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Thursday, May 28, 2009

Dhakeshwari National Temple

Dhakeshwari National Temple is a famous Hindu temple in Dhaka, Bangladesh and is state-owned, giving it the distinction of Bangladesh's "National Temple". The name "Dhakeshwari" means "Goddess of Dhaka". The temple is located southwest of the Salimullah Hall of Dhaka University. Since the destruction of Ramna Kali Mandir in 1971 by the Pakistan Army during the Bangladesh Liberation War, the Dhakeshwari Temple has assumed status as the most important Hindu place of worship in Bangladesh. The origin of the Dhakeshwari temple is obscure. According to popular legend, the original temple was built in 12th century by Ballal Sen, a king of the Sena dynasty, and the name of the city was coined after this temple but has its origins during the Gupta when ruled most of Bengal. But the researchers found that the style of architecture of the temple cannot be dated to that period. The temple complex has undergone repairs, renovation and rebuilding in its long years of existence and its present condition does not clearly show any of its original architectural characteristics. Nevertheless, it is considered an essential part of Dhaka's cultural heritage. The temple is located in Old Dhaka right behind the campus of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. There is a permanent altar outside the main temple premises. It hosts the yearly Puja (worship) of the goddess Durga. Inside the main temple premises, there are four identical structures devoted to the god Shiva. To the east of these is the main temple, which hosts the statue of the goddess. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/)

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