Guptipara

Guptipara is a village in Balagarh,[1] a community development block that forms an administrative division in the Sadar subdivision of the Hooghly district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Guptipara
Village
Guptipara
Location in West Bengal, India
Guptipara
Guptipara (India)
Coordinates: 23.2103°N 88.4043°E / 23.2103; 88.4043
Country India
StateWest Bengal
DistrictHooghly
Population
 (2011)
 • Total2,169
Languages
 • OfficialBengali, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Lok Sabha constituencyHooghly
Vidhan Sabha constituencyBalagarh

Geography
Cities and towns in the Chinsurah subdivision (except Polba Dadpur and Dhaniakhali CD Blocks) in Hooghly district
M: municipal city/ town, CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre,
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Guptipara sits beside the Hooghly River that divides Guptipara into two parts (Panchayat I and II are situated in the western part and Panchayat III is situated on the eastern side). Two oxbow lakes, Dekol and Dhama, are situated at the northern and southern end of Guptipara, respectively. Before the 15th century, many parts of Guptipara sank and were covered by lakes and rivers. [note 1][2] The Dekol was connected with the Hooghly by the Muri Ganga channel, which can no longer be traced. During floods, water from the river enters through the Muri Ganga Path before it reunites with Dekol. An increase in population and farming, floods, the STKK road and railway lines define the landscape. The village is part of the Hooghly-Burdwan rice belt.

History

Guptipara is the home of Bengal's first "Barowari" (English: publicly organized) Durga Puja which introduced Sri Bindhabasini Jagaddhatri Puja (Worshipping Devi Durga introduced by Lord Rama), with a club named Bindhyabasini. It is now known as Bindhyabasini Mata. In the 1760s, a group of men were stopped from taking part in the household Durga Puja of the ruling Sen family. In retaliation, twelve of these men formed a committee and organised a modern club culture called "Barowari Puja." (In SanskritBar means Public or community and in Farsi wari means By or for)[3][4] Opinions vary about the year of commencement of the Barowari puja. Some believe it to be 1760 while others claim it to be 1790.[5][6]

Bindhyabasini Temple, Guptipara. The place of first Barwari puja of Undivided Bengal.

Guptipara was one of the main places in ancient India where the "Sanskrit Toles" and Pandith lived. "Pathmahal," "Raghu Nath" Mandir, and Mela were situated throughout Guptipara in large numbers. Many old manuscripts and books are preserved in the "Sisir Bani Mandir Pathagar", the government library.

Guptipara is the birthplace of folk singer Bhola Moira,[7] and of Diwan Mohanlal, the Commander in Chief of King Siraj ud-Daulah.[8]

In Mohanlal's Memory

The temple complex at Brindaban Chandra's Math houses four Vaishnava Temples: Chaitanya, Brindabanchandra, Ramchandra and Krishnachandra. The Ramchandra Temples contain many terracotta works,[3] and the structures bear characteristics of the Bengal school of architecture, with carvings depicting scenes from the epics and Puranas.[3]

Krishnachandra Temple, Guptipara, Hooghly
Ramchandra Temple
Vrindabanchandra Temple
The temple complex in Guptipara, Hooghly.

Guptipara was a citadel of Vaishnavite culture. Even today, residents observe Ras, Dol and Ratha-Yatra, which is Guptipara’s greatest festival. The Guptipara ratha (English: ceremonial chariot), one of the tallest and oldest rathas in West Bengal, is said to cover the second-longest distance in India after that of Puri. On the day before the Ultorath (the homecoming of Lord Bridabanchandra), a festival known as "Bhandarloot" is held in Guptipara. Many people across Eastern India come gather there to pull the ropes of the ratha.

Guptipara is the home of the first branded Bengali "Gupo sandesh," a special kind of sweetmeat.[3]

Demographics

As per the 2011 Census of India, the population was 2,169, of which 1,090 (50%) were males and 1,079 (50%) were females. 192 of the population was below age 6. The literacy rate was 83.92% of the population over age 6.[9]

Transport

Guptipara can be reached from Kolkata or Howrah on the suburban train service. Local trains from Howrah, Katwa and Bandel stop at Guptipara railway station. Train service is also available from Sealdah. Guptipara is 74 km (46 mi) from Howrah and 35 km (22 mi) from Bandel on the Bandel–Katwa Branch Line.[10]

Guptipara is connected by roadways, including the Assam (S.T.K.K.) Road.

Buses are available from district headquarters Chinsurah & Kalna (Kalna–Chinsurah 8 No. Private Bus), Burdwan (Guptipara–Burdwan) and Tarakeswar (Guptipara–Tarakeswar).

Ferry service to Guptipara is available from Shantipur and Tarapur.

Autorickshaw services are available from Jirat (Jirat–Guptipara) and from Kalna (Kalna–Guptipara).

Sports

The two main sports clubs are over one-hundred and twenty years old: The Gupitara Football Club and the Gupitara Premier League. The Guptipara Football Club, Aida Milani Sangha, and the Guptipara Cricket Association arrange regular tournaments. The Guptipara Premier League in cricket received some fame and came into the spotlight of Bengal Media. These clubs organize football tournaments at Guptipara.

Administration

Guptipara is divided into three administrative parts, or gram panchayats. Guptipara I covers areas like Guptipara Station Road, Satgachia, Bandhagachi, Pathmahal, Mirdanga, Tengripara, and Saradanagar villages. Guptipara II covers the largest area with Manasatala, Pathakpukur, Beldanga, Kumorpara, Chutorpara, Baburdanga, Aryanagar, Rathsadak, Jamtala, Behula, Ghoshpara, Sondolpur, Rampur, Aida, and Baire, as well as many other small villages. Guptipara III covers Fultala, Char-Krishnabati, Benali, Shaktipur etc.

Guptipara is under The Hooghly Lok Sabha and Balagarh Vidhan Sabha.

Heads of Administration

Education

College

Saroj Mohan Institute of Technology

Higher Secondary schools
  • Guptipara High School (est. 1890, Near Guptipara police outpost, Bhattacharya Para. Co-ed) [11]
    Saroj Mohon Institute of Technology
  • Guptipara Girls High School (est. 1950, Hugli. Co-ed) [12]

Secondary schools
  • Satyabrata Balika Vidyalaya (Girls Only)[13]
  • Krishna Bati Char High School (Co-Ed)[14]
  • Satgachia High School (Co-Ed)[15]
  • Natagarh High School (Co-Ed)[16]
  • Sultanpur Alia Sr. Madarasah School (Co-Ed)[17]
  • Satgachia Balika Vidyalaya (Girls only)

Mission
  1. Hindu Mission Boys Welfare Home

Festivals and culture
Guptipara Rath

Guptiparans celebrate several events: Ratha Yatra, Jagadhatri Puja, Durga Puja, Dol Yatra, Jhapan, Kali Puja and many local festivals, including Guptipara Rathayatra.

Ratha-Yatra
Main article: Guptipara Rathayatra
Chariot of Guptipara

Ratha Yatra is the main attraction. At approximately 2 km, the Guptipara Ratha covers the second largest distance in India.[7] It starts from the temple complex in Lord Brindaban Chandra Temple and stretches to Lord Gopal Temple at Borobazar, Guptipara. Approximately one million people gather there to celebrate the Ratha Yatra.

Jagaddhatri Puja

Barowari committees and houses organize Jagadhatri Puja. The main attraction is a firecracker competition and procession that takes place on the last evening of the Puja.

Durga Puja

Like other areas of Bengal, Guptipara hosts Durga Puja. Puja from the Sen's house is one of the oldest traditions in Bengal. The famous clubs who organize Durga Puja are United Club, Saradanagar New Young Star, Bandhagachi Barowari, Azad hind Club, SMIT, Jagarani Sangha, Durga Mandir, Nirbhik Sangha, Daspara Barowari, Bhumijpara Barowari, Swaralipi Club, Evergreen, Aryanagar Barowari, and Sasthitala Barowari. At least 100 small and big pujas have been organized here.

Kali Puja

The main attractions are Desh Kali Puja & Mashal Kali Puja (Deceits Kali). Flares are often used in the procession of Mashal Kali Puja.

Food

Signature dishes include:

  • Famous Pitai Porota
  • Singara (Samosa)
  • Famous Nalen Gurer Sandesh
  • Kachuri
  • gupo sondes

References
  1. "District Wise List of Statutory Towns( Municipal Corporation,Municipality,Notified Area and Cantonment Board) , Census Towns and Outgrowths, West Bengal, 2001". Census of India: Final Population Totals, West Bengal. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Archived from the original on 30 March 2007. Retrieved 25 March 2007.
  2. Long, James (June 1974). Sen Gupta, Sankar (ed.). Calcutta And Its Neighbourhood: History of people and localities from 1690 to 1857. Calcutta: Indian Publications.
  3. Sengupta, Tithiparna (26 March 2006). "Next weekend you can be at ... Guptipara". The Telegraph. Retrieved 25 March 2007.
  4. "Durga Puja Festival in West bengal". Yellowpages.com. Retrieved 1 February 2008.
  5. "Durga Puja". Calcuttaweb. Archived from the original on 12 April 2007. Retrieved 25 March 2007.
  6. "History of Durga Puja". Festivals: Durga Puja. iloveindia.com. Retrieved 25 March 2007.
  7. Datta, Rangan (6 September 2009). "Next Weekend you can be at ... Guptipara". The Telegraph. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  8. Amalendu Dey (2012). Sirajer putro o bangsadharder Sandhane (in Bengali). Kolkata: Parul Prakashani Pvt. Ltd. p. 49. ISBN 9789382300472.
  9. "C.D. Block Wise Primary Census Abstract Data(PCA)". 2011 census: West Bengal – District-wise CD Blocks. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  10. Railway local timetable
  11. Guptipara High School
  12. Guptipara Girls High School
  13. Satyabrata Balika Vidyalaya
  14. Krishna Bati Char High School
  15. Satgachia High School
  16. Natagarh High School
  17. Sultanpur Alia Sr. Madarasah School

Notes
  1. Reverend Long wrote in ‘Calcutta Review’ 1846, ‘The River (the Bhagirathi) formerly flowed behind Kalna where old Kalna now is, and it passed by Pyagachi, the remains of deep and large lakes.'
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