বিষ্ণুপুর
Mrinmoyee temple, the oldest temple of Bishnupur was established by King Jagat Malla in 997 AD. According to local history, Maa Mrinmoyee ordered the king in his dreams to build the temple. Goddess Durga is worshipped here as Maa Mrinmoyee. Although the temple had to be reconstructed, the idol made of Ganga clay remained same.
Experience the oldest Durga Puja of Bengal (1021 years) and rich heritage immersing into a different flavor of religious warmth during the Puja. The festival starts with the worship of “Baro thakurani”, “Mejo thakurani” and “Choto thakurani” respectively, after setting up of a clay pot or “Ghat”. On the sacred moment of “Mahastamiia Sandhipuja”, a cannon is fired and then vegetables are sacrificed.
Canon Firing: The ceremonious and ritualistic firing of the auspicious cannon, iconic to the pristine cultural heritage of Bishnupur as the Temple Town of the erstwhile Malla Dynasty, takes place on the twilight juncture of Mahastami and Mahanavami during the Durga Puja festival every year. Tourists from across country and even overseas make a bee — line to this sleepy hamlet in order to savour the atmosphere charged with religious fervor and festive exuberance during this time. The deep sound of the blast of cannon seems to reverberate in the cosmos and creates waves of devotionalism in the minds of the tourists and devotees together.
