Mahotsavtala Ghat, Panihati

মহোৎসবতলা ঘাট, পানিহাটি

Also known as Danda Mahotsav ground.

The riverside banyan where the Chida-Dahi festival has been held for five centuries.

About Mahotsavtala Ghat, Panihati

In about 1516 Nityananda, sitting under a banyan on the river at Panihati, told the young Raghunath Das that his "punishment" for trying to avoid him was to feed all the devotees flattened rice with curd. The feast became the Danda Mahotsav, or Chida-Dahi Utsav, held here every summer since. The old tree, the ghat and small shrines mark the spot, and the house of Raghav Pandit, where Sri Chaitanya stayed, is a short walk inland.

Why visit

A living piece of Bengal’s Vaishnav history on a quiet stretch of river.

What to see and do

The old banyan and the festival platform
The ghat and the river
Raghav Bhavan (Patbari) nearby

Plan your visit

Area: Panihati, BT Road to Barrackpore
Nearest landmark: Panihati riverside
Best time: Morning or sunset. October to March for a quiet visit; early summer for the festival.
Time needed: About 45 minutes
Cost: Free
Entry: Open to everyone: a street, ghat, market or park you can walk into. A public ghat and shrines.
Train: Sodepur or Agarpara, then an auto
Getting there: Ferries cross to Konnagar from the Panihati jetty; timings are not currently verified.
Walking: Little walking
Photography: Good for photography.

Tip

The festival falls in the Bengali month of Jyaistha (May or June) and is extremely crowded; on ordinary days the ghat is peaceful.

Nearby and related places

Khadi Pratisthan, Sodepur: The ashram Gandhi called his second home.
Shyamsundar Temple, Khardah: The Vaishnav heart of Khardah, the town of Nityananda.

More guides

Last checked on 2026-10-02. Each place was checked to exist and its position confirmed. Timings, closing days and ticket prices are shown only where known and can change: confirm before you travel.