- Table of Contents:
- The Sacred Crown Theft : A gift from Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- Cultural and Theological Significance of the Jeshoreshwari Kali temple
- Details of the Pilfering Incident
- Investigation and Response by Bangladeshi Authorities
The Sacred Crown Theft : A gift from Prime Minister Narendra Modi
The precious Sacred crown that once adorned the head of Goddess Kali at the hallowed Jeshoreshwari Temple in Satkhira, Bangladesh, has reportedly been taken in an astonishing crime. The golden-plated silver crown, a present from Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Bangladesh in March 2021, vanished on Thursday afternoon, according to the Daily Star newspaper in Bangladesh.
For believers in both nations, the stolen crown has great cultural and theological
importance. The Indian High Commission in Bangladesh has responded by expressing its “deep concern” at the theft of the crown.
Cultural and Theological Significance of the Jeshoreshwari Kali temple
The well-known Hindu shrine Jeshoreshwari Kali Temple honors Goddess Kali and is located in
the Satkhira district of southwest Bangladesh near the village of Ishwaripur. Acknowledged as one
of the 51 revered Shakti Pithas dispersed throughout India and its neighboring nations, the
temple draws followers who honor its mythological significance and ancient legacy.
Hindus believe that the temple commemorates the location where the goddess Sati’s hands and
soles fell. Devi Jashoreshwari, the goddess, lives there, while Lord Shiva appears as Chanda.
In the latter part of the 12th century, a Brahmin by the name of Anari built the temple, which
had 100 doors for the Jashoreshwari Pith.
According to ANI, Lakshman Sen rebuilt it in the thirteenth century, and Raja Pratapaditya of Jessore completed the repairs in the sixteenth century, enhancing the building’s reputation as a significant site of worship.
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PM Modi’s Visit and offerings to the Temple:
During a two-day visit to Bangladesh on March 27, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a
visit to Jeshoreshwari Temple. This was Modi’s first overseas tour since the COVID-19 epidemic.
He engaged in prayer while wearing a mask, sitting cross-legged on the temple floor while the
priest read passages from holy books.
According to a PIB press release, PM Modi then offered a symbolic sacrifice to the goddess by
placing a handcrafted, three-week-old silver and gold-plated crown atop her head. PM Modi also
revealed intentions to build a multipurpose community center at the temple after this visit. He
saw it as a venue for religious, social, and educational activities that would help the
neighborhood. The hall would also function as a disaster shelter, offering crucial safety during
unnatural disasters.
Details of the Pilfering Incident
The crown was taken on Thursday between 2:00 and 2:30 p.m., according to Daily Star, when
temple priest Dilip Mukherjee departed after the day’s devotion. Concerns regarding its theft
were raised when the cleaning crew discovered later that the deity’s head crown was missing.
Inspector Taizul Islam of the Shyamnagar Police Station verified the occurrence and said that
steps are being taken by the police to apprehend the offender in an interview with a Bangladeshi
media outlet.
To find the thief, we are looking over the CCTV footage from the temple, the Inspector stated. A
top Ministry of Information & Broadcasting official allegedly released a video on Friday that
purportedly showed a guy breaking into the shrine and taking the crown off of the goddess’
head.
Following the revelation of the theft, the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh also conveyed
its grave concerns and requested the Bangladeshi authorities to initiate an investigation and take
decisive action against those responsible.
Investigation and Response by Bangladeshi Authorities
The High Commission of India in Bangladesh tweeted, “We have seen reports of theft of the
crown gifted by PM Modi to Jeshoreshwari Kali Temple (Satkhira) during his visit in 2021.” “We
express profound concern and urge the Government of Bangladesh to look into theft, recover
the crown, and take action against the perpetrators,” the statement continued.
The theft occurs following a recent wave of turmoil in Bangladesh following Sheikh Hasina’s
departure. Numerous Hindu temples, including the ISKON Temple and an Indian cultural center,
have reportedly sustained damage as a result of it.
Foreign Minister S Jaishankar had voiced concerns in August in response to the unrest, stating,
“What was particularly worrying was that minorities, their businesses, and temples also came
under attack at multiple locations.” He continued by saying that the government would “remain
deeply concerned till law and order is visibly restored” and that New Delhi was “monitoring the situation.”
