Doul Govinda Mandir

 

Doul Govinda Mandir is one of the famous temples of Assam. It is situated on the northern banks, on the foot hills of Chandrabharati hill at Rajaduar, North Guwahati. The temple is mainly devoted to Lord Krishna. Besides, there is a Namghar (assamese place of worship) along with the temple within the same premises. Several stories exist regarding this deity and how ‘He’ was brought here by late Ganga Ram Barooah from a place called Sandhyasar near Nalbari. The first structure of Doul Govinda Temple was erected more than one hundred and fifty years ago but it was again renovated in 1966.

Legend

 According to the legends, the idol of Lord Krishna which is consecrated at the sanctum sanctorum was found miraculously. Once it was rumoured that a milch cow, used to free herself and enter the quaint woods of the Sandhya-Jhar, located near the hamlet of Jekeria in Rongia Subdivision of Kamrup district on every predawn. Every day, the cow stopped at a Birina grass bush upon which milk used to flow spontaneously from the udder. When the Sadaar Administrator Gargaram Barooah heard about this strange event, he himself went there on elephant’s back to witness the whole episode. He later on ordered to dig the place and the beautiful idol of Lord Krishna playing the flute was found. Later on, this idol was consecrated in the Doul Govinda Temple on the Holi utsav.

Daily activities of the Doul Govinda Temple start early, with the opening of the doors at seven in the morning. The priest bathes the idol and then performs the Archana. The worshipers start coming in from an hour after this, which continues till the end of the day. In between that, the temple remains closed during the afternoon. In the evening the Arati is performed by singing devotional songs or ‘Kirtaan’. Prasada followed by Bhoga is distributed among the devotees in open hall, during afternoon hours daily. A good number of devotees contribute to the temple Management to offer Bhoga and Sarai on their behalf with or without craving. Such devotees get some amount of Bhoga for taking home from the counter.

The Doul Govinda Temple is famous for celebrating the festivals of Lord Krisna. Different festivals are celebrated in the Doul Govinda temple throughout the year. Among all the festivals celebrated in the temple thefestival of colours is the foremost.

Holi is celebrated here with much fanfare and gaiety in the temple. The festival of Holi is celebrated for a period of five days in the temple. Local people celebrate Holi in the temple by organizing different programmes. During this time of the year thousands of pilgrims gather here in the temple to celebrate the festival of colours. Janamastami is another festival celebrated with equal enthusiasm in the Doul Govinda Mandir like Holi. The celebration of the festival draws a huge number of devotees to the temple.

Throughout the night “puja” and “hom-jagya” is performed in the temple during Janamastami. The temple also celebrates the Maghi Purnima festival. During this time “bhog” is prepared and distributed among the devotees.

Source:

http://www.guwahationline.in/city-guide/doul-govinda-temple

http://www.pilgrimaide.com/doul-govinda-temple-guwahati.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doul_Govinda_Temple

http://www.doulgovinda.org/holi.php

 

 

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