A crown from the Jeshoreshwari Kali Temple in Satkhira, Bangladesh, was reported stolen on Thursday afternoon. The crown, gifted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit in March 2021, was a silver and gold-plated relic of immense cultural and religious value.
According to reports, the theft took place between 2 pm and 2:30 pm, shortly after the temple priest, Dilip Mukherjee, left for the day. It was the cleaning staff who noticed that the crown, which had adorned the deity’s head, was missing. Local authorities are now examining CCTV footage from the temple in hopes of identifying the thief. “We are actively investigating the case,” stated Inspector Taizul Islam of Shyamnagar Police Station.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited the historic Jeshoreshwari Temple on March 27, 2021, as part of his trip to Bangladesh. The visit marked his first international trip since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this symbolic visit, Modi presented the crown to the temple, placing it on the deity’s head as a gesture of respect and reverence.
The Jeshoreshwari Temple is one of the 51 revered Shakti Peeths, sacred sites dedicated to the goddess Shakti, scattered across India and neighboring countries. Located in the Ishwaripur village of Shyamnagar, the temple is believed to be where the palms and soles of Goddess Sati fell, according to Hindu mythology. The temple was originally constructed in the 12th century by a Brahmin named Anari and has undergone several reconstructions, including by Raja Pratapaditya in the 16th century.
The crown’s theft has sparked concern among the temple’s devotees, and efforts are being made to recover the stolen artifact.
