Once, the Raja (king) of Chanchal, Malda, would ride an elephant, accompanied by traditional musicians, as the idol of “Singhabahini” was carried from the royal palace to the Paharpur Chandi Mandap, about 1.5km away.
There, the deity was worshipped as Mata Chandi or Goddess Durga.
Today, the king and his kingdom are gone, but the nearly 350-year-old Durga Puja tradition associated with Chanchal Rajbari continues to thrive, sustained by faith and participation of residents.
With the last king, Saratchandra Roychowdhury, having no descendants, the palace is now under the management of a government-appointed Trust board.
Much of the historic building has been repurposed, housing the Chanchal subdivisional court, the subdivisional headquarters, other administrative offices and Chanchal College, leaving only a small portion as the Rajbari itself.
Yet, the changes have done little to diminish the fervour surrounding the traditional Durga Puja at Paharpur Chandi Mandap. The Trust board provides financial assistance for the annual celebration, while people preserve the centuries-old rituals.
According to sources in the Chanchal Rajbari Estate Trust and locals, a substantial portion of the palace property was sold in the past.
The Paharpur Chandi Mandap continues to be the site for the royal family’s traditional worship.
The rituals begin 12 days before Saptami, on Krishna Navami, when water is brought in copper pitchers from Satighat on the Mahananda river and the ceremonial pitcher is installed.
This marks the beginning of the “Rajbarir Puja”.
Priests Achintya Mishra, Soumitra Chakraborty, Titu Bandyopadhyay and Surajit Banerjee conduct the worship with the chanting of sacred mantras.
Daily rituals continue until the evening of Dashami, while verses from the “Sri Sri Chandi” are recited aloud every evening.
Partha Chakraborty, secretary of the Chanchal Rajbari Estate Trust and teacher-in-charge of Chanchal Siddheswari Institution, said the Trust board allocates funds for the annual celebration.
“This year, ₹9,000 was allocated by the Trust board for the Puja. Residents have also extended their cooperation. Whatever may be the budget, rituals are conducted elaborately and with full faith,” he said.
Local accounts trace the origins of the tradition to around 350 years ago, when an ancestor of King Saratchandra Roychowdhury is said to have recovered an “ashtadhatu” (eight-metal mix) idol of the goddess from Satighat on the Mahananda river. The idol was subsequently installed in the Thakurbari adjoining the palace.
According to lore, the royal family received a divine instruction in a dream to worship the “ashtadhatu” idol of “Singhabahini Chandi” as Goddess Durga. The practice has continued ever since.
On the morning of Saptami, the “ashtadhatu” idol is carried in a procession from the Thakurbari to the Chandi Mandap, where it is placed beside the clay idol of the Goddess. Kumari Puja is performed on Maha Ashtami as part of the traditional rituals.
For generations, the residents have believed that the Goddess of the Chandi Mandap protects them.
The celebration also reflects a longstanding spirit of communal harmony. During the immersion procession on the evening of Dashami, Muslims line up with lanterns, lighting up the goddess’s way as the idols are taken out of the Chandi Mandap.
They walk in the procession, holding the lanterns high, bidding farewell to
the Devi.