Sindurmati Tirthadham (Sindurmati Dighi)

Nestled amidst the serene nature of North Bengal, on the border of Lalmonirhat and Kurigram, lies a holy land—Sindurmati Tirthadham. Built on 16.5 acres of land, this vast dighi (lake) and temple courtyard is not just a pilgrimage site, but a silent witness to a hundreds-of-years-old sacrifice.

How did the journey of this pilgrimage site begin?

According to prevailing folklore, in ancient times, a childless Brahmin Zamindar named Raj Narayan Chakraborty came from Sri Lanka on a pilgrimage with his wife. Captivated by the spiritual tranquility of the local 'Deul Sagar' temple, they settled here. After a long time, two beautiful daughters were born to them. They were affectionately named 'Sindur' and 'Mati'.

When Sindur and Mati stepped into their teenage years, a severe drought struck the region. Canals and wetlands dried up, causing an outcry among the subjects. Like a responsible ruler, Zamindar Narayan Chakraborty took on a mega-project of excavating a massive dighi across 16.05 acres of land to alleviate the water crisis of his subjects. But surprisingly, even though thousands of laborers dug the soil day after day, not a single drop of water was found at the bottom of the dighi.

Divine Dream and the Self-Sacrifice of the Two Sisters

One night, the worried Zamindar received a divine dream. He was told that water would rise only if his two virgin daughters sat in the middle of the dighi and worshiped God. On the Rama Navami tithi of the Chaitra month, a puja was organized in the middle of the dighi. Sindur wore a red sari and Mati wore a white sari. During the puja, the Zamindar noticed a shortage of some offerings, and when he went outside to fetch them, at that exact moment, a powerful surge of water burst through the bottom of the dighi. Although the priests managed to swim ashore, Sindur and Mati drowned in the bottomless water, embracing a watery grave. It is believed that through this self-sacrifice, they attained immortality and began to be worshiped as goddesses.

Archaeological Truth Behind the Myth

Beyond stories or folklore, Sindurmati has concrete historical evidence:

• 1975 Excavation: During a partial re-excavation of this dighi under government initiative, many valuable ancient coins, idols of gods and goddesses, and stones were recovered.

• 2003 Discovery: During excavation work on the northern bank of the dighi, the ruins of a nearly 800-year-old paved ghat were found.

These recovered priceless archaeological artifacts are currently carefully preserved in the Bangladesh National Museum.

Current Context: Even today, a massive fair is held at this Sindurmati dighi every year on Rama Navami in the month of Chaitra. Thousands of Sanatani devotees gather here for a holy bath. This ancient architecture and dighi remind us that there is no greater religion than self-sacrifice for the welfare of the people.