GAURIPUR, Nov 23 -The historical buildings, temples etc., built by the zaminders of Gauripur Royal Estate in the early 18th century have been gradually losing their strength and sheen.
The Hawa Mahal on the top of a hillock at Matiabag area, the Rajbari in the middle of the Gauripur town, Mahamaya temples Kunja Bihari temple and Madan Mohan temple adjacent to the Rajbari are losing their glory and fame.
The Gauripur Estate was acquired by the State of Assam on April 14 in 1957 under the provisions of the Assam State Acquisition of Zamindaris Act, 1951. Following this, more than a thousand inhabitants of Gauripur town submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Goalpara and requested him to provide funds for maintenance of the Goddess Shri Shri Mahamaya and formation of a managing committee for proper maintenance of the deities called Shri Shri Mahamaya, the Kunja Bihari and the Madan Mohan temples. The managing committee consists of seven persons, three from the Royal family, three from among the public (surely from the Hindu section of the public of the locality) and the manager (later on Deputy Commissioner) as president by virtue of office. Since then, the Hindu section of public have been since long enjoying the right of free access to this temple for offering their pujas and sevas and have been performing social and ceremonial occasions in their families like churakaran, annaprasan, marriages etc. But due to division in the Royal family and apathy of some of the leading citizens, the fame and glory of the historic temples have since been lost.
The Government of Assam has sanctioned an amount of Rs 8000 per year as the maintenance fund but that too was not paid for the last 18 years. Considering the gravity of the situation NN Debidar, secretary of the Mahamaya temple committee constructed a few sheds in the eastern and northern areas of the historic Mahamaya playground a few years back but after his departure from the committee, no attempts have been seen to be taken to improve the commercial complex for regular source of income.
Owing to the apathy and inaction of the managing committee, the Gauripur Nagar Unnayan Manch approached the DC Jatindra Nath Lahkar and urged him to constitute a strong committee and he too convened a public meeting on the premises of the temple but due to disruption, he left the meeting venue without taking any action. Since then the condition of the temple complex is beyond description.
Presently the temple of Mahamaya is in a poor state and needs early renovation for revival of its past glory and therefore, the devotees of Gauripur have urged the new Deputy Commissioner (he being the ex-officio president) of the Mahamaya Temple Management Committee to reconstitute a strong committee and early release of the arrear dues to be paid to the managing committee without further delay.
GAURIPUR, Nov 23 -The historical buildings, temples etc., built by the zaminders of Gauripur Royal Estate in the early 18th century have been gradually losing their strength and sheen.
The Hawa Mahal on the top of a hillock at Matiabag area, the Rajbari in the middle of the Gauripur town, Mahamaya temples Kunja Bihari temple and Madan Mohan temple adjacent to the Rajbari are losing their glory and fame.
The Gauripur Estate was acquired by the State of Assam on April 14 in 1957 under the provisions of the Assam State Acquisition of Zamindaris Act, 1951. Following this, more than a thousand inhabitants of Gauripur town submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Goalpara and requested him to provide funds for maintenance of the Goddess Shri Shri Mahamaya and formation of a managing committee for proper maintenance of the deities called Shri Shri Mahamaya, the Kunja Bihari and the Madan Mohan temples. The managing committee consists of seven persons, three from the Royal family, three from among the public (surely from the Hindu section of the public of the locality) and the manager (later on Deputy Commissioner) as president by virtue of office. Since then, the Hindu section of public have been since long enjoying the right of free access to this temple for offering their pujas and sevas and have been performing social and ceremonial occasions in their families like churakaran, annaprasan, marriages etc. But due to division in the Royal family and apathy of some of the leading citizens, the fame and glory of the historic temples have since been lost.
The Government of Assam has sanctioned an amount of Rs 8000 per year as the maintenance fund but that too was not paid for the last 18 years. Considering the gravity of the situation NN Debidar, secretary of the Mahamaya temple committee constructed a few sheds in the eastern and northern areas of the historic Mahamaya playground a few years back but after his departure from the committee, no attempts have been seen to be taken to improve the commercial complex for regular source of income.
Owing to the apathy and inaction of the managing committee, the Gauripur Nagar Unnayan Manch approached the DC Jatindra Nath Lahkar and urged him to constitute a strong committee and he too convened a public meeting on the premises of the temple but due to disruption, he left the meeting venue without taking any action. Since then the condition of the temple complex is beyond description.
Presently the temple of Mahamaya is in a poor state and needs early renovation for revival of its past glory and therefore, the devotees of Gauripur have urged the new Deputy Commissioner (he being the ex-officio president) of the Mahamaya Temple Management Committee to reconstitute a strong committee and early release of the arrear dues to be paid to the managing committee without further delay.
