The right shoulder of Sati — Kumari, the eternal virgin, on the historic Hooghly riverbank in Bengal.
Ratnavali Peetha at Ratnapur, Hooghly, marks where the right shoulder of Sati fell. The Goddess is Kumari ("the Virgin/Young Girl" — the Goddess in her eternal youthful, pre-cosmic form) and the Bhairav is Shiva himself. The Kumari form of the Goddess represents the Shakti before she enters any relationship — pure, unattached, infinite potential. The Kumari Puja tradition (worshipping young girls as the living Goddess) is a major Navratri tradition especially in Nepal and Bengal.
The Hooghly river — the main channel of the Ganga through Bengal — has lined its banks with ancient ghats, temples and colonial buildings for centuries. Ratnapur's position in Hooghly district puts it close to Chandannagore (French colonial heritage), Serampore (Danish colonial heritage), and the Imambara at Hooghly — a remarkable concentration of cultural layers along the riverbank.
By road from Kolkata: 55 km. By rail: Hooghly Station on the Howrah-Bardhaman main line. The temple is a few kilometres from Hooghly town.
October to March. Chandannagore's famous Jagadhatri Puja (November, three days after Diwali) is one of Bengal's most spectacular festivals — time your visit accordingly.
Combine Ratnavali Peetha with the Chandannagore Strand and the Imambara at Hooghly for a rich multi-heritage Hooghly district day trip from Kolkata.
The Right Shoulder of Goddess Sati fell at Ratnavali, consecrating this land as a Shakti Peetha. The Shakti here is Kumari and the guardian Bhairav is Shiva.
One of the 51 sacred Shakti Peethas — explore its unique significance in the divine circuit.
Explore →One of the 51 sacred Shakti Peethas — explore its unique significance in the divine circuit.
Explore →One of the 51 sacred Shakti Peethas — explore its unique significance in the divine circuit.
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