The crown of Goddess Kali has been stolen from the Jeshoreshwari Temple in Shyamnagar, Satkhira, Bangladesh. It was a gift from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to the temple's priest, Dilip Mukherjee, he left the temple around 2:00 PM after completing the day's prayers. Shortly thereafter, the cleaning staff entered to tidy up the premises. It was then they noticed the crown was missing from the deity's head. PM Modi visited the Jeshoreshwari Temple on March 27, 2021, during his trip to Bangladesh.
India Demands Investigation
Following the incident, the Indian High Commission issued a statement requesting Bangladesh to investigate the theft of the crown gifted by Prime Minister Modi, ensure its recovery, and take action against those responsible.
A Temple Among the 52 Shakti Peethas of Hinduism
According to Hindu mythology, this temple is one of the 52 Shakti Peethas. On that day, Modi symbolically placed a crown on the deity's head. Speaking with The Daily Star, Inspector Taizul Islam from Shyamnagar Police Station confirmed the incident and stated they were reviewing the temple's CCTV footage to identify the thief.
Jyoti Chattopadhyay, a member of the family that has cared for the temple over generations, noted that the crown was made of silver with a gold coating. PM Modi had also shared a video of his visit to the temple, marking his first international trip after the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is believed that the temple was constructed by a Brahmin named Anari in the late 12th century. He built a temple with 100 doors for the Jeshoreshwari Peeth (temple), which was later renovated in the 13th century by Lakshman Sen and ultimately rebuilt in the 16th century by Raja Pratapaditya.
According to Hindu mythology, the Ishwaripur temple is among the 52 sites where the hands and soles of Goddess Sati fell, and where the Goddess resides as Goddess Jeshoreshwari, with Lord Shiva appearing as Chanda.
