Sindurmati Temple

Location :

• Mirza Rashed Nawaz

  07 April 2018

  Bangladesh is a land with a number of mysterious and famous water reservoirs, locally known as ‘dighi’. Sometimes, folk legends or true stories behind the creation of the reservoirs touch us profoundly. The story behind Sindur-Moti Dighi is a tragic and spellbinding one.
  Sindur-Moti Dighi is one of the oldest water reservoirs in Bangladesh. It is situated at Panchagram in Lalmonirhat district, connecting to Rajarahat in Kurigram district. The land area of the reservoir is 8.25 acres. The historical Sindur-Moti temple complex stands on its bank. It is a place where heritage blends with nature. Hindus consider this ancient reservoir a holy place. In the Bengali month of Chaitra, they come to worship here.
  The story behind the creation and naming of Sindur-Moti is amazingly touching and tragic. There was a zamindar (landlord) named Narayan Chakrawarti who lived in the area in the 15th century. Despite wealth and respect of his people, he was not happy as he did not have any children. After years of praying, God rewarded them as Narayan’s wife, Meneka Devi, gave birth to two beautiful daughters, who were named Sindur and Moti. Both the girls were growing up with good virtues and beauty for which they were loved very much by everyone.
  A few years later, a great misfortune befell the zamindari (estate) as severe droughts led to shortage of drinking water. Entire water bodies dried up and there was no rainfall for months. The people suffered and many died. To evade a terrible disaster, Narayan Chakrawarti decided to dig a large tank to solve the water crisis. He engaged several thousand workers to complete the task. However, not a single drop of water was found in the soil, despite endless digging.
  One day, the zamindar dreamt he should place his two daughters in the middle of the excavated earth and offer prayers. The prayer ritual began on the 9th of Chaitra and news spread across the estate. With the people watching, Meneka Devi dressed Sindur in a red saree and Moti in white. All the rituals were done, but still there was not a single drop of water. Suddenly, Narayan remembered he had forgotten to place tulsi leaves, an important part of the ritual. Without delay, he came out of the digging site to collect the leaves, leaving behind his daughters. At that very moment, a miracle happened.
  The deep and large dugout tank filled with water in the blink of an eye. All the people managed to get out safely, except the two girls, Sindur and Moti. The reservoir was named Sindur-Moti after the sacrificed daughters, who are believed to have become immortal. Later, Narayan Chakrawarti constructed a twin temple, called Sindur-Moti Temple in memory of his beloved daughters.
  Since then, thousands of Hindu devotees from across the country, as well as from India come on pilgrimage to the dighi every year during the month of Chaitra to have a holy bath and pray at Sindur-Moti Temple. The Hindus believe bathing in the water of the reservoir brings peace and wipes out sins. On the occasion, a traditional Sindur-Moti Mela (festival) is also held. The local administration has constructed a paved ghat (steps), changing room for women and sitting arrangement to attract tourists to the historical site with such an enchanting story.
  
  References: Rangpur er Pratnasampad, Rangpur Gobeshona Parishad; Bangladesher Protnoshompod, Abul Kalam Mohammad Zakariya, Dibboprokash, 2007; History in Pictures - Greater Rangpur and Dinajpur Area HQs, Rangpur, 2008.

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• IT General Knowledge

  13 June 2017

  its looking nice

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• GSM ABCD

  29 December 2016

  sindurmati

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• Mehdi Hasan

  19 September 2016

  An incredible mind blowing place to visit in Lalmonirhat-Kurigram. This temple has been build in memory of two Jaminder (Land-Lord) daughters who sacrificed their life for betterment of people, Sundar and Mati.

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