Nandikeshwari Temple, Sainthia

The Nandikeshwari Temple in Sainthia is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, where the necklace (mala/nandi) of Goddess Sati is believed to have fallen. The goddess is worshipped as Maa Nandikeshwari and her Bhairava is Nandikishore. The temple is situated on a small mound under a vast, centuries-old banyan tree whose hanging roots and red sacred threads tied by devotees give the shrine a deeply mystical atmosphere. The deity is a rock covered with vermilion (sindoor), decorated with silver eyes and a golden crown, representing the goddess in her primordial form. The present temple structure was renovated in the 20th century, but the site itself has been a centre of Shakti worship since ancient times. Local tradition holds that worshipping Maa Nandikeshwari fulfils the wishes of devotees, and the temple sees huge gatherings on Saturdays, Tuesdays and during Durga Puja and Kali Puja. Sainthia is well connected by road and rail, making it an easy half-day trip from Tarapith.