THE STORY
On the fateful day, scores of moon ago, Late Surendra Nath Roy (fondly known as Nunu Babu) a popular freedom fighter, philanthropic and tea planter living in Deopani T.E, Mikir Hills, Assam decided to hunt along with his friends and workers in the jungle of his tea plantation. They camped in a spot and rested after the hunt. As evening progressed they proceeded back to their homes and Nunu Babu retired in his bungalow at Deopani T.E. In the middle of night he woke up to a dream of Goddess Durga speaking to him that while he and his hunt party was resting over ground she laid underground. Take me out she spoke to him in his dreams. Greatly moved and disturbed by the dream Nunu Babu woke up to a dilemma as to believe the dream and act on it as a divine command or treat it as a mere dream and fall asleep again. He was not restful and got anxious by the moment.
IDOLS DISCOVERED
In the dead of the night, he summoned his family priest and shared his dream. He was advised not to ignore the divine message. The ‘pagla siren’ was immediately sounded in Deopani T.E waking up the workers who gathered in the Bunglow in a panic state, armed with bows & arrows, laathis, daos and spears, alert to a probable intrusion that could have led to the sounding of ‘pagla siren’ in the middle of the night. Nunu Babu spoke to his dear workers and explained to them his dreams, interpretation of the family purohit, and the need to act upon the divine message. He sought their help and in a few hours, there gathered hundreds of people on the spot in the jungle, and the digging work started. After a few hours of digging one after the other small statues and idols got discovered, which were all pulled out. Soon the idol of Goddess Durga was found and with great care using elephants, the massive and heavy idol was pulled out.
In a short distance, another idol of Lord Vishnu carved in black granite was discovered. It was pulled out too. Later Nunu Babu informed his father Sjt.Devraj Roy the famous industrialist of his time and his elder brother Sjt.Mahendra Nath Roy (popularly known as Sona Babu) residing in Bogidhola T.E about the divine development. Goddess Durga being the family Kul Devi it was decided therefore to worship her and as such Idol of Goddess Durga was installed a few meters from the spot in a makeshift shelter. An auspicious muhurat was chosen and with great fanfare, the Pran Pratistha puja was performed by Late Devraj Roy and his family members with the lively ceremony. The idol of Lord Vishnu was handed over to the Government of Assam and it has found a place in Assam State Museum, GNB Road, near Dighalipukhuri, Guwahati. The Deopani Durga Mandir was so founded and established. Initially, it was not open to visitors and only members of Roy Family would perform Puja Archana but later on, Nunu Babu decided to open the doors of Goddess for visitors and well-wishers. Thus, Deopani Durga Temple got established. No words are needed to describe the miracle and power held by Goddess in her hands as visitors and devotees throng her know the love and blessings of the universal mother.
Temple Mangement
A private family trust named “Shri Surendra Vaishno Welfare Pratisthanam” manages the affairs of the Temple. M/S Bogidhola Tea & Trading Co(P)Ltd., Assam is the Trustee and Smt Prem Kumari Roy, wife of Late Surendra Nath Roy, Director of M/S Bogidhola Tea & Trading Co(P)Ltd., Assam is the Managing Trustee.
