ABOUT SANTIPUR

Description

Santipur under’ the Ranaghat Sub-Division in the District of Nadia in West Bengal is a place of ancient culture, religion, tradition and it has glory of its own. Lord Sri Chaitannya comes to Santipur at Adwaita Path (known as Babla) to take lesson of Sanskrit from Adwaitya Acharya. It may be added herein that Lord Sri Chaitannya when he was going to Sri Khetra (Puri) came to Santipur and stayed seven (7) days with Adwaitya Acharya at Adwaita Path. It was the sacred place where Lord Bijoy Krishna Goswami passed his glorious days of life with religious activities. Its geographical situation is 23°14´24˝ North latitude and 88°29´06˝ longitude. Its situation is very near to the tropic of cancer. There are 10 numbers of Gram Panchayet and 1 Municipality named Santipur Municipality under Santipur Police Station.

Its formation has been made by the silt of River Hooghly or Bhagirathi. Its soil is sandy and no low hight hills, heap or any up and down land are found here. There are no gravel in the soil of it. Babul, spinach and some trees with prickle are its normal plants.
Why its name is Santipur that cannot be said rightly. Normally it is said that in 8th century (probably in 737 Christian era) one high ranking saint named "Shantiban" or "Shantomuni" lived here. According to his name its name is "Santipur". On the other hand a lot of persons remarked that this place is called as Santipur because of its clam quite and crowdless condition. This place was very healthy. It may be stated that newly formed chief of the East India Company or Governor William Hedge came twice at Santipur by boat in 1682 and 1683 and stayed at night.
There are no large scale Industries or Factories at Santipur. But deep Endeavour to set up big Industries is always seen among the residents of Santipur. Cottage Industries of Santipur are World famous and acquired well reputation. The main cottage Industry of Santipur is weaving. This weaving work is about to contemporary of human living at Santipur. The required raw materials of weaving work are grown here. Among the other industries of Santipur the "Amulet" which is popularly known as "Maduli" Industry was remarkable. Besides washing of handloom clothes, woolen sheets and shawls etc. were other remarkable cottage Industries of Santipur. ........................................... ............. ........For wide popularity of Handloom Clothes of Santipur the East India Company established on "clothes kuti " at Santipur for their business of Handloom Clothes in 1830. Besides they set up one Neel Kuti here for their business of "Neel". The relics of the said Neel Kuti are still found at Santipur . There is no church of old days for no burrial ground of the Christans. All the weavers who were solely engaged with the supply of handloom clothes from the clothes kuti that the area is still known as Kutir para. The communication of Santipur to all the area of our Country was done on water ways . At first boats were used. All the places like Fulia, Babla and others were connected with water ways. On running of steamer, regular steamer runs from Santipur to Kolkata. Still there is a Ganges ghat which is known as Steamer Ghat. One narrow gauge Rail line was connected with Santipur from Anhstola by the side of Ranaghat on 05-04-1899. As a result of it Santipur to Kolkata Railway connection was set up. The Boradgauge Railway connection was started from Santipur to Kolkata on 31St May 1925 and thereafter Trains were started on Broad gauge line from Santipur to Kolkata. From Santipur to Nabadwip Narrow gauge connection was started in 1926. Now, State Buses regularly ply from Santipur to several parts of West Bengal.
..........Daily worshipped deities and several types of temple of old days are found at Santipur . Several old mosques are also found here. Out of which the highest brick built temple in West Bengal named Shyam Chand Mandir (Established in 1726), Jaleswar Temple made with the designed Teracotta tiles (Established in 18t" Century) and Top Khana Masjid (in 1702) etc. of Santipur are remarkable.
.........Several sweets of Santipur were very famous in our Country for its self quality. Out of which "Khasa-moa" , "Nikhuti", "Jibegaja" and "Pokkannya" etc. were main Sweets. Other sweets like "Makha Sandesh", "Rosagolla" ,"Pantua" and "Jilapi" etc. were also available at Santipur.
.........Vidyasagar and several other eminent persons have remarked that only the residents of Santipur perfectly speak in Bengali Language. The special style of speaking and some special sentences in Bengali and using of some special words the Bengali language has become very sweet. The culture of Santipur runs on a special standard. Those aspects should be cultured. Some special songs of Santipur enriched the teaching of music of Bengal. The person of Santipur has become too much music lover than in other places.
.........The main festival of Santipur is "Rash". Most of the deities with colourful dresses and golden ornaments take part in the procession at the night of "Bhanga Rash". The deities and "Rairaja" of Santipur are very glamours items of Rash. Another charming items of Rash is the painted p ot,o of "Patteswari Mata". Besides the other seasonal worships such as Bramha, Ganesh Janani, Annapurna and Nitya Kali etc. are very attractive worship of Santipur. ............................... ...........Once upon a time Santipur was a sacred place of teaching Sanskrit. There were about 50 numbers of Tolls i.e. centres of teaching Sanskrit. Those centers spread the Sanskrit language though out the Country and abroad. Now, only one such toll is still functioning at Santipur

 

 SANTIPUR - AT A GLANCE 

 

01. Latitude - 23°14´24˝ & Longitude - 88 °29´06˝

02. Total Population in Rural area - 217318

03. Total Male Population in Rural Area - 111723

04. Total Female Population in Rural Area - 105595

05. Total SC Population in Rural Area - 85352

06. Total ST Population in Rural Area - 8069

07. Total Muslim Population in Rural Area - 23594

08. Total Christian Population in Rural Area - 556

09. Total Sikh Population in Rural Area - 36

10. Total Buddhist Population in Rural Area - 4

11. Total Cultivator in Rural Area - 11040

12. Total Agricultural Worker in Rural Area- 13944

13. Total Municipal Area - 25.88 Sq Km.

14. Total Population in Municipal Area - 138235

15. Total Male Population in Municipal Area - 70089

16. Total Female Population in Municipal Area - 68146

17. Total SC Population in Municipal Area - 29849

18. Total ST Population in Municipal Area - 1283

19. Total Muslim Population in Municipal Area - 26539

20. Total Christian Population in Municipal Area - 11

21. Total Sikh Population in Municipal Area - 12

22. Total Buddhist & Jain Population in Municipal Area - 13 & 5

23. Total Cultivator in Municipal Area - 634

24. Total Agricultural Worker in Municipal Area - 638

 

FESTIVAL OF SANTIPUR 

Santipur is called as "Festival Town". Several Festivals are held throughout the year at Santipur. The meaning of so called proverb " 13'h Festivals in Twelve Months" is rightly applicable at Santipur. Santipur is also famous for harmony of several religions and it is a sacred place for religious activities of Lord Sri Chaitanyya and Adwaitya Acharya.

          The main feature of Festival of Santipur is oriented in religious thinking and unity of folk culture. There are no differences of opinion between the Baishnab and Shakta community at Santipur. It is seen in the several festivals of Santipur. So on the occasion of famous Rash Jatra Festival the Idols of Radha Krishna, Goddess Kali Mata, Satyanarayan, Sarabhuja and many other Idols are worshipped and take part in the procession of "Bhanga Rash". Jagadhattri Puja is famous at Sutragarh. Santipur and several Idols take part in the procession of Jagadhattri Mata.

         The main festival of Santipur is "Rash". Most of the deities with colorful dresses and golden ornaments take part in the procession at the night of "Bhanga Rash". The deities and "Rairaja" of Santipur are very glamorous items of Rash. Another charming item of Rash is the painted photo of "Patteswari Mata". Besides the other seasonal worships such as Bramha, Annapurna, Ganesh Janani and Nitya Kali etc. are very attractive worships of Santipur. Also Bagdevi Mela is famous at Santipur.

..........Two big bamboos are worshipped at Malancha area of Sutragarh on last Sunday of Bengali month Baisakha. Both the bamboos are lying side by side on the ground but it does not touch each other. This is called Gajir Miya's Marriage. Both community of Hindus and Muslims gather here and worship the bamboos and pray for fulfillment of their wishes. One big Mela is also held here for the said occasion and thousands of religious persons from Santipur and outside Santipur congregated here. Also the Mohoram festival of Santipur is very famous.