The newly constructed Sri Srimangaleshwari Kali Mandir at Srimangal town, the capital of tea in Bangladesh, has become a sight to behold with its artistic craftsmanship and exquisite construction style. The whole temple is painted red and white, and the crafts are painted in gold and bronze colours.
Seeing the mandir, it seems as if blood is flowing. This five-tiered temple can be seen on the left side of the road, a little further from the town’s crossroads via College Road. There is another small room inside the main gate of the temple. The Statue of Goddess Kali will be kept there. In this house, Goddess Kali’s seat has been made in cement crafts. The seat decorated with gold colour will catch the eye of anyone. There are sophisticated chandeliers and lighting.
Anyone who sees this beautiful mandir will be fascinated in an instant. The temple management committee thinks that not only the followers of traditional religions but also the tourists from home and abroad visiting this scenic town will be attracted by the beauty of this temple.
Debashish Sen, a member of the temple construction committee, said it was the most expensive single temple in the upazila. The construction of this temple has cost about TK 75 lakh. Construction of the temple began in 2012. The mandir is awaiting its inauguration. Engineer Nishit Ranjan Dutt Purkayastha supervised the planning, design and construction work of the temple. He said the temple was built on an area of 1300 square feet.
The height of the temple is 48 feet. There are five gates around the temple for entry and exit. The temple has also been built on five levels. There are five small and big peaks. The crafts include the jaba flower, belpata and swastika. An empty verandah has been set up inside the main temple to encircle Goddess Kali. Marble stones have been given to the floor.
Retired teacher Dwipendra Bhattacharya said that Kalibari was established in the third decade of the nineteenth century by donating some religious land from Birchandra Dhar and renting tea gardens. In a terrible fire in 1962, Kalimandir, along with other houses in Srimangal, was burnt to Ashes.
Later, the late Ajit Chowdhury, a former tea planter of the town built Paka Kali and Durga Mandir. Jhumur Bhattacharya, a priest of Kalibari, said that Kali Puja is always offered here. Durga Puja is performed every year. Apart from this, the vows of different people are worshipped. Every day devotees gather at the temple premises.
Temple Management Committee General Secretary Doctor Haripada Roy said a temple complex will be built in this Kalibari. There is a master plan for this. The fort will be built next to the newly built Kali temple. Next to it will be the Shiva Temple, Bhog Temple and Housing Temple. Apart from the followers of traditional religions, visitors of different nationalities and religions from home and abroad will be able to come and enjoy the beauty of the temple complex.
