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This article has been extracted from
THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908.
OXFORD, AT THE CLAR..."

2015-02-01T14:20:06Z

Created page with "{| class="wikitable" |- |colspan="0"|<div style="font-size:100%"> This article has been extracted from <br/> THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908.<br/> OXFORD, AT THE CLAR..."

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{| class="wikitable"
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|colspan="0"|<div style="font-size:100%">
This article has been extracted from <br/>

THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908.<br/>

OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS.
</div>
|}
[[Category:India|T]]
[[Category:Places|T]]
''Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value. ''

=Tarakeswar=

Village in the Serampore subdivision of Hooghly
District, Bengal, situated in 22° 53' N. and 88° 2' E. Population (1901),
1,032. Tarakeswar is famous for its shrine dedicated to Siva, which
is resorted to by large crowds of pilgrims all the year round. This
temple is richly endowed with money and lands, supplemented by
the offerings of wealthy devotees. It is under the management of a
mahant or priest, who enjoys its revenues for life. Two large religious
gatherings are held annually at Tarakeswar. The first of these, the
Sivaratri, takes place in February ; and the ceremonies enjoined on
this occasion are considered by the followers of Siva to be the most
sacred of all their observances. The three essential rites of the
Sivaratri are : fasting during the day, holding a vigil during the night
and worshipping Siva as the marvellous and interminable lingain,
thereby typifying the exaltation of Siva-worship over that of Vishnu
and Brahma. It is estimated that 20,000 people visit the shrine on the
occasion of this festival. A fair held at the same time continues for
three days. The second great religious festival is the Chaitra Sankranti
(or New Year's eve) falling in April, which is also the day of the
swinging festival. The temple is then visited by persons who come for
penance, or to lead a temporary ascetic life, in fulfilment of vows made
to Siva at some crisis of their lives. The swinging festival of the
present day is a very harmless affair compared with what it was
formerly ; the votaries are merely suspended by a belt, instead of by
hooks pierced through the flesh. The fair on this occasion lasts six
days, and is attended by some 15,000 people. A branch of the East
Indian Railway from Seoraphuli to Tarakeswar was opened in 1885,
and the village can also be reached by the Tarakeswar-Magra Railway.

Tarakeswar - Revision history

Pdewan: Created page with "{| class="wikitable" |- |colspan="0"| This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLAR..."

Pdewan: Created page with "{| class="wikitable" |- |colspan="0"|
This article has been extracted from
THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908.
OXFORD, AT THE CLAR..."