A church is
considered the House of the Lord. A memorial of the Portuguese settlement in Bengal
it is considered a major tourist attraction in West Bengal (INDIA).
Location
Bandel is derived
from the Portuguese word for mast of the ship. It is in Chinsurah sub-division
of Hooghly district in West Bengal (INDIA). Bandel is a minor railway junction
of Eastern Railway, being 40km from terminal station, Howrah.
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| BANDEL CHURCH |
Background
Around 1571 onwards
Portuguese began to use Bandel as a port. Akbar, the Mughal Emperor gave them
the permission to build a town in Hooghly. In 1579, the Portuguese built a port on the banks of the Hooghly. The
Portuguese settlers called over “Augustanian Monks” from Goa to build a church
at Bandel in 1599. This church was dedicated to “ NASSO SENHORA DO ROSARIO” or
“NASSO SENHORA DA BOA VIAGEM” meaning our lady of the good country. This church
was destroyed during the Mughal siege during Shah Jahan. Father Joan de Cruz
along with his followers were taken prisoners and were to be thrown before
ferocious elephants. But they were miraculously saved and this incident in
pressed Shah Jahan so well that he set them free and sent them back. He also donated 777 bighas of land
to the church in the year 1633. Since then it has been modified and
reconstructed at different times.
The baptisation
of Augustinian Monks has resulted in rise of Catholic population whose number
increased to more than ten thousands. Captaining Pedro Tavares preached
Catholic faith and constructed the church in 1599. The Moors burnt down the
church in 1632. A new church was built in 1660 by Gomez De Soto over the wrecks
of the older church. This church was declared ‘Minor Basilica’ by Pope Leo xiii
in 1988.
Structure
Significant
structures around the church are the Prayer Hall, the Mast, the Cemetery and
the Statue of Mother Merry. There are many pictures of Jesus and the huge clock
with the four faces. The keystone of the church of 1599 adorns the river side
gate of the monastery. A significant attraction of the church is the long bank
of the Hooghly River (Ganges) that provides breath taking beauty. There are
three altars, a shrine of Mother Merry, a few Tomb stones and an organ. Its interior
is beautifully decorated with chandeliers. The statue of Lady of Happy Voyage
amidst coloured glass windows is an intense attraction for the devout Christians. The
Bandel Church is the exclusive legacy of Portuguese settlement and its unique architectural
pattern adds to glory to diversified Indian architecture.
Best
Time of visit
Month of December- February is the best time
to visit. This period marks the Christmas, the greatest festival of the christians.
Devoted Catholics also visit the church during April, when the period of Easter
falls (Good Friday, Easter Saturday). Thousands flock to the church to attend the Holy Mass on 24th
December.
Route
Of Travel
One can travel to Bandel by a car via Grand
Trunk road, or through National Highway. Another convenient is to reach Bandel by EMU train from Howrah by Bandel Local,
Bardhaman Local, Katwa Local etc. One can go by deluxe bus as well.
Other
sites to visit
A visitor can visit Hanseswari Temple in Bansberia
(2km From Bandel), Imambara in Hooghly (1km from Bandel), besides the church to
appease their religious instinct.
India
is a country of various beliefs and faith. Catholic churches are found mostly
in Goa. This church is a distinct reminder of Portuguese settlement and how
people of different races have come to assemble and made up the fabric of
secular India.
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