Ghats of Kolkata… Revisited: Rai Bahadur Bissessur Lall Hurgobind Shradh Ghat

Rai Bahadur Bissessur Lall Hurgobind Shradh Ghat

At the Kolkata end of the Howrah Bridge, as one gets off on the right, or southern side of the bridge and you can descend into the heart of Mullick Ghat Flower Market. Passing through the maze that is the market, as one tries and get closer to the river, the first ghat to stumble upon, right next to the bridge, is the Rai Bahadur Bissessur Lall Hurgobind Sradh Ghat.

All that is known about the gentleman after whom the ghat is named is that he was a rich Marwari businessman, and his “sradh” ceremony was conducted on that spot. The ghat that was erected in 1916 was probably meant as a sort of marker and memorial. In front of the Ghat one will found a raised area with parallel bars. This spot was in use as a wrestling ring by local “pehelwans”. Nearby are also five banyan trees, each containing a small shrine at its base.

A narrow and slippery path leads down to the river from the Bissessur Lall Hurgobind Sradh Ghat. Taking this path, keep going south, further away from the Howrah Bridge, looming in the background and you arrive at the Ram Chandra Goenka Zenana Bathing Ghat.