Forgotten Heritage of Bolpur Town: The Oldest Bonedi Pujas of Dey Bari, Dalal Bari & Where It All Began

When people think of heritage Durga Pujas around Santiniketan, their minds immediately turn to the grand rural estates outside town like Surul Rajbari or Hetampur. Yet, deep inside the older urban neighborhoods of Bolpur town itself stand centuries-old merchant mansions—such as Dey Bari and Dalal Bari—that have preserved distinct, deeply intimate Bonedi traditions since the era of the East India Company.

Here is a closer look at the forgotten ancestral mansions of central Bolpur, their ancient pujas, and the fascinating historic account of where autumnal Durga Puja first began in Bengal.

1. Dey Bari Durga Puja (Bolpur Old Town)

• Location: Near Bolpur Bazar / Old Quarter

• Heritage Lineage: Prominent merchant and landowner family (Bonik/Subarnabanik lineage)

• Tradition Age: Over 150–200 years

Before Bolpur grew into a university town, it was a bustling trade settlement along the Ajay and Mayurakshi river trade routes. The Dey family were among the prominent merchant families who established deep roots in the region, dealing in grains, textiles, and river transport.

• The Mansion & Courtyard: The Dey residence retains classic late 19th-century architectural features—high brick boundaries, arched khorkhori (slatted wooden louvers), and a traditional family Thakur Dalan where the neighborhood gathers.

• The Rituals: The deity here is traditionally fashioned in the timeless Ekchala framework with clay ornamentation and Daker Saaj. Unlike the massive crowds at public pandals, the atmosphere at Dey Bari feels like stepping back into old Bengal, where rituals follow strict ancestral Kulachar (family customs) passed down without modern microphone clutter.

2. Dalal Bari Durga Puja

• Location: Bolpur central heritage enclave

• Heritage Lineage: Historical trade brokers and estate managers (Dalals)

• Tradition Age: 150+ years

The surname Dalal points to a fascinating colonial-era commercial history. During the height of the East India Company’s operations at Ilambazar and Surul, Dalals were licensed commercial brokers who mediated transactions between rural weavers, indigo producers, and European commercial agents.

• Family Legacy: Having prospered during the golden age of Bengal’s trade, the Dalal family built an expansive estate in Bolpur and instituted their family Durga Puja.

• Puja Customs: The Dalal Bari puja is renowned for its preservation of heirloom brass vessels, grand brass candelabras (panchapradip), and traditional family Bhog offerings. Watching the women of the household prepare ceremonial offerings by hand in the antique inner courtyard (Andermahal) provides an authentic glimpse into Bengal’s living heritage.

Complete Bolpur Heritage Puja Trail: At a Glance

Where Did the First Autumn Durga Puja Actually Start?

A common question among heritage lovers walking through Birbhum’s ancient courtyards is: Where and when did Bengal’s grand Sharadiya (Autumn) Durga Puja originate?

While community Durga Puja (Barowari) began in 1790 at Guptipara in Hooghly, the tradition of grand, autumnal family worship started much earlier in medieval Bengal.

       [Origins of Sharadiya Durga Puja]
                       │
       ┌───────────────┴───────────────┐
       ▼                               ▼
[Primary Historical Record]   [Alternative Heritage Claim]
Raja Kangshanarayan           Raja Nabakrishna Deb
Tahirpur (Rajshahi) - ~1583   Shobhabazar (1757)
Grand 8.5-lakh gold puja      Colonial-era aristocrat trend

The Legendary Origin: Raja Kangshanarayan of Tahirpur (circa 1583)

According to historical texts and regional chronicles, the very first lavish autumn (Akalbodhan) Durga Puja on a grand scale was organized in the late 16th century by Raja Kangshanarayan of Tahirpur (now located in Rajshahi district, Bangladesh).

• The Legend: Seeking to perform a great Vedic sacrifice, the Raja consulted his royal priest, Ramesh Shastri. The pandit advised that royal sacrifices like the Ashvamedha or Rajasuya were forbidden in the Kali Yuga. Instead, he recommended worshipping the Ten-Armed Mother Durga during the autumn season.

• The Grand Celebration: Raja Kangshanarayan reportedly spent an astounding sum of eight and a half lakh gold tankas on the festivities. It was this event that set the benchmark for Bengal’s aristocratic zamindars to hold annual autumn family pujas in their personal courtyards.

Other Early Contenders

• Raja Lakshmikanta Mazumdar (Sabarna Roy Choudhury, 1610): The famous Sabarna Roy Choudhury family initiated their historic Durga Puja at Barisha (Kolkata) in 1610, making it the oldest continuous family puja in the Kolkata metropolitan area.

• Shobhabazar Rajbari (1757): Initiated by Raja Nabakrishna Deb after the Battle of Plassey, this puja popularized the grand celebration style among urban aristocrats, featuring British officials like Lord Clive as honored guests.

Recommended 1-Day Heritage Puja Route in Bolpur

If you want to focus exclusively on ancient homes and traditional family courtyards on Maha Ashtami or Maha Navami, follow this compact local circuit:

1. Morning (8:30 AM – 10:30 AM): Central Bolpur Mansions

   • Start your morning walking through the older residential lanes of Bolpur town to visit Dey Bari and Dalal Bari. Experience the calm morning Pushpanjali and the rhythmic beat of the Dhaak inside intimate courtyards.

2. Midday (11:00 AM – 1:30 PM): The Aristocratic Estates of Surul

   • Take a 15-minute Toto ride to Surul Rajbari. Spend time at both the Boro Taraf and Choto Taraf courtyards to see the intricate Ekchala idols and examine the surrounding terracotta temples.

3. Afternoon (1:30 PM – 3:30 PM): Traditional Bhog & Rural Trails

   • Head toward Supur through roads lined with blooming white Kash flowers. Taste traditional community bhog or have a rural lunch near Sriniketan.

4. Evening (4:30 PM – 6:30 PM): Sandhi Puja & Dhunuchi Naach

   • Conclude your tour by returning to either Surul or Dey Bari to witness the 108 earthen lamps lit for Sandhi Puja and the traditional Aarti.