Bali Dewanganj

Bali Dewanganj (also referred to as only Bali) is a village and a gram panchayat in the Goghat I CD block in the Arambagh subdivision of Hooghly district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Geography

Location

Bali Dewanganj is located at . It is 13 km from Arambagh on the Arambagh-Ghatal Road.

Area overview

The Arambagh subdivision, presented in the map alongside, is divided into two physiographic parts – the Dwarakeswar River being the dividing line. The western part is upland and rocky – it is extension of the terrain of neighbouring Bankura district. The eastern part is flat alluvial plain area. The railways, the roads and flood-control measures have had an impact on the area. The area is overwhelmingly rural with 94.77% of the population living in rural areas and 5.23% in urban areas.

Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.

Demographics

As per the 2011 Census of India, Bali had a total population of 4,063 of which 2,093 (52%) were males and 1,970 (48%) were females. Population in the age range 0–6 years was 376. The total number of literate persons in Bali was 2,922 (79.25% of the population over 6 years).

Culture

Bali Dewanganj is a temple town. The Rautpara neighbourhood alone has five temples, but unfortunately out of these, three are in a dilapidated condition. The Mangal Chandi temple is said to have had 13 pinnacles, and all of them have fallen. In the other two ruined temples one can still see one pinnacle each. The most important structure is the 200-years old Durga temple, maintained by the state archaeological department. It is a rare and unique structure, with a ''nava ratna'' superstructure placed on a ''Jor Bangla base''. The Shiva kutir is another place in ruins. A ''ras mancha'' still has some terracotta decorations. The pictures in the gallery show a small selection of terracotta work in the different temples.

David J. McCutchion mentions:
*The Shiva Durga temple of Raut Family as a '' Jor Bangla'' with a ''nava ratna'' tower, measuring 21’ 10" square, with terracotta on façade, built possibly in the 18th century.
*The Damodara temple of the Ghosh family, as a Midnapore type ''at chala'', measuring 22’ x 19’ 6", built in 1822.
*The Vishnu temple of Raut Family at Rautpara as a ''pancha ratna'' with curved ridging to the turrets, with slight terracotta, measuring 22’ 6" square.
*The Mangal Chandi temple, with rich terracotta decoration but ruined, is said to have had 13 turrets.

The temple of Shiva Durga at Bali Dewanganj (at Sr No S-WB-58) is included in the List of State Protected Monuments in West Bengal by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Bali Dewanganj picture gallery

File:Shiva Durga temple or simply, Durga temple of Bally Diwanganj of Goghat PS in Hooghly district of West Bengal (07).jpg, The Shiva Durga temple (or simply Durga temple) with the Vishnu temple in the background
File:Shiva Durga temple or simply, Durga temple of Bally Diwanganj of Goghat PS in Hooghly district of West Bengal (118).jpg, The massive terracotta panel in Shiva Durga temple
File:Shiva Durga temple or simply, Durga temple of Bally Diwanganj of Goghat PS in Hooghly district of West Bengal (19).jpg, Terracotta panel in Shiva Durga temple
File:Vishnu temple of Rautpara in Bally Dewanganj, Goghat PS, Hooghly district 36.jpg, Vishnu temple in Rautpara
File:Damodar temple, Ghosh family temple, Bally Dewanganj 20.jpg, Damodar temple of Ghosh family
File:Damodar temple, Ghosh family temple, Bally Dewanganj 12.jpg, Terracotta relief in Damodar temple
File:Dilapidated temple of Dalal para of Bally Dewanganj 01.jpg, Lakshmi Janardan temple at Dalapara in a dilpidated condition
File:Dilapidated temple of Dalal para of Bally Dewanganj 39.jpg, Terracotta relief in Lakshmi Janardan temple
File:Mangal Chandi temple of Rautpara in Bally Dewanganj, PS Goghat, Hooghly district 09.jpg, Magal Chandi temple at Rautpara. All the 13 turrets are gone.
File:Mangal Chandi temple of Rautpara in Bally Dewanganj, PS Goghat, Hooghly district 05.jpg, Terracotta relief in Mangal Chandi Temple
File:Shib kuthi of Bally Dewanganj 37.jpg, ''Shib kuthi''
File:Das Durga temple of Rautpara in Bally Dewanganj, Goghat PS, Hooghly district 02.jpg, Durga temple of Das family at Rautpara
File:Rasa Mancha of Bally Dewanganj 12.jpg, ''Rasa Mancha''
File:Rasa Mancha of Bally Dewanganj 04.jpg, One of the many decorative pieces in ''Rasa Mancha''

Click on the pictures to enlarge picture size

References

External links

{{Temple towns in West Bengal

Villages in Hooghly district