Goalpara, a small town of Assam, also known as the village of the milk men, is said to have originated from the word “Gwaltippika,which means Guwali village.
Significance of Goalpara district, Assam
From the ancient times, Goalpara has hosted different generations of people with diversified cultures and religious practices with the sense of brotherhood and harmony amongst all. It’s the place of religious importance and beliefs. Goalpara is famous for it’s beautiful nature and it’s mesmerizing views. Here people belonging from different religion and indigenous communities maintain their own culture and integrity harmoniously.
But the recent scenario of Goalpara is somewhat different as the famou religious temples and mosques of Goalpara, for which the region is famous for, are now in a very bad condition. Moreover to our interest, we came to know that most of the people in Assam are still not aware about the significance of the region as well as also about the current situation prevailing over there. We can cite about the Tukreswari temple, which is next to Krishnai Goalpara district.
It’s believed that according to Shiva Purana, Sati, daughter of the dakhya king and wife of Mahadev, burned her body because of her father’s neglected behaviour towards her husband Shiva. Furious Shiva was travelling around with Sati’s dead body on his shoulders and the Tukreswari temple has been created as parts of Sati fell into this Krishnai hill due to the beating of Vishnu’s sudarshan chakra to pacify Shiva.
This religious place has a significance similar to the Maa Kamakhya temple in Nilachal Hills but not everyone is aware of this place even today.
Another seriously endangered religious site in the region is the Paglatek Shiva Temple in Panchratna.
This Shiva temple, located next to the great Brahmaputra, preserves the heritage of the Goalpara region. Shivalinga is located in a huge rock that reveals its nature. However, due to bad road conditions and lack of better transport and communication, the number of people attending this religious event has dropped dramatically, causing economic damage to the region and for the local people.
The Jaybhum Mahamaya Temple is located about 9 km north of Lakhipur. The existence of this temple is connected with the Tukreswari temple. It is believed that Sati’s navel fell on this Jaybhum and it is known that the Jaybhum Mahamaya Durga temple was built after this. It is best to note that the residents around here are Muslim. The existence of this temple continues to have prevalence even today in their efforts. Every year, Muslim community have been helping a lot in the Sharadiya Durga Puja to keep brotherhood and religious tradition alive.
Another famous religious event in Goalpara region is Dargah Sharif in Jaleswar. Located to the west of Lakhipur. Dargah Mazar is famous for its fantastical character. Every year there is a big festival called Uruj. Pilgrims come from nearby towns as well as other parts of Assam. But at the same moment due to the pathetic road conditions it becomes the major problem for connecting people to this religious place.
The lack of adequate and systematic management of these religious institutions, are often overlooked by the authority time and again and a result, these religious places are not preserved.
The importance of Goalpara and it’s beautiful places will be revived if adequate attention and importance is given by the authority as well the people in the name of the social and community welfare of the region as a whole. As these institution needs to be protected and preserved and well maintained for the future generations so as so to maintain the legacy of their own culture and traditional importance of the state.
Sayanika Singha
Cotton University
Pg 1st semester
