Page 285 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

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The National Library in Alipore, with its colonnaded verandah
another building on the same the death of his wife, Sati pats, a distinctive painting style
grounds. Built in the Italian (an incarnation of Parvati), adopted by the scroll-painters
Renaissance style, the original slung her body on his shoulders of Bengal. They use paper and
building, Belvedere, was once and danced the terrible tandava water-based paints, instead
the residence of the lieutenant nritya (dance of death), destroying of tempera, to depict contem-
governors of Bengal. everything in his path. To stop porary subjects. A good
Further down are the lush the carnage, Vishnu flung his collection of Kalighat pats
gardens of the Agri Horticultural magic chakra (discus) at Sati’s is on display at the Indian
Society, founded in 1820 by the body, and the dismembered Museum (see pp280–81).
missionary William Carey (see pieces scattered across the land.
p291) to develop and promote The spot where the little toe
agriculture and horticulture in fell became Kalighat, and some t Nirmal Hridaya
India. In the first 40 years of the believe that the name Kolkata 251 Kalighat Rd. Tel (033) 2464 4223.
society’s existence, seeds, bulbs is derived from this. Open 8–11am & 3–5pm daily.
and ornamental plants were The present Kali Temple dates
imported from England, South to the early 19th century, but Mother Teresa’s home for the
Africa and Southeast Asia. Since this has been a sacred spot destitute, Nirmal Hridaya (“Pure
then it has amassed a varied for much longer. The image of Heart”) is near the Kali Temple.
collection of rare flowering trees the goddess in the dark inner The site was prob ably chosen
and herbs. It’s also an excellent sanctum is of a wild, untamed as this holy place teems with
place to buy winter annuals. figure, with tangled tresses poor and old people, who
and wide, ferocious eyes. come here to die and
Her extended tongue attain moksha. A large,
r Kalighat has a gold covering, clean hall is full of beds
which is changed every for the sick and dying,
Ashutosh Mukherjee Rd. Open daily.
day. The temple is who are cared for
Kolkata’s oldest pilgrimage always crowded, by nuns, in their
site, Kalighat finds mention in especially characteristic
numerous medieval poems and on Tuesdays white-and-blue
ballads. Legend has it that the and Saturdays. saris. Visitors
god Shiva, in a fury of grief at Kalighat who want
has, over the to work as
years, become volunteers must
synonymous The brick-and-mortar spire of the first register at
with Kalighat Kali Temple at Kalighat Mother House.
Mother Teresa (1910–1997)
Mother Teresa, born Agnes Gonxa Bojaxhiu in
Albania, came to Calcutta in 1929 to begin life
as a teacher. The poverty and suffering she saw
impelled her to leave the convent. She set up
the order of the Missionaries of Charity, and her
indefatigable work among the lepers, the
terminally ill, the unwanted and the poor earned
her universal respect and love. To the people of
Kolkata she was just “Mother”, and their love for
her transcended boundaries of religion, class
and community. She was awarded the Nobel Mother Teresa on a
Kalighat painting of two Peace Prize in 1979 and canonized in 2016. postage stamp
wandering mendicants

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