New Throne For Ramakrishna's Kali

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CALCUTTA, Saturday, March 29, 2003 - The 148-year-old throne of the

Kali image at the Dakshineswar temple — before which both Ramakrishna

and Vivekananda meditated for hours — will be replaced by a new one

on Saturday.

 

The new 10-foot-high throne will replace the old wooden structure

encased in silver. Trustees had decided to replace it with a new one

of similar size and design when, 10 years ago, it was discovered that

the structure had become weak after years of daily puja and other

rituals. A reputed jewellery company, which was given the charge of

making the new throne, took more than three years to complete it.

 

Kusal Chowdhury, secretary, Dakshineswar Kali Temple and Debottar

Estate, said: "Devotees will witnesses a historic moment tomorrow.

The process of replacing the throne will be accompanied by day-long

rituals." Among those expected to witness the change are Union

tourism and culture minister Jagmohan, minister of state for

northeast development Tapan Sikdar and the general secretary of

Ramakrishna Mission and Math, Swami Smaranananda. A number of state

ministers have been invited.

 

The temple authorities have decided to put on display the original

throne in the temple.

 

According to Chowdhury, the throne was first installed in 1855, when

Rani Rashmoni established the temple. Ten years ago, trustees had

detected that the wood inside the silver casing had started to rot

and the 12 wooden columns were feeble. Since then, the temple

authorities had used external support to prop it up.

 

But even after the decision to replace it was taken, seven long years

passed for the temple authorities to get the necessary clearance.

Soon after noticing the cracks, the trustees held a meeting on July

23, 1993, and adopted a resolution to change the throne. Then, board

of trustees' chairman Tapas Banerjee, who was appointed by Calcutta

High Court as special officer, was approached.

 

Based on an appeal by the trustees, Justice Umesh Chandra Banerjee of

the high court directed that the work start on September 20, 1993.

Artisans were finally engaged in 2000 to rebuild the throne.

 

"From the beginning, we gave priority to two points. We told the

agency making the new throne that it must be of the same size and

design as the original. The second point was that silver must be the

key material," Chowdhury said.

 

The artisans took three years to make the new throne, as they

meticulously maintained the design and detailing of the original

one. "All the 12 columns are encased in silver. We have used Burma

teak for the frame on top. So, it is expected to last another century

without any problem," the secretary added.

 

Source:

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1030329/asp/calcutta/story_1817698.asp#

Courtesy of HPI (Hindu Press International)