Podrah (also known as Podara) (PADMARAJPUR - as known in ancient times) is a census town in Sankrail CD Block of Howrah Sadar subdivision in Howrah district in the state of West Bengal. It houses one of the largest multispeciality hospitals in the district of Howrah, NH Multispeciality Hospital.
HISTORICAL PLACES
Podrah Mahakali Mandir
maintained by Podrah Barowari Samity (Estd. 1893).
The organization maintains the 132 years old Maha Kali Mandir. It was the year 1893. Human history was on the last decade of 19th century. The time period was one of the golden periods of Bengal flourishing in spirituality, literature, arts, science, mysticism, nationalism etc. Late 19th century Bengal must be equated with the rise of nationalism, education, ideas, enlightenment and empowerment. Bengali legendary names emerged in this era are like Ma Sarada Devi, Vivekananda, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Girish Chandra Ghosh, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose, Rabindranath Tagore, Rishi Aurobindo Ghosh etc. and many more were still walking on their feet on this great soil of Bengal. Subhash Chandra Basu, Satyendra Nath Bose, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Sarala Devi Chaudhurani, Pritilata Waddedar and many were their notable successors. During this era, these visionaries were roaring on their peak in the process of reforming the society of Bengal and Bharatvarsh on human progress and spiritual evolution through their intellect, outlook, social work etc. Embedded in this was a severe pushback of anti-West conservatism and a harking back to Hindutva that formed the core of a parallel, exclusionary nationalism. Vandemataram already became a household blood boiler in this period. During this time in 1893, inspired by the above legends, blood boiled energetic youths in the village of Padmarajpur (currently known as Podrah) in Bengal, decided the uplift the spirituality among the people of the area. Thus, they established the Padmarajpur Mahakali Mandir in 1893. (currently known as Podrah Kali Mandir). Later, in 1923, the mandir also started celebrating Durga Puja every year, alongside Kali Puja. Since then, the tradition is continuing and this year in May-2025 we celebrated the completion of 133 years of Kali Puja and Mandir. Along side, in 2025, 103 years of Durga Puja will be celebrated. The successors of those young energetic youths from 1893, carry forwarding this age-old tradition till today.
As per the 2011 Census of India, Podara had a total population of 21,589, of which 11,220 (52%) were males and 10,369 (48%) were females. The age of 91.54% of the population is above 6 years and while 2,143 people were younger than 6. The literacy rate is 82.45%.
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