Advaita Acharya who was one of the main associates of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
The principle deity of the town is Radharaman in the family of Baro Gosai and Gokulchand in the family of Madhyam Gosai, descending from Mathuresh Goswami. The deity was originally installed as a single statue of krishna named dol govinda in Orissa by king indradyumna. When king of Yessore (now in Bangladesh) attacked orissa he brought this deity with him to his capital. Later, in the era of Mughal emperor Akbar the Great, his general Man Singh laid a siege on Yessore/ Jessore. Pratapaditya was the reigning king at that time. The priest of the temple gave away the deity to his own guru Mathuresh goswami to protect it in time of emergency. mathuresh goswami realized the gravity of the situation and had it brought to his ancestral home Shantipur where he reinstalled it in a new temple. A deity of Radha was later installed beside dolgovinda and both of them renamed radharaman.
The deity worshipped by Advaita Acharya himself is named Madan Gopal and is worshipped in the lineage of Krishna Mishra, the second son of Advaita Acharya. Apart from them, there are numerous other idols and ancient temples dedicated to Radha and Krishna. On the day of Rashyatra, the main festival of the town, all of them are taken out in a grand procession around the city accompanied with drums, kirtan and other celebration. Curiously, all the thrones are lit with the age-old Belgium glass candleholders and chandeliers, instead of electric lighting, even to this day. This gives Rashotsav a very ancient and historical look. On this day, a young girl is dressed in expensive attire and gold ornaments and worshipped as Radha. After this, she is made to sit in a luxurious throne decorated with flowers and paraded across the city for the commoners to offer their respects. She is called Rai-raja. Rai is another name for Radha and Raja means king.
There is a unique form of celebrating Kali worship in the form of hand painted image of the deity known as "Poteshwari" meaning drawing of the deity on a piece of cloth. The deity is worshipped for 3 days during the "Rash Utsav." The second day of worship is marked by the sacrifice of a goat. It is then incorporated into the many festive meals and shared with the community until the festival ends. Famous Krishna Temples are : Baro Gosai,Pagla Gosai, Gokulchand(Madhyam Gosai),Madangopal,Shyamchand Mandir, Chakfera,Ataboney,Bansboney etc.
The Poteswari Mandir at Pateswari Street in Shantipur is more than two centuries old and is maintained by the Pramanik family trust.. More than 14 generations of Pramaniks - a close group of the Tili subcaste, stayed here before most of the family migrated to Calcutta. Notable names from this family include Sudhamoy Pramanick. The Pramanik Badi (house) is one of the oldest standing buildings in Santipur.
Kali Puja is another festival that the people of this place pays a lot of dedication.Some of the Kali Murtis present here,worshiping them started 500–600 years ago.