10/03/2025
History of the Joydurga Tradition (Origins in Pabna Nagar Bari)
The worship of Maa Joydurga as a family deity (kuladevata) by the Bhattacharjee family traces back over 300 years to Nagar Bari in Pabna (in present-day Bangladesh). Oral history suggests that an ancestor of Jogendra Nath Bhattacharjee established this tradition in the early 18th century, likely as a private Puja within the family estate. Over time, the family’s devotion turned into an annual ritual that continued unbroken for centuries. Even during periods of upheaval – such as the partition of India in 1947 and subsequent displacement – the family maintained the Joydurga worship, carrying their tradition with them. Local accounts corroborate the antiquity of this puja; for example, a Joydurga Puja in the region was noted to have begun around 180 years ago and has been sustained by community enthusiasm . This indicates that the worship of Joydurga had deep roots in the area and was cherished by more than just the immediate family.
Throughout these centuries, the Bhattacharjee family carefully preserved the rituals and idol design, passing them down each generation. The puja was likely a hallmark of the family’s cultural identity, with descendants feeling a duty to continue it despite political or geographic challenges. Historical parallels can be found among many Bengali families (known as Bonedi bari pujas) who continued their household worship even after migrating – setting up new altars in new lands so that the spiritual lineage remained unbroken . In the case of the Joydurga tradition, when the family eventually had to leave Pabna (due to partition-era turmoil), they took the deity’s worship with them. Some records indicate that the original Joydurga Puja at Nagar Bari was kept alive by the local community even after the founding family’s departure – a testimony to how beloved and ingrained the tradition had become. For instance, in one village an annual Joydurga Puja started by landowners continued under a traders’ committee for decades, showing that community support helped preserve the ritual .
Today, the history of Maa Joydurga’s worship stands as a bridge between past and present. It highlights how a single family’s devotion can evolve into a broader cultural heritage. The lore of its origin – likely involving a vow or divine vision that prompted the first idol of Joydurga to be made – is retold among family members. Each generation has contributed to maintaining the sanctity of the tradition, ensuring that for three centuries the worship of Joydurga has remained a living practice rather than a forgotten legend.
