Bangladesh
Modi Orakandi Visit Indian PM Narendra Modi interacts with Matua community in Orakandhi, prays at Hari Mandir
Dhaka March 27: Visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Orakandi in Gopalganj and paid obeisance at the Matua community temple, saying his long-cherished dream had come true.
After paying homage at Bangabandhu's tomb in Tungipara, the Indian Prime Minister reached the Orakandi temple, a pilgrimage site of the Matua community in Kashiani, around 12:30 pm.
There he worshiped at the temples of Harichand Thakur and Guruchand Thakur and later exchanged views with the leaders of the Matua community.
Offering prayer at the Hari Mandir in Orakandi!
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) March 27, 2021
Prime Minister @narendramodi sought blessings at the Hari Mandir and interacted with the descendants of revered Thakur family. pic.twitter.com/BwoiOHz5b4
"In a way, this place is a pilgrimage of spiritual ties between India and Bangladesh," he said.
Harichand Thakur, the proponent of Matua doctrine, was born in Orakandi of Kashiani police station in Gopalganj. The temple of that village is known to the Matua community as a place of highest pilgrimage.
India and Bangladesh together have more than five crore followers of the Matua community. About three crore of them live in India's West Bengal.
PM @narendramodi: “Bangladesh is also emerging as a strong example of growth and change in the world and in these efforts India is your ‘Shoho Jatri’.” pic.twitter.com/5LKvmHQeBB
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) March 27, 2021
Those who were left untouchable-lower caste by Brahmanism are basically followers of Matua doctrine.
They believe in monotheism; Equal rights for men and women and widow marriage are encouraged in this doctrine.
Harichand Thakur, the proponent of the Matua doctrine, is regarded by his followers as an ambassador for the liberation of oppressed and neglected people.
Harichand Thakur was born on the thirteenth day of the month of Falgun in 1218 BS on the day of Maha Baruni in the village of Safalidanga in Kashiani upazila.
He died on the same day in 1284 BS. Every year on this day lakhs of Matuas gather at the temple premises of Orakandi and take part in the holy bath. He originally started Matuabad, which was later spread by his son Guruchand Thakur.
After the partition of the country in 1947, a large number of Matua followers migrated to India and established their religious centers at Thakurnagar in the North 24 Parganas.
Apart from West Bengal, the Government of India rehabilitated them in various states including Assam, Tripura, Orissa, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Andaman, Maharashtra, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana.
