Author: A Staff Reporter
Publication: The Telegraph
Date: March 29, 2003
URL: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1030329/asp/calcutta/story_1817698.asp
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.