JESSORE, INDIA, July 28, 2008: A almost 400-year-old Shiv temple in Jessore is on the point of. This two-storied temple dates back to 1618 and was commissioned in the reign of Raja Manohar. After the downfall of the Raja in 1705, this grand temple began to fall into ruin due to the lack of maintenance. The temple houses beautiful terracotta structures that are of immense archaeological value. Although the Archeological Department of Khulna began its renovation work in 1991, there is much that needs to be done.
Jagannat Majumdar, secretary of this Shiv Mandir said, “We have to traverse one and a half km to perform our puja. Moreover, the Archeological Department is carrying out its renovation work at snail’s pace. The local Hindu devotees are unable to pray here as the department has not yet handed over the charge of this temple.” In like manner, Satyajit Biswas member of the temple said, he has seen his forefathers perform puja at this temple several times in 1947. Since then, no puja was held here. “If the Archeological Department takes immediate steps to renovate this temple, it will be a boon,” he said. Shihabuddin Mohammad Akbar, director of the Archeological Department in Khulna said, “We will embark on renovation when funds are available.