Shri Laxminarayan Temple, Kolkata

Shri Laxminarayan Temple, Bhawanipur, Kolkata is a Hindu temple located in South Kolkata at Sarat Bose Road in Bhawanipore locality Kolkata. It was established in 1952 by Gujarati Vaishnav community of town. The temple houses deities of Lakshmi Narayana, Rama \- Sita \- Lakshmana and Shiva Lingum in main Garbhagriha. Also there are idols of Hanumanji, Ganesha in side panel.[1][2][3][4]

The temple complex also houses Dharamshala offering cheap lodging facilities and also has large hall, which they offer at rent for functions like social meeting, marriage and discourse. It is managed by a non-profit charitable trust founded by Gujarati diaspora of town. In 1950 the community organized a Bhagavata Purana discoursed by Dongre Maharaj, in which a lot of funds was collected as way of donation.[5] From these money the Dharamshala was built. The complex is named after Chhagan Bapa, a noted social worker from Gujarati community of the city, who took initiative to collect money and foundation of trust to buy land for temple as well as the Lakshminarayan Hospital.[5] In 1978 Shrimad Sudhindra Thirtha Swamiji camped in Lakshmi Narayan Temple Guest House and organised discourse, thus bringing together South Indians living in Calcutta to come together to bring an association for themselves[6][5]

During elections temple is popular place to hold election rally to address Gujarati people who have significant population in Bhawanipur area of Kolkata.[3][7]

Gujarati people of city organize their traditional Dandiya Raas an Garba every year in Navratri started in late 1950s in the temple campus keeping alive their tradition.[8] Also every year on eve of Hindu New Year the community assembles to greet each other on new year.

## References

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1. ^ "লক্ষ্মী-নারায়ণ মন্দিরে গিয়ে আরতি মমতার". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd (in Bengali). Retrieved 17 December 2023.
2. ^ "CM Mamata offers prayers at Laxmi Narayan Mandir in Bhabanipur". Yahoo News. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
3. ^ a b "Bengal: Mamata Banerjee campaigns in poll-bound Bhabanipur, visits temple | Indiablooms - First Portal on Digital News Management". Indiablooms.com. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
4. ^ "मस्जिद के बाद दीदी की मंदिर में दस्तक: गैर बंगालियों के बीच कहा- हिंदुस्तान को तालिबान नहीं बनने देंगे". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Retrieved 17 December 2023.
5. ^ a b c Natwarlal Devram Jethwa (1998) Diary of Golden Days at Jharia – A Memoir & History of Gurjar Kashtriya Samaj of Kutch in Coalfields of Jharia. Raja Pawan Jethwa (ed.). Calcutta. Lifesketch - ShriChhaganlal Karamshi Parekh (1894-1968) page.28
6. ^ Nair, P. Thankappan (2004). South Indians in Kolkata: History of Kannadigas, Konkanis, Malayalees, Tamilians, Telugus, South Indian Dishes, and Tippoo Sultan's Heirs in Calcutta. Punthi Pustak. pp. 98, 103. ISBN 978-81-86791-50-9. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
7. ^ "मस्जिद के बाद दीदी की मंदिर में दस्तक: गैर बंगालियों के बीच कहा- हिंदुस्तान को तालिबान नहीं बनने देंगे". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Retrieved 17 December 2023.
8. ^ "Innovation with tradition: Kolkata's expansive Garba culture". www.telegraphindia.com. The Telegraaph India. Retrieved 17 December 2023.