Very Sad news

Very Sad news The famous Maa Shyamasundari Kali Temple located in Sukhia street, Maniktala, Kolkata, which was popularly known as the “Living Kali” temple of Kolkata has been closed! The whole fiasco is said to have started when locals of the area around the temple approached Trinamool Congress MP Kunal Ghosh on Jan 1st, alleging mismanagement of the temple by the temple authorities. They alleged that due to the temple receiving droves of devotees, it became difficult for the locals to live their normal day to day lives. Allegedly, ambulances were not allowed inside the narrow alley where the temple is located and raised concerns that people coming into the alley in such large numbers can lead to a dangerous accident anytime. They also claimed unhygienic conditions being created around the temple due to disposal of used plates used to eat prasad by the devotees visiting the temple. Subsequently, many other unfounded allegations started floating about malpractices by the members of the temple administration. The pujaris of the temple allegedly ask devotees visiting the temple to donate large sums of money, expensive sarees and gold ornaments. They apparently also run an illegal business of re-selling the rice that is dedicated as naivedyam to the temple by the visiting devotees. Trinamool MP Kunal Ghosh has also caste doubt on the mystical stories around the temple and insinuated that these are false stories perpetuated by the temple priests to draw more people to the temple and implored people to vosit other kali temples in Kolkata instead. He released two videos in his official YT channel on this issue: https://youtu.be/LqNxmjoAJvU?si=Nfkw01wYBiPrhRVo , https://youtu.be/bTezwvOSXqM?si=dj510ohrm_ZPofr9 Following the heated confrontation between Kunal Ghosh accompanied by the locals and the temple administration, in very early hours of the morning of 2nd January, the temple priests removed the Vigraha of Maa Shyamasundari and the Shivling, wrapped them in cloth, tied them in ropes, placed her on a truck and left. The temple has been closed ever since. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1XXS56tt2g/?mibextid=wwXIfr Later that day, a statement has been released by temple Sevayat Krishnendu on the official facebook and instagram handles of Maa Shyamasundari temple making counter allegations against Kunal Ghosh and TMC party of threatening them with dire consequences if they don’t include members of the party into the temple trust. He brought about grave allegations that the temple administration were even threatened with murder if they didn’t comply to the demands of the TMC party and that the temple administration were already paying Rs. 1 lakh every month to them. He also castigated the news channels that reported on this issue of not hearing and reporting on their side of the story. https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1DCy1eWa3o/?mibextid=wwXIfr News story by Aaj Tak Bangla on this issue: https://youtu.be/rMQi2JN_vDE?si=3Hx8GpTfB581X23m Recent update : https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14qXhX5cXW/?mibextid=wwXIfr TMC goons threatening to occupy the temple As the issue is still developing, the devotees have been divided into two camps. One camp alleges that they were on the receiving end of misbehavior and unreasonable demands of cash or kind from the temple priests when they visited the temple. The other camp maintains that they have been frequenting the temple many times since 2021 when the temple was opened and have never faced any misdemeanor from the temple staff and have offered puja with how much ever little dakshina amount that they wanted to dedicate. It is worth noting that the temple does bhandara twice a day, everyday and feeds devotees for free. And twice a year the temple organizes vastradan where it gives away clothes to devotees for free. It should also be noted that a rate card with different donation amounts starting from Rs.501 to Rs.28,001 has been circulating in the social media as proof that the temple administration coerces the devotees into coughing up cash. However, from personal experience i should clarify that this is untrue. I have been to the temple and was asked if i wanted to donate something for Maa’s Bhog for the Amavasya puja. The amounts started from Rs.1001 and went up to Rs. 28001. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO COERCION INVOLVED AND I WAS ASKED TO DONATE ONLY IF I COULD AND WANTED TO. I have had a very positive experience at the temple. As the matter still develops, notwithstanding the veracity of the allegations and counter-allegations made by either party, it is a very sad development for the devotees of Maa Shymasundari and bodes very ill for us community. There are rumors that there is a new temple for Maa Shyamasundari under construction in Baghbazar where her idol has been shifted but this hasnt been confirmed from any verified source. In my opinion, we as devotees of Maa and Hindus in general should do everything in our power to try to make things go back to normal in the temple and make sure this is never repeated again by opposing the futher takeover of temples by the state and political parties and being vocal about demanding the relinquishment of the temples that the state already controls. Joy Maa Shyamasundari 🌺🙏🏻