User:Prasanna Banerjee/sandbox

History and Heritage of Goddess Dwarbasini and its surrounding areas-A focus on potential rural tourism.

Abstract:It is a recognised fact that tourism is one of the sources of job creation, poverty reduction and economic development of an area.It has also been considered as world's largest industry which would be an instant source of income of the backward country.The district of Birbhum, WB, India has enough potential for the development of tourism industry, hidden in its attractions and resources department.

In this article I have tried to discuss the nature, history and heritage of Goddess Dwarbasini and its surrounding areas of Birbhum district.It also depicts the status of rural tourism and infrastructure facilities of the study area.Future pattern of tourism industry,Govt policies, basic problems and its possible remidies has also been focused in this article.

Keywords: History and Heritage of Goddess Dwarbasini and its surroundings.

Introduction: Rural tourism is a new form of activity that can bring economic and social benefits of the society.In India, Tourism, the booming and faster growing industry, next to the oil and jewellery industry, contributes 6.23% to the national GDP and provide direct and indirect employment to 6.4% of the total employees (WTTC-2009).It can upgrade the quality of life of significant portion of the poor and needy people reside in rural areas lacking from basic needs like food, clothes and shelters.

Birbhum district in West Bengal is well-known for its natural, historical and cultural heritage that has been randerd through various religious temples in the countryside, physical and natural glory from dense flora and fauna and also the remnants of historic evidences.

Birbhum attracts devotees for its insitu "SAKTIPITHAS"(SAKTI=the mother goddess, a female creative force;"PITHAS=seat) which connects itself to the mythology (Chakraborty,et.ac-2008). Dwarbasini is legendary'SAKTIPITHAS'of Birbhum.

Objectives:The objectives of the present study are two folds, to find out the relevance of rural tourism in the light of present socioeconomic condition of Birbhum district and to evaluate the potentialities of economic empowerment of the study area.

The following objectives are also considerable for this study- I) To study the status and infrastructure of tourism at Dwarbasini.

II) To identify the basic problems, attractions, heritage and certain remidies for sustainable tourism.

Methodology:

In this paper both primary and secondary data's are used and this are collected from different refferences mentioned below and from direct interviews.

Location:

Dwarbasini is a shakti goddess, the stony Idolic form of goddess Durga.The temple of the goddess is situated on the bank of the Dwaraka river (also called 'The Babla') one of the tributary of Bhagirathi and at the end of Deaucha-Boliharpur road the village Chandrapur, Birbhum.Latitudinal and Longitudinal extension of the study area is 23.9916°N and 87.50425°E.

From Kolkata to Rampurhat or Sainthia by train and then by Bus or Car through Sainthia-Boliharpur road or Rampurhat- Deaucha over NH60 and then Deaucha to Dwarbasini temple via Sarenda. History: Dwarbasini is a 'SINI' goddess, are actually pre Aryan goddess like Palashbasini,Nimbobasini etc.Probably she was worshipped by Santals and Paharia Mals.This temple was built up by the priest family near about 50 to 60 years ago.Before this temple was made and covered with the Bamboo umbrella,made by Santals and they called it 'CHANDI BANGA'.

From the folk story and evidences from manuscripts supplied by Mr.Purna Chandra Banerjee,one of the eldest member of the present priest family,we get the following hidden history of Goddess Dwarbasini-

I) Responsibilities (CHAKRAN SATTO)of worship was given by the Santals; mainly to the sons of Gouri Sundary,who was the only daughter of our forefather Tilaknath Sarma,in Bengali year1203 when Ashar Jaman Khan,the Nawab of Bengal ruled this area.

II) Thereafter, the Nawab sold his properties to Malla Rajas and Hetampur Rajas.

III)In 14 th January 1929 by 103 amendment of construction,the priest family achieved their rights for warship as a SHEBAYET by court instead of CHAKRAN SATTO.

IV) Folk story also says that our forefather Umacharan Sarma was killed by Santals at the time of Santal Rebellion.

Attractions and Heritage of the study area:

In our study area you will get a close up of nature and a cold water spring with reddish coloured water in its source area.This is also said by priest family that RED WATER of spring is nothing but blood of the monk who had taken DEBI DWARBASINI here by his deep devotion.A more than 50 years old temple with stony idols of Durga,Laxmi, Saraswati, Kartik, Ganesh and Manasha is on the meandering course of the river Dwarka.Lovely SAAL and MOHUA forest which enriching the natural beauty of the study area.An one day fair (Mela)with more than 50 thousands of pilgrims gathering occurred every year at Makar Sankranti.At the night of Vijaya Dashami and also at the night of first day of Magh,a special puja for the monk who brought Devi Dwarbasini by his deep devotion is taken place.At the end Khichuri bhog is distributed to the devotees.Otherwise PIAS BHOG (sweet milk boiled rice) is dedicated to the goddess every day.

In our study area we get the following evidences or processess i.e heritage with special meaning in group memory-

I) Historical heritage:

The history of the Mughals ruled in Bengal and the Santal Rebellion taken place in this area.

II) Cultural heritage:

The legacy of physical artifact's and tangible or intangible attributes like folk song of the Santals,handcrafts of Paharia Mal's and Santals is also rememberable.

III)Natural heritage:

Deep and dense in forest of Saals, Geology of Gondwana periods,vast reserver of Coal, plateau like landscape and landforms and one cold water spring gives special attractions to the visitors.

Present infrastructure, status, problems and solutions:

Dwarbasini is an ideal unit of rural tourism.Physiographically the area is a part of Chatonagpur plateau with fairly dense forest mainly Saal,Mahua etc with shadow and pollution free air.One old temple with broad and sufficient Fairfield,two solar lights and one tubewell enlightened on it's present infrastructure.Connectivity of roads is not sufficient. With the help of individual perception,I have tried to find out the following problems of the study area-

I) Lacking of proper electrification, mainly in the temple premises.

II) Absence of Guest houses, hotels and proper market is also mentionable.

III) Connectivity of roads is not sufficient.

IV)Per capita income of the inhabitants of the study area is as low as the national average.

V)Most of the people earning from primary sectors, mainly from agriculture,Saal leaf collection etc.Secondary and Tertiary sectoral labourers are less in numbers.Stone quarries are enriching the economic conditions of this area but present socio economic and political conditions are not suitable for the betterment of this area.

Recommendations for further development:

Following recommendations can be said as to reduce the above mentioned problems of the study area-

I) Building up

of Government and private guest houses.

II) Proper infrastructural development of the Cold water spring along with the banks of the Dwaraka.

III) Arrangement of proper drinking water supply, electric supply, smooth communication system re construction of river pump for agricultural development.

IV) Proper advertisement and

V) heartful interest of the local administration and also from the local investors.    Following graphical illustration may be suggested as to reduce the backwardness via the development of tourism-

Identification of potential tourist spots.



Framing stratigies of development.



Reduction of Backwardness.



1.Govt efforts.

2.Private efforts.

3.Local efforts.



a)Local linkage.

b) Bringing local products to the proposed market.

c) Employing local poors.

d) Involving the locals in tourism.

e) Making tourist friendly

environment and encourage

tourists.

Conclusion :At the end of the paper I conclude that if the proper attention is given to its potentialities, Dwarbasini would be one of the leading tourist spot in Birbhum as like as Tarapith and Bakeshwar.

Acknowledgments:It is our pride privilege and duty to acknowledge Mr.P.C Banerjee for his deep and heartful contribution for the betterment of this article.

Reference:1) International journal of cultural research and academic review:Raj Kumar Samanta . 2) Wikipedia-Dwarbasini. 3)Local folk story and documentary from priest family. 4)O'Malley,L.SS,ISS, Birbhum,Bengal Dist Gazatters,P.5,1995reprint. 5)Ananda bazar Patrika. 6) District human development report-2008. 7)Geo Analyst,a research journal of social sciences by Sukanta Das 8)Rarher somaj,orthoniti o gono bidroho-Ranjan Gupta.