Tale from a hundred years ago | 155-year-old stone inscription found in Natore
An ancient stone with inscription on it has been found at Natore's Madhnagar village recently, bearing the history of a 155-year-old "Rath Jatra" festival.
The inscription -- Sanskrit written in Bangla alphabets -- was done with lead on a piece of white stone.
The family of Pintu Adhikari, a Hindu priest, has been preserving the stone at their residence. Department of Archaeology officials have declared it a "valuable piece of artifact".
Nahid Sultana, deputy director of Rajshahi divisional archaeology department, said they would visit Madhnagar soon. "Such a stone cannot stay at a private house. It is a documentation of ancient history."
This correspondent saw the stone during a recent visit to Madhnagar. Pintu Adhikari, who is also the president of the Bishnu temple committee, said the stone was on the temple's front wall. "The temple was destroyed in the 70s. Our family has been preserving the stone since then," said Pintu.
The inscription -- Sanskrit written in Bangla alphabets -- was done with lead on a piece of white stone.
The family of Pintu Adhikari, a Hindu priest, has been preserving the stone at their residence. Department of Archaeology officials have declared it a "valuable piece of artifact".
Nahid Sultana, deputy director of Rajshahi divisional archaeology department, said they would visit Madhnagar soon. "Such a stone cannot stay at a private house. It is a documentation of ancient history."
This correspondent saw the stone during a recent visit to Madhnagar. Pintu Adhikari, who is also the president of the Bishnu temple committee, said the stone was on the temple's front wall. "The temple was destroyed in the 70s. Our family has been preserving the stone since then," said Pintu.
Rajshahi University's former Sanskrit professor Manjula Chowdhury translated the inscription for this correspondent.
According to Chowdhury, the stone says Jamini Sundori Bashak, the zamindar of Pabna's Dilalpur, patronised for a Rath made up of bronze at Madhnagar in 1867. He also raised a Bishnu temple at the site.
Till the partition in 1947, the Rath Jatra festival was organised every monsoon. The month-long festival would draw devotees from across the then Indian subcontinent, locals said.
The bronze Rath, which used to be in front of the temple, is still there. Most of its grandeur, however, has been robbed, as it has been neglected for years.
According to Chowdhury, the stone says Jamini Sundori Bashak, the zamindar of Pabna's Dilalpur, patronised for a Rath made up of bronze at Madhnagar in 1867. He also raised a Bishnu temple at the site.
Till the partition in 1947, the Rath Jatra festival was organised every monsoon. The month-long festival would draw devotees from across the then Indian subcontinent, locals said.
The bronze Rath, which used to be in front of the temple, is still there. Most of its grandeur, however, has been robbed, as it has been neglected for years.
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