Shantipur
Encyclopedia
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 Nodia.
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.
India census
, Shantipur had a population of 138,195. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Shantipur has an average literacy rate of 64%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 69%, and female literacy is 58%. In Shantipur, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
, 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.
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, 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" and till date goat is sacrificed during the second day of worship.
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 a part of the family migrated to Calcutta. Notable names from this family include Sudhamoy Pramanick
.
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.Agomeswari,MoshKhagi,Ghat Chaduni are some of the famous Kali Temple.
, Pandit Laxmikant Maitra, Kabi Mohammed Mozammel Haque
, Mithun Chakraborty, Kabi Krittibas Ojha
, Bijoy Krishna Goswami, Dr. Sitanath Pramanick,Kabi Karunanidhan Bandopadhyaya, sahitwik o Puratatwik Sri Provas Chandra Roy, Shikshabid Nalinimohan Sanyal
Shantipur is well connected to the district Burdawan (Kalna) and the district Hoogly (Guptipara)through the river Ganges (Bhagirathi)
It is on NH 34
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
in Nadia district
Nadia District
Nadia district is a district of the state of West Bengal, in the north east of India. It borders with Bangladesh to the east, North 24 Parganas and Hooghly districts to the south, Bardhaman district to the west, and Murshidabad district to the north....
in the Indian state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
. 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 Nodia.
Geography
Shantipur is located at 23.25°N 88.43°E. 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.
Demographics
In the 2011 census, Shantipur Urban Agglomeration had a population of 288,718, out of which 147,299 were males and 141,419 were females. The 0-6 years population was 24,006. Effective literacy rate for the 7+ population was 82.67 per cent.India census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Shantipur had a population of 138,195. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Shantipur has an average literacy rate of 64%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 69%, and female literacy is 58%. In Shantipur, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Economy
Since ancient times, Shantipur and the surrounding region is famous for handloom saris (sah-ree). The handloom weaving styles 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, PhuliaPhulia
Phulia is a census town under Shantipur police station of Ranaghat subdivision in Nadia district in the Indian state of West Bengal....
, Samudragarh, Dhatrigram
Dhatrigram
Dhatrigram is a census town under Kalna police station and subdivision in Barddhaman district in the state of West Bengal, India. It is about 8 km away from Kalna town.-Geography:...
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"Holi
Holi , is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus. Holi is also known as festival of Colours. It is primarily observed in India, Nepal, Pakistan, and countries with large Indic diaspora populations following Hinduism, such as Suriname, Malaysia, Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, United...
which is thought to have begun by Mathuresh Goswami, the great grandson of Advaita Acharya
Advaita Acharya
Advaita Acharya , born Kamalaksha Bhattacharya, was a notable disciple and companion of the founder of the Gaudiya Vaishnava sect, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and guru of Haridasa Thakur...
who was one of the main associates of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was a Vaishnava saint and social reformer in eastern India in the 16th century, believed by followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism to be the full incarnation of Lord Krishna...
.
The principle deity of the town is Radharaman in the family of Baro 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
Jessore District
Jessore is a district located in the Khulna Division of southwestern Bangladesh. It is bordered by India to the west.The district produces a variety of crops year-round. Date-sugar called patali is made from the sap of locally grown date trees that is cooked, thickened and crystallised using a...
(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
Radha
Radha , also called Radhika, Radharani and Radhikarani, is the childhood friend and lover of Krishna in the Bhagavata Purana, and the Gita Govinda of the Vaisnava traditions of Hinduism...
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
Radha
Radha , also called Radhika, Radharani and Radhikarani, is the childhood friend and lover of Krishna in the Bhagavata Purana, and the Gita Govinda of the Vaisnava traditions of Hinduism...
and Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
. 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" and till date goat is sacrificed during the second day of worship.
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
Kayastha
Kayastha or Kayasth or Kayeth is a caste or community of Hindus originating in India. Kayastha means "scribe" in Sanskrit, and has traditionally denoted members of the writer caste....
subcaste, stayed here before a part of the family migrated to Calcutta. Notable names from this family include Sudhamoy Pramanick
Sudhamoy Pramanick
__NOEDITSECTION__Sudhamoy Pramanick was a bengali advocate from Shantipur. He was the lifetime secretary of the Tili Samaj - in his time he was one of the fortunate Presidencians - a year senior to Rajendra Prasad...
.
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.Agomeswari,MoshKhagi,Ghat Chaduni are some of the famous Kali Temple.
Famous Person
Santipur has given birth numerous jewels from time to time. Some of them are Sir Azizul HaqueSir Azizul Haque
Sir Azizul Haque , was a Bengali lawyer, writer and politician. He studied at Presidency College and University Law College in Calcutta...
, Pandit Laxmikant Maitra, Kabi Mohammed Mozammel Haque
Md.Mozammel Haque
Mohammed Mozammel Haque was one of the greatest poets in Bengal. He was also a journalist by profession. He was born at Santipur/Shantipurশান্তিপুর, in the district of Nadia, West Bengal, India. His father’s name was Nasiruddin Ahmed...
, Mithun Chakraborty, Kabi Krittibas Ojha
Krittibas Ojha
Krittibas Ojha or Kirttibas Ojha was a medieval Bengali poet. His major contribution to Bangla literature and culture was the translation of the great Indian epic Ramayana to Bangla. His work, the Sri Ram Panchali, is popularly known as the Krittivasi Ramayan...
, Bijoy Krishna Goswami, Dr. Sitanath Pramanick,Kabi Karunanidhan Bandopadhyaya, sahitwik o Puratatwik Sri Provas Chandra Roy, Shikshabid Nalinimohan Sanyal
Transport
Shantipur is well connected by rail by EMU services running from Sealdah North section.Shantipur is well connected to the district Burdawan (Kalna) and the district Hoogly (Guptipara)through the river Ganges (Bhagirathi)
It is on NH 34
National Highway 34 (India)
National Highway 34 or NH 34 runs from Dum Dum in north Kolkata to Dalkhola , where it meets NH 31, which connects it to Siliguri, several towns in north Bengal and the North-East...
See also
- Advaita AcharyaAdvaita AcharyaAdvaita Acharya , born Kamalaksha Bhattacharya, was a notable disciple and companion of the founder of the Gaudiya Vaishnava sect, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and guru of Haridasa Thakur...
- Sir Azizul HaqueSir Azizul HaqueSir Azizul Haque , was a Bengali lawyer, writer and politician. He studied at Presidency College and University Law College in Calcutta...
- Sudhamoy PramanickSudhamoy Pramanick__NOEDITSECTION__Sudhamoy Pramanick was a bengali advocate from Shantipur. He was the lifetime secretary of the Tili Samaj - in his time he was one of the fortunate Presidencians - a year senior to Rajendra Prasad...
- Indian independence activist - Diptendu PramanickDiptendu PramanickDiptendu Pramanick was a bengali film personality from Calcutta. He was the founder secretary of the Eastern India Motion Pictures Association in Calcutta, India - a fraternity of film personnel which is an interface between the entertainment industry of eastern India and the Government...
- Bengali film personality - Md.Mozammel HaqueMd.Mozammel HaqueMohammed Mozammel Haque was one of the greatest poets in Bengal. He was also a journalist by profession. He was born at Santipur/Shantipurশান্তিপুর, in the district of Nadia, West Bengal, India. His father’s name was Nasiruddin Ahmed...
- Pateswari Tola, Poteswari street on Wikimapia