View of the Kali Ghat, Calcutta

late 19th century - early 20th century

The Kalighat area first finds its mention in the 15th century Bengali text, Manasā-Vijaya, written by poet Bipradas Pipilai. It is also mentioned in a 16th century literary work Chandimangala by Mukundaram Chakrabarti. Kalighat was also established as a pilgrimage centre after legend placed a fragment of Sati’s body here, near the Ganges and since then it has been considered as one of the Shaktipeeth in Hinduism.

Kalighat, famous for its temple, was initially a small sanctuary in the 17th century, when the British first arrived. By the 19th century, it was thickly populated with houses belonging to the Haldars and priests residing near the temple. There was constant activity and traffic of devotees, pilgrims and artists floating in and out of Kalighat.

A painting tradition too developed and evolved around the temple ghat. Many Bengal patua artists migrated to the city in the 18th -19th century for better opportunities and settled around Kalighat. They observed the changes in the city due to the British colonial rule and sought inspiration for their art, giving rise to a new painting tradition named Kalighat, after its place of birth.

To read more on the Bengal Presidency, click here.
To read more on the Kalighat-Bengal Patuas, click here.

Title
View of the Kali Ghat, Calcutta
Period
late 19th century - early 20th century
Photographer
Unidentified
Dimensions
H: 20.6cm x W: 28.6cm
Accession No.
2016.4.157